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. Bro Niu 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.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suited to women with period pain characterised by cold, tight or clotty periods — pain that improves with warmth, sluggish flow, dark blood with clots
• Can begin one week before the expected period and be taken for 5 consecutive days
• Women with a heat-type constitution (yin deficiency / excess heat): reduce or omit the hawthorn; motherwort on its own with south jujubes and brown sugar is more appropriate
• Pregnancy: do not use. Motherwort is a uterine stimulant — it is not safe during pregnancy
• If period pain is severe enough to be disabling, please see a doctor to rule out endometriosis or other underlying conditions

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Motherwort (yi mu cao): Called “the sage herb for women” in classical texts; associated with activating blood circulation, relieving stagnation and regulating the menstrual cycle. Used in traditional Chinese medicine for menstrual irregularity, pain, heavy or scant flow, and postnatal support
• Hawthorn (shan zha): Slightly warming and sour; associated with moving stagnant blood, easing cramping pain and dissolving clots. Also widely used to support digestion
• Brown sugar (hong tang): Warming in nature; traditionally preferred over white sugar in women’s health recipes for its blood-warming effect

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Motherwort (yi mu cao), dried	~37 g (1 liang)	Rinse; use 2 liang if fresh
Hawthorn berries (shan zha)	~18 g (5 qian)	Rinse
Brown sugar (hong tang)	To taste	Add at the end
Water	5 bowls (~1 L)	Reduce to about 2 bowls

Method

1. Rinse the motherwort and hawthorn berries.
2. Place both in a pot with 5 bowls 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.

Bro Niu’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 (5 qian) for lighter menstrual irregularity, such as scanty flow.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (May, reader): Can motherwort be taken during the period itself? Bro Niu: It is best taken before the period starts or after it ends. However, if the flow is scanty or painful, you can take a moderate amount during the period as well.

• Q (Polly): I have yin deficiency and internal heat — can I still use this tea? Bro Niu: Yes, women with yin deficiency can still use motherwort. In that case, leave out the hawthorn and replace it with south jujubes (nan zao) 5 pieces, keeping the brown sugar. This is a gentler version that still supports the menstrual cycle without adding to internal heat.

• Q (Ella): My period only lasts one or two days and is very scanty. What should I prepare? Bro Niu: Try motherwort 5 qian, hawthorn 3 qian, and brown sugar to taste, simmered in 4 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Take 2–3 times a week; stop during the period.

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Published August 14, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.