Chrysanthemum (ju hua)  菊花

Nature: Cool and slightly cold; sweet and bitter; attributive to lungs and liver.

Characteristics: A perennial flower grows wild or cultivated and is a superior herb very popular in China. The flowers are dried and are pale yellow in color and bittersweet in taste. 

Therapeutic effects: Antipyretic; refrigerant; lower blood pressure; improve vision due to kidney and liver dysfunction; clear internal heat; eases swelling and inflammation; nourish blood.  Also effective for vertigo, headache with fever and for eye aches or itchiness.

Usage: Use as tea leaves to brew tea in a teapot or cook with a bit more water in a pot for 5-10 minutes for stronger taste and effects. Add honey or brown sugar to taste if preferred. The tea can also be used as an external wash to ease inflammation