Eating too much meat? Have some hawthorn. Feeling full after eating noodles? Still have some hawthorn. Is hawthorn a universal medicine for digestion? Traditional Chinese medicine says otherwise. So what are its actual effects?
Hawthorn's Effects
Hawthorn has a mild warm nature and a sour-sweet taste. It enters the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians, and has the functions of promoting digestion, invigorating blood circulation, resolving stasis, and astringing to stop diarrhea.
Adding a few hawthorn berries to dishes like chicken or beef makes them easier to stew, which demonstrates hawthorn's ability to aid in the digestion of meat.
Different Uses of Hawthorn as Food and Medicine
Many hawthorn products on the market contain food additives. Although they may have digestive benefits, they often have high sugar content, which can decrease appetite when consumed in excess.
Therefore, if you feel bloated, it is better to buy some hawthorn and soak it in water to drink.
Is Hawthorn a Universal Medicine for Digestion?
Hawthorn is generally used to aid in the digestion of meat. For rice and flour-based foods, malt and germinated grains can be used, while chicken's gizzard can eliminate all kinds of food stagnation. Radish seeds mainly aid in digestion and reduce bloating, but should not be consumed with ginseng.
Common Misconceptions about Hawthorn
Many people believe that hawthorn can invigorate the spleen and stomach, but in fact it does not have this function. Moreover, those with weak spleen and stomach should not consume it excessively.
If poor digestion and food stagnation are caused by weak spleen and stomach, it is recommended to take stomach-invigorating digestive pills in moderation.
Precautions for Using Hawthorn
Pregnant women should not consume hawthorn as it can cause uterine contractions and lead to miscarriage.
Hawthorn should not be consumed on an empty stomach as it stimulates gastric acid secretion. Therefore, those with excessive gastric acid or peptic ulcers should also avoid consuming hawthorn.
