Hawthorn is rich in nutrients and has a sour and sweet taste. It is easy to eat too much without realizing it. Hawthorn is rich in vitamins and has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. It can also be used for irregular menstruation. So, can eating hawthorn help with constipation?
Can Eating Hawthorn Help with Constipation?
Yes, it can.
Hawthorn is effective in treating diet-induced constipation, stomach distention, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, and blood stasis-related dysmenorrhea. Hawthorn can also promote qi circulation and has certain effects in treating constipation caused by food stagnation, so eating hawthorn is beneficial for bowel movements.
The Efficacy and Functions of Hawthorn
Improves digestion
Hawthorn contains a large amount of organic acids, such as citric acid and tannic acid, which can promote the secretion of gastric juice and facilitate digestion. Therefore, hawthorn has the effect of improving digestion.
Beauty and skincare
Hawthorn can remove free radicals and has antioxidant effects. It also contains a large amount of vitamin C, which can whiten and beautify the skin, resist aging, and prevent pigmentation.
Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis
Hawthorn has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis without damaging fresh blood. It can treat blood stasis-related dysmenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain.
Lowers blood pressure and blood lipid levels
Hawthorn contains hawthorn brass and triterpenoid acids, which can lower blood pressure and blood lipid levels. Triterpenoid acids can also act on the cardiovascular system.
Regulates menstrual cycle and relieves pain
Hawthorn can resolve blood stasis and treat blood stasis-related irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea. It can also regulate menstrual flow. However, it is not recommended for girls with light menstrual flow to use hawthorn to regulate their menstrual cycle, as hawthorn promotes blood circulation.
Precautions when Eating Hawthorn
Not suitable for patients with gastric diseases
The acidic substances in hawthorn can promote the secretion of gastric juice. Excessive gastric acid secretion can aggravate irritation to the gastric mucosa. Patients with gastric diseases may experience symptoms such as stomach pain, excessive gastric acid, and gastric ulcers when eating hawthorn. Therefore, it is not recommended for patients with gastric diseases to eat hawthorn.
Moderate consumption for diabetic patients
Although hawthorn can lower blood pressure and blood lipid levels, it also contains a large amount of sugar. Excessive consumption of hawthorn can affect blood sugar levels, leading to increased blood sugar levels. Diabetic patients should test their blood sugar levels before and after eating hawthorn, and record their blood sugar levels to understand their blood sugar fluctuation levels.
Not recommended for pregnant women
Hawthorn has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and can contract the smooth muscles of the uterus. Eating hawthorn can easily cause miscarriage in pregnant women, so pregnant women should be cautious when consuming hawthorn.
What to Drink with Hawthorn
Hawthorn and Cassia Seed Tea
Ingredients: 6 grams of hawthorn, 4 grams of cassia seeds.
Instructions: Put the hawthorn and cassia seeds in a clean tea cup. Pour 300 milliliters of boiling water into the cup and steep for about 5 minutes. Let it cool before drinking.
Hawthorn and Chrysanthemum Tea
Ingredients: 15 grams of chrysanthemum, 20 grams of hawthorn.
Instructions: Put the hawthorn and chrysanthemum in a cup and steep in boiled water for 10 minutes.
Hawthorn and Goji Berry Tea
Ingredients: 5-8 dried hawthorn slices, 10 goji berries.
Instructions: Wash the hawthorn and goji berries, put them in a tea cup, and soak in boiling water for about 30 minutes before drinking.
Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Tea
Ingredients: 10 hawthorn slices, 6 tangerine peels, 15 rock sugars.
Instructions: Wash the hawthorn and tangerine peels, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes over low heat. Add rock sugar and simmer for another 5 minutes.
