Motherwort, Hawthorn and Brown Sugar Tea

Why people make this tea

Motherwort — yi mu cao, literally “the herb that benefits mothers” — has been the cornerstone of women’s menstrual care in Chinese food therapy for centuries. Nourilo recommends this simple tea for women who experience cramping pain before or during their period, particularly pain associated with cold sensations in the lower abdomen, dark or clotted blood, or periods that feel sluggish and incomplete. Hawthorn adds a pleasant tartness and enhances the blood-moving quality, while brown sugar brings warming energy and a naturally sweet flavour that makes the drink easy to take. Together they form one of the most practical and time-honoured remedies for cold- or stagnation-type menstrual discomfort.

Method

1. Rinse the motherwort and hawthorn berries.
2. Place both in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
3. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for about 1 hour.
4. Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Drink warm. Begin one week before your expected period and continue for 5 consecutive days; stop during the period if flow becomes heavy.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Avoid cold food and drinks during and before menstruation — ice water, cold salads and frozen foods can worsen cold-type period pain considerably.
• If you have a heat constitution (run hot, tend toward inflammation), you can still use motherwort: simply omit the hawthorn and replace with south jujubes (nan zao) 5 pieces, keeping the brown sugar.
• For a lighter version that can be prepared more quickly: use shan zha (hawthorn), ginger and brown sugar, simmered for just 15 minutes — this is good for brownish or dark scanty flow before the period properly arrives.
• Motherwort can also be used in a reduced amount (19 g) for lighter menstrual irregularity, such as scanty flow.