TCM teas are hotter in health market

KUNMING — Several Chinese hospitals have found their edge in the country's growing health drinks market by prescribing herbal formulas that target minor symptoms, from calming nerves and aiding sleep to promoting healthy hair.

Struggling with insomnia, Guo Xiaofan, a 26-year-old resident of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, recently consulted the online platform of a traditional Chinese medicine hospital, where she was prescribed herbal tea.

Guo brewed the dried herbs at home and found it a great alternative to drinking milk tea. "The first sip tasted a bit strange but as I continued drinking, it tasted quite good," she says.