In a thriving health drinks market, several Chinese hospitals are carving out their niche by prescribing herbal formulas that address common ailments, from soothing nerves to enhancing sleep and promoting healthy hair.
Take Guo Xiaofan, a 26-year-old from Kunming, who recently turned to a traditional Chinese medicine hospital’s online platform for relief from insomnia. She was prescribed a herbal tea blend that she brewed at home, discovering it to be a delightful alternative to her usual milk tea. “The first sip tasted a bit strange, but as I continued drinking, it tasted quite good,” she shares.
This herbal infusion is rooted in a well-established Chinese medicine formula specifically designed for insomnia and neurasthenia. It features an aromatic mix of sautéed jujube kernels, dried lily, poria fungus, and albizia bark—ingredients that come together to create a soothing brew.
The Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has recently introduced five unique herbal medicine formulas for drinking. On launch day alone, they sold an impressive 10,000 doses. Wan Xixi, the deputy director of the hospital’s medical administration department, explains that these formulas are crafted based on time-honored prescriptions from esteemed TCM practitioners.
Each herbal dose is conveniently packaged for easy brewing at home. “The bags of dried herbs are not available for purchase on the market. To obtain them, individuals must have a prescription tailored to specific syndromes,” Wan clarifies.
As health-conscious consumers increasingly seek out medicinal herbal teas, interest in these drinks is on the rise. A recent survey by iiMedia Research indicates that more people are exploring herbal beverages, with purchase intentions steadily climbing.
Huang, an employee from Hangzhou, recently ordered several herbal remedies through the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital’s online service. “I bought five doses of each type. With medical insurance, the total bill came to less than 100 yuan ($13.9), which I think is very reasonable. After drinking them, I felt the effects were good,” Huang reports.
Chinese hospitals, particularly TCM institutions, are eager to promote their specialized herbal tea formulas—some even changing with the seasons. For instance, smoked plum tea is favored in summer for its cooling properties, while winter sees a rise in demand for herbal blends aimed at clearing throat mucus.
Pharmacies like Beijing Tong Ren Tang are also experiencing a surge in herbal tea sales. They remind customers that while some herbs can be consumed as food or drinks, herbal formulas should be treated as medicine and taken under proper medical guidance.
According to iiMedia Research data, the Chinese herbal drinks market reached 41.16 billion yuan ($5.64 billion) in 2023 and is projected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2028.
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