Best Herbs for Energy and Focus: 5 Chinese Herbs (Plus 1 Ayurvedic Favorite)

Your morning coffee gets you going. Then 3pm hits, and your energy and focus drop off a cliff. If you're looking for a steadier way through the day, Chinese Medicine has been using herbs for energy and focus for millennia, and modern research is starting to explain why.

Here are the best herbs for energy and focus, what the research says about each one and how to make them part of your day.

Why we lose energy and focus: the Chinese Medicine view

In Chinese Medicine, steady energy and clear thinking both depend on Qi, your body's vital energy. When Qi runs low, you may feel tired, foggy and unmotivated, a pattern practitioners often trace back to the Spleen. (Not sure where you stand? Learn the signs of Qi deficiency and how to determine your Qi state.)

Caffeine borrows energy you don't have. Qi-building herbs work differently: they're traditionally used to support your body's own energy, so you feel steady instead of wired.

5 Chinese herbs for energy and focus

1. Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao): the stamina mushroom

Cordyceps is a prized functional mushroom traditionally used to tonify Qi and support stamina. In a 12-week Cordyceps trial in healthy older adults, 20 participants improved their exercise performance compared with placebo. Results in trained athletes have been mixed, but research on Cordyceps' properties indicate it can help with age, stress, and fatigue related symptoms.

2. Astragalus (Huang Qi): the classic Qi builder

Astragalus is one of the most important Qi tonics in Chinese Medicine, used to replenish energy and build resilience. A review of Astragalus's pharmacological actions describes its immune-supporting and anti-aging properties, mostly from lab research.

3. Lion's Mane (Hou Tou Gu): the focus mushroom

With its shaggy white look, Lion's Mane is the functional mushroom most linked to mental clarity. In a 2023 Lion's Mane trial in healthy adults, 41 people completed a focus task faster within an hour of taking it. It's one of the most promising herbs for brain fog and focus.

4. Ginger (Sheng Jiang): the warming circulator

In Chinese Medicine, fresh ginger warms the body and keeps Qi moving, which supports digestion and, in turn, steady energy. A critical review of ginger's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities summarizes its well-studied compounds.

5. Cinnamon (Rou Gui): the warming spice

Cinnamon bark is a warming herb traditionally used to support circulation and gently lift energy. A review of Cinnamomum cassia's traditional uses and pharmacology describes its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in lab research.

Bonus: Bacopa (Shui Ba Zhui), the Ayurvedic focus herb

Bacopa comes from Ayurveda, not Chinese Medicine, but it's one of the best-studied herbs for focus and concentration. A meta-analysis of Bacopa clinical trials on cognition found it has the potential to improve thinking, especially speed of attention, and a 12-week Bacopa trial in adults over 65 found better word recall than placebo.

Want to go deeper? Explore Elix's Meet the Herbs guide to Chinese medicinal herbs.

How to take herbs for energy (without the crash)

• Take them in the morning or early afternoon, when you'd usually reach for caffeine, or add them to your daily caffeine routine to reduce the jitters.

• Pair them with a real breakfast. Chinese Medicine sees digestion as the root of steady energy.

• Give them time. Herbs work best taken daily. Many people notice a difference within a few weeks.

• Choose combinations. In Chinese Medicine, herbs are rarely taken alone. Formulas pair herbs so they work together.

The easy way: all 6 herbs in one formula

You don't need six bottles. Yang Time, Elix's caffeine-free energy and focus formula, combines Cordyceps, Astragalus, Lion's Mane, Bacopa, Ginger and Cinnamon in one liquid, crafted by Doctors of Chinese Medicine. Add 3–4 droppers (½ tsp) to your coffee, tea or water, or take it straight.

It's earned some buzz, too: the New York Post featured it in its story on going coffee-free with Elix's Yang Time herbal tonic.

In an internal perception study of 37 Yang Time users:†

• 97% reported improved daytime energy levels

• 94% of users experiencing brain fog noticed a reduction

• 92% reported improved ability to focus

As Katie, a Yang Time customer, put it: "Within a few days I had more creativity and noticed less brain fog. My normal energy seemed sustained as well instead of dropping towards the end of the day."

See the full Yang Time perception study results on energy, focus and brain fog.

Herbs for energy FAQs

What herbs give you energy? 

In Chinese Medicine, Qi-building herbs like Cordyceps and Astragalus are the classic choices for energy. Warming herbs like ginger and cinnamon help keep that energy moving.

What are the best herbs for focus and concentration?

Lion's Mane and Bacopa are two of the best-studied herbs for focus. Both have human research on attention and thinking speed.

Are herbs for energy safe to take with coffee? 

Yes, they're caffeine-free. Many people add Yang Time to their morning coffee, or use it in place of an afternoon cup.

Who should check with a doctor first? 

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking herbal supplements if you're pregnant, nursing, managing a health condition, taking medication or under 18.

Find your steady energy

The best herbs for energy work with your body, not against it. Start with one easy step: try Yang Time for caffeine-free energy and focus.

This article was medically  reviewed by Dr. Megan MacLaggan L.Ac,  DAcCHM

Dr. Megan MacLaggan is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and certified clinical Eastern and Western herbalist specializing in women’s health. In addition to clinical practice and coaching, she writes, teaches, develops curriculum, and consults at the intersection of East Asian Medicine and biomedicine.

Sources

1. Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects. J Altern Complement Med. 2010.
2. Properties of Cordyceps Sinensis: A review.
3. A Review of the Pharmacological Action of Astragalus Polysaccharide.
4. The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults. Nutrients. 2023.
5. A critical review of Ginger's (Zingiber officinale) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Front Nutr. 2024.
6. Cinnamomum cassia Presl: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology.
7. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014.
8. Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly. J Altern Complement Med. 2008.

† Based on a self-reported consumer perception study of 37 Yang Time users. Individual results may vary.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.