Xian Qian Cao is a plant with the functions of promoting diuresis, clearing heat, and eliminating fire. After picking Xian Qian Cao at home, how should it be dried and stored? Is it better to make tea with dried or fresh Xian Qian Cao? Let’s take a look together.

How to dry and store Xian Qian Cao

After picking Xian Qian Cao at home, the first thing to do is to pick out the dry branches and leaves;

Clean the Xian Qian Cao with cold water, making sure to clean the fine sand at the root of the Xian Qian Cao thoroughly;

Then put the cleaned Xian Qian Cao in the sun for 2-3 days to dry it into dried Xian Qian Cao;

Then put the dried Xian Qian Cao into a sealed glass bottle or a self-sealing bag and store it in a cool and dry place.

Is dried or fresh Xian Qian Cao better for making tea

Both are acceptable.

The nutrients in dried Xian Qian Cao do not undergo significant loss, so there is not much difference in nutrients between dried and fresh Xian Qian Cao. Both are good choices for making tea. However, dried Xian Qian Cao has less moisture content and is more convenient for storage compared to fresh Xian Qian Cao.

How to eat Xian Qian Cao properly

Boil it in water.

Xian Qian Cao has the effects of diuresis, detoxification, and expectoration. Everyone usually takes Xian Qian Cao to make tea, but if you want to maximize its medicinal properties, it is recommended to boil it in water. The nutrients in Xian Qian Cao are released more completely during the boiling process, so the medicinal properties of the tea made from it will also be better.

Common questions about eating Xian Qian Cao

People with weak and cold constitutions should be cautious when eating this.

Xian Qian Cao is cool in nature, so people with weak constitutions should be cautious when taking it. Otherwise, it may cause an increase in coolness in the body, which can easily lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea, thereby harming health.

Avoid long-term use.

Although Xian Qian Cao has good medicinal properties, it is not recommended to take it for a long time. This is because Xian Qian Cao can easily cause hypokalemia or hypocalcemia in the body, so it should not be taken for a long time.

Pregnant women should avoid eating this.

The plant known as ‘Xian Qian Cao’ belongs to a type of green plant with strong medicinal properties, and it is cool in nature. Pregnant women tend to have weaker physical constitutions during pregnancy, and consuming Xian Qian Cao at this time can easily lead to hypocalcemia or gastrointestinal dysfunction, which may have a negative impact on both the fetus and the pregnant woman.