Can drinking hawthorn tea help lower blood pressure?

Generally, drinking hawthorn-infused water can have a certain auxiliary effect in lowering blood pressure, but it cannot replace medication treatment. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Hawthorn is a food with both medicinal and dietary uses. It has a slightly warm nature and a sour, sweet taste, affecting the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians. Hawthorn contains various active ingredients such as citric acid, malic acid, vitamin C, and flavonoids. These components have the effect of dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, moderate consumption of hawthorn-infused water can help reduce blood pressure to some extent.

However, it should be noted that the blood pressure-lowering effect of hawthorn-infused water is relatively weak and cannot replace antihypertensive medications for treating hypertension. For patients with hypertension, it is important to regularly take prescribed antihypertensive medications under a doctor's guidance to maintain stable blood pressure. Meanwhile, drinking hawthorn-infused water can only serve as one of the auxiliary measures for lowering blood pressure.

In addition, there are some contraindications and precautions associated with drinking hawthorn-infused water. Individuals with weak spleen and stomach function, pregnant women, and children should consume it cautiously. Excessive consumption should be avoided, as it may cause diarrhea, stomach discomfort, and other symptoms. Hawthorn is naturally sour, and its acidity increases after heating. It is recommended to brush teeth immediately after consumption to protect dental health.