Why does drinking chrysanthemum and cassia seed tea cause diarrhea?

Diarrhea after drinking chrysanthemum and cassia seed tea may be caused by physiological factors or pathological conditions such as indigestion or acute enteritis. The specific causes are analyzed as follows:

I. Physiological Factors

Chrysanthemum and cassia seed tea contains components such as tea polyphenols. If an individual has poor gastrointestinal function, consuming a highly concentrated chrysanthemum and cassia seed tea may cause tea polyphenols to interact with gastric acid, stimulating increased intestinal motility and resulting in unformed stool, leading to diarrhea after drinking the tea.

II. Pathological Factors

1. Indigestion

Chrysanthemum and cassia seed tea contains a high amount of water. Drinking it immediately after meals may dilute gastric acid in the stomach, impairing normal digestion. This increases gastric pressure and causes food to pass prematurely into the intestines, potentially causing diarrhea. It is recommended to wait 2–3 hours after eating before drinking this tea to avoid increasing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Acute Enteritis

If pesticide residues or contaminants are present on the surface of the chrysanthemum and cassia seeds, drinking the tea may lead to inflammatory cell infiltration, damage to the gastric mucosa, and abnormal spasms of intestinal smooth muscles. In addition to diarrhea, symptoms such as nausea and abdominal pain may also occur. Patients should, under medical guidance, use medications such as蒙脱石散 (montmorillonite powder) and levofloxacin hydrochloride tablets. Additionally, increased fluid intake is recommended to prevent dehydration.

Besides the above, diarrhea may also result from other conditions such as food poisoning, viral enteritis, or chronic schistosomiasis. It is advised that patients seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment accordingly.