Tongcao is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Many breastfeeding mothers drink some Tongcao when their milk supply is low. Usually, Tongcao is used to boil water or soup. Some people wonder if Tongcao can be soaked in water and consumed.
Can Tongcao be soaked in water and consumed?
It is not recommended to directly soak Tongcao in water. Boiling is more effective.
Tongcao is an herbal medicinal herb with a mild and sweet taste. It has a slightly cold nature and has no significant toxic side effects. It has the effects of clearing heat, promoting urination, and regulating menstruation and lactation. If it is soaked in water and consumed directly, its medicinal ingredients may not be fully extracted, and the expected therapeutic effects may not be achieved. It is generally recommended to boil it in water or cook it in soup. This way, the boiling time is longer, and the medicinal ingredients can be fully utilized.
How to consume Tongcao
Tongcao boiled water
1. Soak 3-5 grams of Tongcao in water for about 30 minutes.
2. Pour it into a clay pot.
3. Boil it with high heat, then simmer for about 15 minutes with low heat.
4. Filter the residue and drink the decoction.
Tongcao crucian carp soup
Ingredients: 500 grams of crucian carp, 5 grams of Tongcao, appropriate amount of cooking wine, ginger slices, and salt.
1. Remove the phosphorus and internal organs from the crucian carp and wash it.
2. Put the processed crucian carp in a frying pan and fry it slightly with oil.
3. Add salt, cooking wine, ginger slices, and water to the pan and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer until the soup turns milky white.
The efficacy and functions of Tongcao
Clears heat and promotes urination
Tongcao has a sweet and mild taste and a slightly cold nature. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Tongcao is light in texture and can regulate the meridians and help promote urination. Its active ingredients can increase the excretion of potassium in the body, and it can be used to treat conditions such as oliguria, urinary retention, painful urination, and edema.
Regulates menstruation and promotes lactation
Tongcao is odorless and tasteless and acts mildly. It can regulate the meridians and promote the secretion of breast milk. It has a certain therapeutic effect on postpartum insufficient lactation or lack of breast milk caused by poor breast duct patency.
Precautions when consuming Tongcao
1. Pay attention to dosage
The recommended dosage of Tongcao is generally 3-5 grams. If the dosage is too small, it may not achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Tongcao has a cold nature, and excessive dosage may stimulate the stomach and cause gastrointestinal discomfort. It may also increase the frequency of urination and affect the normal function of the kidneys.
2. Not suitable for long-term use
It is recommended to stop consuming Tongcao when the symptoms disappear. Tongcao has the function of promoting diuresis and treating urinary tract infections. Long-term use may increase the burden on the kidneys and affect kidney health.
Contraindications for consuming Tongcao
1. Spleen deficiency and diarrhea
People with a weak constitution and frequent loose stools or diarrhea should not consume Tongcao. Because Tongcao has a cold nature, consuming it may aggravate the symptoms of diarrhea in people with spleen deficiency.
2. Coldness in the middle burner
People with external cold invading the body, resulting in weakness in the limbs, cold limbs, abdominal pain, and other symptoms of middle burner deficiency and coldness should not consume Tongcao. Tongcao has a slightly cold nature, and consuming it may worsen the discomforting symptoms.
3. Qi and Yin deficiency
People with deficiency of both Qi and Yin should not consume Tongcao. Tongcao has the function of promoting diuresis and treating urinary tract infections. Consuming it may further deplete Qi and Jin-ye, resulting in increased thirst, shortness of breath, distention and fullness in the epigastrium, pale complexion, fatigue, and dry mouth and throat.
4. Pregnant women
Tongcao has a slightly cold nature and can promote the circulation of meridians. Consuming Tongcao in large quantities during pregnancy may lead to miscarriage, and the medicinal ingredients in Tongcao may also affect the growth and development of the fetus.
