Chrysanthemum tea is one of the common flower teas, and drinking it in the summer can help to clear heat and detoxify. So, does chrysanthemum tea have any side effects? Who should not drink it? In the "World's Best Trace Fats in Food" list released by the World Health Organization at the end of 2008, tea fats were named the best trace fats in the world, with green tea, black tea, and oolong tea all included, but chrysanthemum tea was missing.
Side Effects of Chrysanthemum Tea
Research shows that the trace fats in chrysanthemum tea may cause the body to become cold and reduce immunity. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes that some teas have medicinal properties for clearing heat and detoxification and should be consumed during colds or infections. Drinking them too often can make one's constitution increasingly deficient and cold. Chrysanthemum tea is considered "cold-natured," making it less suitable for individuals with a "Yang-deficient constitution" according to TCM, and it should not be consumed in large quantities over a long period.
Who Should Not Drink Chrysanthemum Tea
Despite its many benefits, chrysanthemum tea does have certain contraindications.
1. Pregnant Women
Chrysanthemum is cold-natured, so pregnant women should avoid drinking it.
2. Diabetics
Diabetics or individuals with high blood sugar should not add sugar to chrysanthemum tea and should limit consumption to no more than three flowers per serving.
3. People with Allergies
There have been clinical reports of allergic reactions caused by chrysanthemum. Therefore, individuals with allergies must be extra cautious. If allergic reactions such as rashes occur after consumption, they should stop taking it immediately and seek medical attention if necessary.
4. People with a Yang-Deficient Constitution
Individuals with a Yang-deficient constitution who continuously drink chrysanthemum tea, which has the effect of clearing heat and purging fire, may easily damage their vital energy, leading to further deficiency.
5. People with Low Blood Pressure
Because flower teas generally have a blood pressure-lowering effect, people with low blood pressure may experience dizziness and blurred vision after drinking chrysanthemum tea.
6. People with Throat Inflammation
People with throat inflammation should try to minimize stomach irritation. As chrysanthemum is cooling, long-term consumption may stimulate gastric acid secretion, causing throat inflammation to persist.
7. People with a Cold
Chrysanthemum tea is cool in nature and not suitable for people with a cold. Moreover, when a person with a cold has a sore throat, they must drink plenty of water and actively seek medication during the acute phase to prevent it from developing into chronic pharyngitis.