Allergies? Cramps? Sleep Issues? How These TCM Flower Teas Can Help. Interview with Lisa Li, Founder of The Qi

Guest: Lisa Li, Founder of The Qi

GET 10% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE! Click here to shop and learn more! Code: MODERNAGING

Join us for a calming conversation with Lisa Li, founder of The Qi, as she shares her journey from the frantic world of fashion in New York City to creating a serene sanctuary centered around the power of flower teas12.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Creating a Calming Space: Lisa shares her goal of creating a calming, serene space in the middle of New York City, offering a sanctuary in our frantic, chaotic world. She emphasizes the essential need for time to be peaceful and decompress, valuing this time more as she gets older.

• From Fashion to Founder: Lisa details her career path, working in various aspects of the fashion industry (marketing, sales, design) before starting The Qi2. She reflects on feeling pressure to pursue something more “concrete” than creative design initially2.

• A Turning Point: Healing Through TCM: A significant shift occurred after Lisa was diagnosed with thyroid disease2. She describes experiencing severe symptoms, including throwing up, rapid weight fluctuations, and inconsistent heartbeat3. After being told surgery was the only option, she sought out a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor who used acupuncture, herbal remedies, and tapping energy (similar to Reiki) to help her heal her thyroid. Her blood work later returned to normal, much to the hospital doctor’s surprise. She recounts a fascinating experience with group tapping energy using small plastic dolls representing acupuncture points, where people tapped points for different diseases, and she felt a strong physical sensation of heat.

• Prioritizing Well-being & Caffeine Sensitivity: Lisa highlights the importance of self-care and maintaining health after her healing experience. She avoids caffeine, which causes her anxiety and jitters, motivating her to create naturally caffeine-free herbal options8. The host also shares their long history of avoiding caffeine due to palpitations, jitters, and headaches.

• The Power of Herbal Tea as an Alternative: Lisa is on a mission to offer non-addictive alternatives for health and well-being, contrasting them with addictive substances like sleeping pills, which her mother takes11. She points out the dangers and addictive nature of both prescription and over-the-counter options often used for sleep1112. Herbal teas can help calm the body down naturally.

• The Importance of an Evening Ritual: The conversation emphasizes the often-overlooked importance of an evening ritual to unwind and prepare for sleep, contrasting it with the popular focus on morning routines. An evening ritual helps you get a better night’s sleep, reducing the potential need for morning stimulants. Using phones or watching stimulating/depressing content right before bed is not conducive to unwinding.

• Introducing Powerful Flower Teas : Lisa introduces the specific blend she brewed during the interview: Chrysanthemum, Goji Berry, and Rose.

◦ Goji Berries: Easily accessible, considered a superfood with many antioxidants, versatile for herbal teas1920. In TCM, they have a warming property and are nourishing.

◦ Chrysanthemum: A classic TCM combination with goji berries. It’s a cooling herb, like cucumber or watermelon, known for its refreshing and detoxing properties. It’s anti-inflammatory and helpful for spring allergies. Popular in East Asia for thousands of years, it’s a less popular cousin to chamomile in the US.

◦ Rose: Has a warming property. Known as a “woman’s tea,” it’s high in vitamin C, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, and considered beautifying (“yang yan”). It can also help with digestive health and cramps.

◦ The Blend: Combining the cooling chrysanthemum with the warming goji berries and rose creates a harmonious and balanced herbal tea. Blending herbs that work well together can enhance their healing powers.

• Exploring Other Tea Blends: Lisa shares information about some of The Qi’s other popular blends:

◦ Cleanse: Contains high mountain oolong, dandelion, plum, mulberry leaves, mint, and rose, formulated with a TCM doctor to ensure ingredients complement each other. It has a peachy, earthy smell.

◦ Energy: Focuses on vitality and longevity rather than short-term energy. Ingredients include goji berries, licorice (for immunity), black tea (for focus), ginseng (for long life vitality), chrysanthemum, mulberry (for digestion), and jujube (nourishing for blood). Sourced from China.

◦ Relaxation: A fan favorite for nighttime unwinding. Contains chamomile, lavender, rose petal, jujube, and lemon balm. Recommended for drinking an hour or two before bedtime to help you relax and naturally fall asleep (it’s not a sleeping pill).

◦ Bloom and Balance: A herbal blend specifically formulated for period discomfort, containing hibiscus, goji berries, longan, and jujube. Lisa drinks it before and during her period, finding it soothing for cramps. Jujube is noted as nourishing for blood in Chinese medicine.

• Eastern vs. Western Palates: The discussion touches on the difference in how flavors are perceived, suggesting that Eastern food cultures, like in Japan and China, often value “light and gentle” (qing dan) flavors which are better for digestive health, compared to the “extra” salty, sweet, or fried flavors common in Western food that train pallets to crave intensity…. People’s ability to taste subtle nuances varies.

• Micro-Habits and the Long Game: Lisa and the host discuss how consistent “micro habits” and playing the “long game” are more impactful for health than seeking immediate satisfaction. The benefits of regularly drinking herbal tea build over time.

• The Beauty of Flowers and “Chi”: Lisa explains that flowers offer an immediate mental and emotional boost, citing studies on patients who receive flowers. In Asia, flower teas are part of a larger category of herbal remedies. The company name, The Qi (pronounced “chee”), means life energy. Her Tai Chi master explained that a plant flowering is the peak of its life and represents its highest energy. Naming the company The Qi is an homage to the power of flowers. The host reflects on how paying attention to our own qi and the qi of others and the environment can lead to more harmony.

• Sourcing and Preparation: Ingredients are sourced from different farms across China. The drying process for herbs can vary; their farms use sand drying followed by dehydrators. Lisa notes that The Qi’s flower teas are all-natural, with no artificial flavors or dye; the color comes directly from the petals.

• Recommendations for Beginners: For those new to herbal teas, Lisa recommends starting by supplementing their current routine. Use a relaxing blend in the afternoon or evening to unwind before bed. Consider a green tea blend with gentle caffeine as a potential morning coffee replacement. Enjoy rose tea anytime, especially in the afternoon or evening, possibly as a calming alternative to wine or cocktails.

Visit The Qi: www.the-qi.com | Social Media (Instagram, TikTok): @drinktheqi