Is there any side effect of drinking peach blossom water for bowel movement?

Nov 29, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, drinking peony flower water may cause some side effects. Peony flowers have certain medicinal value in traditional Chinese medicine and can help promote diuresis and relieve constipation. Drinking an appropriate amount of peony flower water may help improve constipation. From a compositional perspective, peony flowers contain substances such as kaempferol and coumarin, which can stimulate intestinal motility and aid in bowel movements.

Generally speaking, drinking moderate amounts of peony flower water usually does not cause side effects. However, long-term or excessive consumption may lead to some adverse effects. The detailed analysis is as follows:

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, peony flowers have certain medicinal values and can help relieve water retention and constipation. Drinking moderate amounts of peony flower water may aid in improving constipation and generally does not cause side effects. From a compositional standpoint, peony flowers contain substances such as kaempferol and coumarin, which can promote intestinal motility and assist in bowel movements.

However, there are also side effects associated with peony flower water. Long-term or excessive consumption of peony flower water for the purpose of relieving constipation may cause diarrhea. Because peony flowers have a strong laxative effect, overstimulation of intestinal motility may disrupt intestinal function, leading to abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea. For example, some people may consume large amounts of peony flower water in an attempt to quickly relieve constipation, only to experience multiple episodes of diarrhea in a single day, thereby affecting normal life and physical health.

Peony flowers also have certain blood-activating and stasis-resolving properties. Pregnant women consuming peony flower water may face an increased risk of miscarriage, as its blood-activating and stasis-resolving effects may affect uterine blood circulation, causing contractions of the uterine smooth muscle and potentially leading to severe consequences such as miscarriage. Moreover, some individuals may be allergic to peony flowers, experiencing allergic reactions such as skin itching, rashes, and even respiratory symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath after consuming peony flower water. Therefore, using peony flower water for constipation relief should be done cautiously, and it is advisable to proceed under the guidance of a physician.

In daily life, maintaining healthy dietary habits and drinking in moderation, while avoiding blindly following trends, is beneficial for maintaining good health.