【Side Effects of Malva Nut】
Malva nut, also known as Malva seed, is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. Many teachers and broadcasters often drink it to protect their vocal cords. However, drinking malva nut tea is not suitable for everyone. It is not recommended for those with weak spleen and stomach or chronic pharyngitis to drink it every day.
Malva nut tea should not be consumed long-term
Malva nut has a sweet and cool nature. Its functions include opening lung qi, clearing lung heat, moistening intestines and promoting bowel movements, and relieving sore throat and detoxification. It is especially suitable for "treating hoarseness". It is commonly used in clinical practice to treat sudden hoarseness accompanied by cough, thirst, sore throat, or hoarseness caused by loud voice calling, etc. Therefore, some people regard malva nut as a special medicine for treating voice hoarseness and even consume it as a health drink for a long time. However, this often backfires, causing various adverse reactions, such as weakness of the middle-jiao spleen and stomach, loose stools, reduced appetite, discomfort in the epigastric region, and even weight loss.
Malva nut is also toxic
Although malva nut can be used as both medicine and food, it is still a case of "a medicine with three parts of poison". Drinking malva nut for a long time without identifying the cause of the disease or considering individual constitution can be harmful to health. Unlike lily, lotus seeds, and red beans, which are also used as food and medicine, malva nut belongs to pure Chinese medicine. After consumption, it needs to be excreted by the kidneys and liver to eliminate its toxicity. If consumed for a long time, it will burden the kidney and liver systems. Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that malva nut has a cool nature, can promote intestinal peristalsis, and has a gentle laxative effect. However, long-term and excessive consumption of malva nut tea can cause weakness of the spleen and stomach, leading to diarrhea, reduced appetite, chest discomfort, and weight loss. This is more evident in people with poor gastrointestinal health. For patients who already have diarrhea, long-term use of malva nut will further exacerbate the condition. It can also cause many allergic reactions, such as itching of the whole body, swelling of the lips, dizziness, palpitations, and nausea, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
Malva nut damages the body's yang energy
Malva nut has a cool and cold nature. Excessive use can damage the body's yang energy, especially causing damage to the spleen and stomach function, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other side effects. Therefore, when taking malva nut, it should be used for its intended purpose and discontinued when it is effective. It should not be used as a health drink or consumed as tea temporarily. Some people have weak spleen and stomach, manifested as decreased appetite, cold abdominal pain, preference for warmth and pressure, and loose stools. They should be cautious when using malva nut. In addition, it should also be used with caution during a woman's menstrual period.
Malva nut should not be used for elderly people with phlegm
Malva nut should not be used by the elderly because although it has the effect of eliminating phlegm, it is only effective for phlegm caused by lung heat, while the phlegm in the elderly is often caused by spleen deficiency, lung deficiency, and kidney deficiency, resulting in cold phlegm.
Proper use of medication: Discontinue when effective
In the "List of Items that are Both Food and Drugs" released in China, malva nut is included. However, malva nut has medicinal properties and certain toxicity, and it is not suitable for certain constitutions, nor should it be consumed as a health drink for a long time.
In principle, malva nut should only be used as a medicine, and it should be used "according to the symptoms, discontinue when effective." For example, for acute tonsillitis, soak 3-5 malva nuts in boiling water and drink it for two to three days, then stop using it when the symptoms improve. For sore throat and hoarseness caused by wind-heat colds, soak 5 malva nuts and 3 grams of licorice in tea and drink it for two to three days. If it is effective, it should be discontinued. If it is ineffective, seek medical attention promptly.
Malva nut should not be consumed in certain conditions
1. For those with weak spleen and stomach, who usually experience abdominal pain and loose stools, consuming malva nut can easily cause diarrhea and damage the body's vitality.
2. For those with cough and sore throat caused by wind-cold colds, especially those who experience chills and aversion to cold and have a weak constitution.
3. For patients with diabetes, malva nut contains lactose and lactose acetate, so excessive intake should be avoided to prevent an increase in blood sugar levels.
4. For patients with low blood pressure, malva nut has certain hypotensive effects. Long-term use may cause low blood pressure.
5. The consequences of abusing malva nut are serious. Excessive consumption should be avoided, and moderate consumption is still acceptable.
