Can Atractylodes macrocephala be steeped in water for drinking?
Apr 15, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
In general, Atractylodes (Baizhu) can be steeped in water for consumption, but it is important to follow medical advice and consume it in appropriate amounts. Baizhu can help enhance spleen and stomach function and promote digestion and absorption; it may improve symptoms such as poor appetite, abdominal distension, and loose stools caused by weakness of the spleen and stomach. Baizhu also has functions of drying dampness and promoting diuresis, helping to expel excess dampness from the body and relieving symptoms like physical heaviness caused by excessive dampness.
Generally speaking, Atractylodes can be consumed as an infusion, but it is important to follow medical advice regarding appropriate dosage. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Atractylodes helps enhance the functions of the spleen and stomach, promoting digestion and absorption. It can help alleviate symptoms caused by spleen and stomach weakness, such as poor appetite, abdominal distension, and loose stools. Atractylodes has a drying effect that promotes diuresis, facilitating the elimination of dampness from the body and helping relieve symptoms caused by excessive dampness, such as body heaviness and thick, greasy tongue coating. Additionally, Atractylodes can regulate sweat gland secretion, restoring normal perspiration, and is suitable for treating excessive sweating conditions such as spontaneous sweating and night sweats.
Atractylodes can regulate sweat gland secretion, restoring normal perspiration, and is suitable for treating excessive sweating conditions such as spontaneous sweating and night sweats. For pregnant women, moderate consumption of Atractylodes infusion may inhibit uterine contractions and provide a soothing effect on the fetus. Atractylodes also has various benefits, including promoting metabolism, diuresis and reducing edema, controlling blood sugar levels, antioxidant effects, anti-aging properties, and anti-tumor effects.
However, it is important to control the dosage. Atractylodes has a warm and drying nature; excessive consumption may lead to side effects such as heatiness, constipation, or yin deficiency. Individuals with constitutions characterized by yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity, blood deficiency with heat, insufficient stomach yin, depletion of body fluids, chronic constipation, or internal heat due to yin deficiency should avoid taking large amounts of Atractylodes alone. During consumption of Atractylodes infusion, if adverse reactions such as hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, chills with fever, irritability, skin eruptions, or other adverse effects occur, discontinue use immediately and seek medical attention.
