At Zen Penguin Wellness, there is always a large pot of Relaxed Buddha Tea brewing. This lovely Chinese herbal tea is available for all to enjoy while in the clinic. Relaxed Buddha Tea is an ancient herbal formula designed to help with stress, anxiety, depression and more.
The official herbal name of Relaxed Buddha Tea is Xiao Yao San (pronounced shiao-yow-sahn), but it goes by many unofficial names such as Purple Star, Rambling Powder, Free and Easy Wanderer and more. This 900-year-old classical formula is among the most studied and versatile in modern Chinese herbal medicine.
Generally speaking, this formula is used to treat stress with an underlying deficiency. Because of the deficiency component, the stress will likely become emphasized around menstruation, when less blood is available for circulation and carrying the qi. Dysmenorrhea, PMS and general stress in both men and women, are the most common reasons for prescribing this formula in today’s world. Children, especially those under pressure to perform / produce, benefit from taking this formula. Stress will affect any areas of weakness, particularly those ruled by the liver or middle burner. These include the chest, the abdomen, the entire digestive tract and the blood, which is made in the middle burner and ruled by the liver. Altogether, the central role played by blood and digestion for the rest of the body accounts for the wide range of indications for which this formula is frequently used.
Relaxed Buddha Tea / Xiao Yao San is a powerful herbal formula known for its wide range of benefits. It helps improve depression and anxiety, working as well as conventional medications but with fewer side effects. When combined with standard treatments, it can provide faster relief. It is also effective for digestive issues like IBS, helping reduce symptoms and improve gut health, while also addressing the stress and anxiety often linked to these problems.
Antidepressant Effects – When used alone, Xiao Yao San has a slower initial effectiveness (within the first 2 weeks), but catches up with standard antidepressants over time. Combined use of Xiao Yao San and antidepressants results in a faster onset of symptom relief compared to antidepressants alone. This formula exhibits antidepressant effects through inflammation-related pathways and brain functional connectivity.
Anti-Anxiety Effects – Xiao Yao San has been shown to be as effective as anxiolytics in alleviating anxiety symptoms. Patients receiving Xiao Yao San also reported fewer adverse drug reactions compared to those treated solely with anxiolytics.
Gastrointestinal Disorder Effects – Xiao Yao San improves treatment efficiency and reduces symptom scores when compared to Western medicine alone. It effectively alleviates anxiety (SAS scores) and depression (SDS scores) associated with gastrointestinal disorders. This occurs through the enhancement of gastrointestinal motility by modulating motilin, serotonin and somatostatin levels. And lastly, studies with a 6-month follow-up show that Xiao Yao San reduces gastrointestinal disorder recurrence rates, indicating sustained benefits with long term safety.
Relaxed Buddha Tea can be sipped throughout the day or used when needed. Because of the gentle nature of the herbs in the formula, this tea can be utilized long term. And while many people seem to be a little adverse to drinking tea throughout the day, it should be noted that there is a logical reason behind choosing tea of pills. While most patents in tablet or capsule form are similar, the pills tend to lose their volatile oils. However, the tea preserves those essential oils making it the more effective choice.
Relaxed Buddha Tea is available for purchase and is safe for everyone in the family over the age of 3 years. It can be a great addition to the daily routine for your kids as they head back to school or for you to enjoy while at work. Having a cup before bed is another way to help shut off that monkey brain that so many deal with while trying to fall asleep. The versatility, safety and effectiveness of Relaxed Buddha Tea makes it a great gift too. So stop by, try some and grab a package to go. You won’t regret it.