Herbal & Flower Teas
Motherwort, Hawthorn and Brown Sugar Tea
traditionally used to ease menstrual cramps, encourage smooth blood flow and support cycle regularity
In short: Motherwort, Hawthorn and Brown Sugar Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally used to ease menstrual cramps, encourage smooth blood flow and support cycle regularity. It is most often made for women's wellness. Total time about 1 hr 10 min. Key ingredients: brown sugar.
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.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Hawthorn
Skin hydration scores improved more with hawthorn fruit than with placebo (p<0.05). Changes in other skin phenotypes and leukocyte telomere length were similar between groups. Genotype-specific effects were reported.Limitation: Small trial in which 36 completed follow-up; the genotype subgroup analyses are based on very few participants and are exploratory.PubMed 40573097 · 2 more hawthorn studies
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Ingredient notes for this recipe
- Hawthorn: Can cause dizziness, nausea or digestive upset, and may interact with heart medicines. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Hawthorn
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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