Are traditional Chinese medicine slimming teas effective? We often see slimming teas or other slimming drinks advertised, but they are not specifically formulated for each individual. Drinking them indiscriminately may burden the body, causing problems such as digestion, absorption issues, and diarrhea. Today, we recommend traditional Chinese medicine slimming teas for clever weight loss, avoiding side effects.

The principle of Chinese herbal slimming tea

The principle of weight loss in traditional Chinese medicine, based on the concept of "medicine and food sharing the same origin," involves the use of mild, health-promoting herbs that are already widely consumed, such as the trendy weight-loss remedies hawthorn and lotus leaves. How these herbs contribute to weight loss is determined by a doctor. The principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating obesity lies in activating and restoring the body's natural functions, followed by appropriate body shaping and weight loss to help the figure regain its original shape.

Recommended: Six Common Chinese Herbal Teas for Weight Loss

1. Job's Tears Slimming Tea

Ingredients: 10g Job's tears, 5g hawthorn, 5g fresh lotus leaf

Instructions: First, wash the ingredients with clean water, then boil them together in hot water and it's ready to drink. If you want it to taste better, you can add a little sugar to make it more palatable.

Functions: The main ingredient in this recipe is Job's tears, also known as coix seed. It strengthens the spleen and promotes diuresis, helping to excrete excess water that contributes to weight gain through urination. It also converts excess fat and sugar into energy through metabolism and is rich in fiber, which can aid in weight loss. However, Job's tears have a high sugar content and can hinder digestion if consumed in excess. Therefore, it is still necessary to adjust the types and amounts of food consumed and combine this with exercise to achieve the goal of weight loss.

2. Cassia Seed and Hawthorn Slimming Tea

Ingredients: 10g cassia seeds, 5g roasted hawthorn, 2g dried tangerine peel, 1-2 slices of licorice root

Instructions: Add 500 ml of water, bring to a boil, then simmer for three minutes. Immediately pour out the liquid to prevent the medicinal properties from being absorbed by the dregs. Divide into three portions, one portion per day. If diarrhea occurs, take every other day. Note: Do not add sugar.

Effects: This slimming tea formula has a significant weight loss effect, and because of the relatively large amount of cassia seeds, the weight loss speed is quite satisfactory. It should be noted that cassia seeds are cooling in nature, making them more suitable for people with a "hot" constitution for weight loss.

3. Hawthorn and Roselle Slimming Tea

Ingredients: 5g hawthorn, 2 roselle flowers, 5 chrysanthemum flowers, 1 spoonful of Pu-erh tea leaves, 2 teaspoons of rock sugar.

Instructions: Except for the chrysanthemum, quickly rinse all other ingredients with clean water and drain. Place the hawthorn, roselle, and tea leaves into a teapot, pour in boiling water, add rock sugar, and stir well. Once the aroma is released, sprinkle with chrysanthemum.

Function: Judging from the ingredients in the formula, hibiscus is used for weight loss, which may be unfamiliar to some people. According to nutritionists, it does have some weight loss effect, but it can only be said to be limited. Of course, the formula also includes Pu-erh tea, which has recently become very popular in the weight loss world, and hawthorn to promote digestion. This will give double protection to the mysterious weight loss effect of hibiscus.

4. Lotus leaf tea

Instructions: Tear lotus leaves into small pieces, place them in a cup, pour in hot water, cover, and drink when it's cool enough to drink. The amount to steep depends on your taste; generally, steep until the water turns a tea color. Alternatively, take an appropriate amount of fresh green lotus leaves, chop them, add water, boil, and drink frequently as a tea substitute. This is effective for high blood pressure and obesity.

Pick fresh lotus leaves, discarding any yellow or broken ones. Wash the leaves, then dry them in the sun. Microwave them for 2 minutes to make lotus leaf tea. Remember to add cassia seeds when brewing and only drink the first infusion. Alternatively, use lotus leaves (select large leaves and cut into small pieces), roasted cassia seeds, rose petals, and large hawthorn berries, mixed together. Divide into small packets. Brew one packet at a time, ideally for only one cup of water, drinking one strong cup of tea at once. Drink 2-3 packets daily.

Benefits: Generally suitable for people who want to lose weight. However, it should be noted that lotus leaves are cold in nature, so they are not suitable for people with a weak and cold constitution (who often feel weak and easily fatigued, have a pale complexion and pale lips, are afraid of cold and wind, have cold hands and feet, prefer hot drinks and hot food, often have diarrhea, often have pale urination, often have late menstruation with many blood clots, and have a pale red tongue). They are also not suitable for women during menstruation, breastfeeding, or menopause.

5. Traditional Chinese Medicine Lotus Leaf Decoction

Ingredients: Lotus leaf, Atractylodes lancea, Atractylodes macrocephala, Phellodendron chinense, Achyranthes bidentata, Coix lacryma-jobi, Astragalus membranaceus, Cinnamomum cassia, Chaenomeles speciosa, Poria cocos, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Crataegus pinnatifida, Plantago asiatica, Polygonum cuspidatum, P

Method: Decocted in water and taken orally.

Therapeutic effects: Primarily treats hyperlipidemia and hypertension-related obesity. It mainly has diuretic, digestive, and relieving effects. It also lowers blood lipids and blood pressure. The method of use is to decoct the herbs using traditional Chinese medicine, one dose per day, which can be taken 2-3 times. After 20 days of continuous use, weight changes begin to appear; after one month of continuous use, most people will lose about 10 kilograms. Furthermore, the He Shu Tang has no side effects.

6. Hawthorn and Lotus Leaf Drink

Ingredients: 30g hawthorn, 12g lotus leaf, 500ml water

Method: Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, then drink the liquid as tea.

Therapeutic effects: Hawthorn and lotus leaves both have the effects of dilating blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, and can also help with weight loss. They are especially beneficial for people with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, coronary heart disease and obesity.

Make your own herbal weight loss tea and choose one that suits your body type.