What are the benefits of steeping dried hawthorn slices in water?

Jan 24, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the effects of steeping dried hawthorn slices in water include lowering blood lipids and blood pressure, antioxidant action, promoting digestion, improving blood circulation to remove blood stasis, and enhancing immunity. The flavonoid substances in dried hawthorn slices can dilate blood vessels and improve vascular elasticity, helping to reduce blood pressure. Drinking the infused water can regulate myocardial and atrial contraction amplitude and coronary artery blood flow, promote fat metabolism, lower blood lipid levels.

Generally, the effects of steeping dried hawthorn slices in water include lipid- and blood pressure-lowering effects, antioxidant properties, improved digestion, blood circulation promotion, and enhanced immunity. A detailed explanation is as follows:

1. Lipid- and Blood Pressure-lowering Effects

The flavonoids contained in dried hawthorn slices can dilate blood vessels and improve vascular elasticity, which helps lower blood pressure. Drinking hawthorn-infused water can regulate the myocardial and atrial amplitude of motion and coronary blood flow, promote fat metabolism, and reduce blood lipid levels.

2. Antioxidant Properties

Dried hawthorn slices are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and anthocyanins, which provide antioxidant effects. Drinking this water helps remove free radicals, reduces cellular damage, and contributes to delaying the aging process.

3. Improved Digestion

Dried hawthorn slices are rich in malic acid, citric acid, and enzymes that can stimulate gastric juice secretion and increase the activity of pepsin. Drinking hawthorn-infused water accelerates digestion and absorption of food, promotes intestinal peristalsis, and prevents constipation.

4. Promotion of Blood Circulation and Removal of Blood Stasis

The flavonoids in dried hawthorn slices can improve blood circulation and have the effect of resolving blood stasis and promoting blood flow. Drinking this water can unblock meridians, promote blood circulation, and alleviate conditions such as amenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis, and chest pain caused by Qi stagnation and blood stasis.

5. Enhanced Immunity

The vitamin C and minerals in dried hawthorn slices can enhance the body's immunity. Drinking hawthorn-infused water can improve disease resistance, enhance white blood cell function, and assist the body in fighting infections.

However, individuals with excessive gastric acid secretion and those allergic to hawthorn should consume it cautiously to avoid adverse effects on the body.