Ju Hua is the dried flower of the chrysanthemum, used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and still drunk daily as a mild floral tea. It has a long traditional record and a growing body of laboratory research. What it does not yet have is much human trial evidence. This guide separates the tradition, the lab findings, and the safety notes so you can see where each claim stands.
What is Ju Hua?
Ju Hua (θθ±) is the flower head of Chrysanthemum morifolium, a plant in the daisy (Asteraceae) family. It is both a food and a medicine in China, with a written record stretching back well over a thousand years (Liu et al., 2024). The flowers are harvested in autumn, often steamed and then dried, and brewed as a pale tea on their own or with other herbs.
The flowers are rich in flavonoids such as luteolin and apigenin, plus chlorogenic acid and small amounts of essential oil. These compounds are behind most of the herb's studied activity (Liu et al., 2024).
Traditional uses in Chinese medicine
In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Ju Hua is described as cool and is used to "disperse wind-heat," "clear liver fire," and "brighten the eyes" (Liu et al., 2024). In practice that means it has traditionally been taken for early colds with fever and headache, for red or tired eyes, and for dizziness linked in TCM to the liver. White-flowered Ju Hua is favored for eye and liver patterns, while yellow-flowered Ju Hua is favored for colds.
These are traditional indications, not proven medical treatments. Ju Hua is usually combined with other herbs in a formula rather than taken alone for a specific condition.
What the research actually shows
Most chrysanthemum research is preclinical, meaning it comes from cell and animal studies rather than people.
Laboratory and animal findings
A 2025 review of C. morifolium and C. indicum found antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity across lab and animal models. The flavonoids raised antioxidant enzyme levels and lowered inflammatory signals such as TNF-alpha and IL-6 in mice. Crucially, the same review states the authors found no human clinical studies of these effects (Liang et al., 2025). So these results explain why the herb is studied, but they do not prove it treats disease in people.
The human evidence so far
One small randomized study in 37 healthy adults tested a chrysanthemum extract against a high-fat meal. The extract improved blood antioxidant markers, but it did not lower the post-meal rise in triglycerides or total cholesterol, and the main fat and glucose measures showed no meaningful difference between groups (Chen et al., 2023). In plain terms: a measurable antioxidant effect, but no proven benefit for blood fats. This was also done in healthy young people, so it says nothing about anyone with a diagnosed condition.
Bottom line: the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory story is promising in the lab, but strong human evidence that Ju Hua treats colds, eye disease, high blood pressure, or anything else is not there yet.
How Ju Hua is used
Ju Hua is almost always taken as a tea or within a herbal formula, not as a high-dose supplement.
- Tea: a few dried flower heads steeped in hot water for several minutes, often with a little rock sugar. It is a mild everyday drink, especially in warm weather.
- In formulas: practitioners pair it with herbs like honeysuckle flower for colds, or with liver-supporting herbs for eye and headache patterns.
- Practitioner dosing: traditional texts list roughly 4.5 to 15 grams of dried flower per day within a formula, which is far more than a casual cup of tea.
Because the meaningful dosing comes from formulas, anyone using Ju Hua for a health reason rather than as a beverage is best guided by a qualified TCM practitioner.
Safety and who should avoid it
Ju Hua tea is generally well tolerated as a drink, and chrysanthemum extract is considered possibly safe for short-term use of up to about 12 weeks (WebMD, Chrysanthemum). Still, there are real cautions:
- Allergy: chrysanthemum is in the Asteraceae family, so people allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, or related plants can react to it. Stop and seek care if you notice rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.
- Skin sun sensitivity: chrysanthemum can increase sensitivity to sunlight in some people.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: there is not enough reliable safety data, so it is best avoided.
- Other medicines or conditions: if you take prescription drugs or have a chronic illness, check with your clinician first, and do not use Ju Hua in place of treatment for an eye, heart, or blood pressure condition.
For background on using herbs and TCM safely, see NCCIH.
For other herbs used this way, see our guides to Korean mint and bupleurum, which also appear in cooling and liver-related formulas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ju Hua good for? Traditionally it is used for early colds, red or tired eyes, and dizziness or headache, almost always within a formula. Lab studies show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, but human evidence for specific conditions is lacking.
Is Ju Hua tea safe to drink every day? For most people a normal cup of chrysanthemum tea is well tolerated. Avoid it if you are allergic to ragweed or related plants, and avoid it in pregnancy. Higher medicinal doses should be supervised.
Does Ju Hua lower blood pressure or cholesterol? There is no solid human evidence that it does. The one human trial found an antioxidant effect but no reduction in blood fats. Do not use it to manage blood pressure or cholesterol on your own.
Is Ju Hua good for the eyes? It is a classic traditional remedy for sore, tired eyes, but this use has not been confirmed in clinical trials. See an eye-care professional for any persistent eye problem.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
Sources
- Liu Y, et al. Chrysanthemum morifolium as a traditional herb: A review of historical development, classification, phytochemistry, pharmacology and application. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2024 β PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38621465/
- Liang Y, et al. Exploring the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties of Chrysanthemum morifolium and Chrysanthemum indicum: a narrow review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2025 β PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11963160/
- Chen L, et al. Analysis of Chemical Constituents of Chrysanthemum morifolium Extract and Its Effect on Postprandial Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Adults. Molecules, 2023 β PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9866508/
- WebMD. Chrysanthemum: Uses, Side Effects, and Safety. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-904/chrysanthemum
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know
All sources accessed 29 May 2026.
