Danshen is a common traditional Chinese medicine, while green tea is one of the main varieties of tea in China and is loved by many people. Some people like to brew Danshen and green tea together. So, what are the benefits of drinking Danshen and green tea together?
The Benefits of Drinking Danshen and Green Tea Together
Promotes Blood Circulation and Dissolves Stasis
Danshen has a bitter taste and a slightly cold nature. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, dissolving stasis, and regulating menstrual flow. It can help dilate blood vessels and inhibit platelet aggregation, ensuring the smooth operation of blood vessels. The components in green tea, such as catechins and theaflavins, can reduce blood viscosity and inhibit atherosclerosis. Therefore, drinking Danshen and green tea together can assist in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.
Regulates Menstruation and Alleviates Pain
Danshen has a strong effect of promoting blood circulation and dissolving stasis, which can improve blood circulation and maintain the smoothness of blood vessels. Danshen and green tea can be helpful for conditions such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis, poor blood circulation, and injuries.
Beauty and Skin Care
Danshen promotes blood circulation and harmonizes the meridians, which can improve the blood circulation of facial skin. The components such as tanshinone, salvianic acid, protocatechuic acid, and protocatechualdehyde in Danshen have antioxidant properties and can improve skin quality. The tea polyphenols in green tea have strong antioxidant and physiological activities, serving as scavengers of free radicals in the body. Moreover, tea polyphenols are water-soluble substances with disinfection, sterilization, and anti-aging effects on the skin. Therefore, Danshen and green tea have certain beauty and skin care effects.
Relieves Fatigue
The antioxidants and vitamin C in green tea can secrete hormones that counteract tension and stress. The small amount of caffeine in green tea can stimulate the central nervous system, making people feel refreshed. Therefore, drinking Danshen and green tea can relieve fatigue to a certain extent.
Specific Steps for Brewing Danshen and Green Tea
1. Grind 10 grams of Danshen into coarse powder and put it in a tea bag.
2. Add about 3 grams of green tea and tie the tea bag tightly.
3. Place the tea cup in a cup and pour in boiling water.
4. Cover and steep for about 15 minutes, then drink as tea.
5. It can be brewed multiple times.
Can Danshen and Green Tea be Consumed Long-Term?
In general, it is not recommended to consume them long-term.
If used for daily health maintenance, long-term consumption is not recommended because Danshen is a traditional Chinese medicine that needs to be metabolized by the liver and kidneys. Long-term consumption is not conducive to the health of the liver and kidneys. Furthermore, long-term use of Danshen may cause low blood potassium levels, leading to numbness, weakness in the limbs, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.
If long-term consumption is necessary for the treatment of a certain disease, it is recommended to consume foods high in potassium, such as potatoes, soybeans, bananas, and peanuts.
Precautions for Drinking Danshen and Green Tea
1. Do Not Use Excessive Amounts
When brewing Danshen and green tea, do not use excessive amounts of Danshen. The recommended medicinal dosage of Danshen is generally 10-30 grams. Excessive intake may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding due to the strong blood circulation-promoting effect of Danshen.
2. Do Not Combine with Li Lu (Veratrum nigrum)
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is mentioned in the "Eighteen Incompatibilities" that "the combination of various ginsengs and Pulsatilla is poisonous." Danshen and Li Lu have opposite medicinal properties, so they should not be used together as it may cause toxic side effects.
3. Avoid Using with Anticoagulants
Danshen has the function of inhibiting platelet aggregation. Using it together with anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin and warfarin will enhance the anticoagulant effect, leading to bleeding. Therefore, it is not advisable to take anticoagulant drugs while drinking Danshen and green tea.
4. Prevent Allergic Reactions
Some people may be allergic to Danshen. Therefore, when drinking Danshen and green tea, special attention should be paid to avoid allergic reactions such as itching, urticaria, chest tightness, nausea, difficulty breathing, and other allergic symptoms.
Contraindications for Drinking Danshen and Green Tea
1. Pregnant women should not consume it.
Danshen is a blood circulation-promoting medicine with a strong effect. It has a certain stimulating effect on uterine blood vessels and can induce uterine contractions. Drinking Danshen and green tea during pregnancy may cause threatened abortion.
2. Patients with bleeding disorders
Danshen has a strong effect of promoting blood circulation and dissolving stasis, which can stimulate blood vessels. Patients with bleeding disorders should not take Danshen and green tea as it may increase bleeding.
