"Happy Tea" Gan Mai Da Zao Tang

"Happy Tea" it a classic Eastern Medicine formula that is widely used in East Asia for treatment of anxiety, depression, distress, insomnia, night sweats and hot flashes.  This formula nourishing the heart, calms the mind, and relaxes tension. The first known account of this formula dates back to a classic clinical book of traditional Chinese Medicine called Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet, written by Zhang Zhongjing, who lived from 150-219 AD at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.   

Gan Mai Da Zao Tang literally means, "Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction."       

This is an excellent formula for balancing two of the Ayurvedic doshas, Vata and Pitta.  Vata and Pitta doshas benefit from the wheat berry,* whose sweet and salty tastes nourish the heart qi.  Licorice is sweet and supports the wheat berry by nourishing the heart.  Licorice also hydrates and tonifies the body through the digestive system, which is significant because 90% of the body's serotonin is made in the digestive tract.  Jujube (Chinese date) works with licorice to hydrate internal dryness and tonify the digestive systems, thus clearing internal heat.  

There are a few ways to prepare Happy Tea.  It can be steeped Western Style in a tea pot with a strainer basket, Gong Fu Cha Style in a gaiwan, Long-Steeped in a Ethoz Tea Brewer on the countertop, Cold-Brewed in the refrigerator, Westernized into a latte, or, for the tastiest and most beneficial liquor, simmer for hours on the stovetop (decoction method), ladling tea into cups as desired.  Top off with more water from time to time and keep covered.   

*Wheat berry increases Kapha's dosha.