Who in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Should Avoid Mint Tea? 🌿💫
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classifies mint (薄荷, Bò Hé, Lemon balm, สะระแหน่) as a cooling (凉, Liáng) and pungent (辛, Xīn) plant that cleanses the head, calms the liver, eases wind-heat, and helps the throat. While mint tea works wonders to relieve heat, it is not for everyone and can even worsen some conditions.
1. Mint Tea’s Properties in TCM
✔Thermal Nature: Cool (凉性, Liáng Xìng)
✔Taste: Pungent & Aromatic (辛, Xīn)
✔Organs Affected: Lung, Liver
Functions:
✅ Clears Wind-Heat (e.g., fever, sore throat)
✅ Relieves Liver Qi stagnation (e.g., stress, tension headaches)
✅ Benefits digestion (e.g., bloating, nausea)
2. Who Should Avoid Mint Tea?
❄️ A. People with Yang Deficiency or Cold Constitution (阳虚体质, Yáng Xū Tǐ Zhì)
Mint tea is cooling, so it can worsen Cold-type conditions, leading to:
✔ Cold hands and feet
✔ Fatigue, low energy
✔ Loose stools or diarrhea
✔ Sensitivity to cold temperatures
🚫 Better Alternative: Warm herbs like Ginger (生姜, Shēng Jiāng) or Cinnamon (桂皮, Guì Pí)
🤢 B. People with Weak Digestion or Spleen Qi Deficiency (脾气虚, Pí Qì Xū)
Mint’s cooling nature weakens the Spleen and Stomach, causing:
✔ Poor appetite
✔ Bloating, nausea
✔ Loose stools or frequent diarrhea
🚫 Better Alternative: Chamomile Tea (洋甘菊茶, Yáng Gān Jú Chá) or Licorice Root Tea (甘草茶, Gān Cǎo Chá) to strengthen digestion.
🔥 C. People with Excessive Sweating or Deficiency Sweating (自汗, Zì Hàn or 盗汗, Dào Hàn)
Mint is diaphoretic (induces sweating) and may worsen:
✔ Night sweats (common in Yin Deficiency conditions)
✔ Spontaneous sweating (common in Qi Deficiency conditions)
🚫 Better Alternative: Ophiopogon Root Tea (麦冬茶, Mài Dōng Chá) to nourish Yin and stop excessive sweating.
♀️ D. Pregnant Women (Especially in Early Pregnancy)
Mint tea may:
✔ Stimulate the uterus → Risk of miscarriage in sensitive cases
✔ Relax muscles too much, affecting digestion and circulation
🚫 Better Alternative: Red Dates Tea (红枣茶, Hóng Zǎo Chá) or Ginger Tea to support pregnancy health.
🍼 E. Breastfeeding Mothers (Especially with Low Milk Supply)
Mint is known to reduce lactation (similar to sage), so it is not recommended for:
✔ Women struggling with low milk production
✔ Women trying to maintain a good milk supply
🚫 Better Alternative: Fenugreek Tea or Fennel Tea to enhance milk production.
💊 F. People Taking Certain Medications
Mint may interfere with certain drugs, such as:
✔ Blood pressure medication (may lower blood pressure too much)
✔ Diabetes medication (may lower blood sugar too much)
🚫 Better Alternative: Consult a healthcare provider for the best herbal tea option.
Although Mint tea helps chill the body and calm the liver, it is not recommended for those who have a spleen qi deficiency, a yang deficiency, sweat excessively, are pregnant, nursing, or have specific medical disorders. Select a warming or neutral tea if you're unsure how to keep everything balanced.
❌This information is merely informative and is not regarded as health advice. Any medical advice or diagnosis should be sought from a specialist.⭕️
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Doctor of Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine
Caulo Care Acupuncture
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