What are the effects and benefits of drinking hawthorn tea?
Generally speaking, the functions and benefits of hawthorn soaked in water include improving immunity, enhancing appetite, promoting digestion, activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and lowering lipids for weight loss. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Improve Immunity
Hawthorn contains vitamin C and various trace elements that can enhance the body's immune function. Drinking hawthorn-infused water can enhance the body's ability to resist diseases, promote the production of white blood cells, and help prevent colds and other illnesses.
2. Enhance Appetite
Hawthorn has a sour, slightly sweet taste. Drinking water infused with processed (roasted) hawthorn can stimulate the secretion of saliva and improve appetite. People with poor appetite may benefit from moderate consumption of roasted hawthorn-infused water to stimulate their appetite.
3. Promote Digestion and Resolve Food Stagnation
The various organic acids contained in hawthorn can enhance the activity of pepsin and improve digestion. Drinking hawthorn-infused water can promote gastrointestinal motility, aid digestion, and alleviate symptoms such as food stagnation, abdominal distension, belching with a sour taste, and acid regurgitation.
4. Activate Blood Circulation and Remove Blood Stasis
Hawthorn can improve blood circulation and assist in treating conditions caused by blood stasis. Drinking hawthorn-infused water can relieve localized pain and swelling after injuries, as well as stabbing pain in the chest or abdomen, dysmenorrhea, and abdominal pain due to postpartum blood stasis.
5. Lower Lipids and Aid Weight Loss
Flavonoids and polyphenols in hawthorn have lipid-lowering effects. Drinking hawthorn-infused water can effectively reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, prevent atherosclerosis, and help control body weight.
However, please note that patients with gastrointestinal diseases should not drink it on an empty stomach, as it may stimulate gastric acid secretion and worsen gastrointestinal discomfort. Additionally, prolonged and excessive consumption of hawthorn-infused water may erode tooth enamel; therefore, brushing teeth or rinsing the mouth is recommended after drinking.