Food as Medicine — a small, growing notebook of traditional Chinese remedies, translated into ingredients you can find abroad.

In Chinese households, food was always the first thing you reached for. This notebook collects a few of those habits — what they are, where the ingredients come from abroad, and how they were traditionally used to support rest. Not medical advice, just a family notebook.

Sour Jujube Seed Tea (酸枣仁)

• What it is: one of the most recognized ingredients in Chinese herbal tradition, used to help calm the mind before rest.
• How it’s used: steeped as a simple tea about 30 minutes before bed.
• Where to find it: Asian grocery stores, herbal apothecaries, or online (search “suan zao ren”).

Longan & Red Date Soup (桂圆红枣)

• What it is: a warm, lightly sweet simmered drink, more nightly ritual than remedy.
• How it’s used: simmered for 15 minutes, often drunk warm about an hour before bed.
• Where to find it: Trader Joe’s, H Mart, or most Asian grocery stores.

Goji Berry Warm Milk (枸杞)

• What it is: a simple pairing — warm milk with a small handful of goji berries, a common bedtime habit in northern Chinese homes.
• How it’s used: berries added to warm (not boiling) milk, a few minutes before bed.
• Where to find it: Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or most grocery stores.

• This page shares traditional food customs and family habits. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. If you have a persistent health concern, please consult a licensed healthcare provider.