A traditional porridge that supports circulation, lowers cholesterol, and protects blood vessels.
Could your breakfast bowl help protect your heart and lower your stroke risk? According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the answer is yes—especially if it includes two time-tested ingredients: buckwheat and hawthorn. These pantry staples aren’t just nourishing; they’re also powerful allies for improving blood circulation, lowering cholesterol, and maintaining vascular elasticity.
On NTDTV’s “Health 1+1 program,” Chang Wei-Chun—director of the Taichung Chi-Sheng Chinese Medicine Clinic and a fifth-generation TCM practitioner—shared how a simple porridge made with buckwheat, hawthorn, and two other key herbs can support cardiovascular health and help prevent stroke, especially when combined with TCM’s proactive approach to disease prevention.
A Simple TCM Remedy for Strengthening Blood Vessels
In TCM, maintaining vascular health and preventing stroke focuses on balancing the body’s energy and blood (“qi and blood”), improving circulation, and clearing out excess fat and stagnant blood (“blood stasis”) from the system.
When your body doesn’t break down fats properly or your blood doesn’t flow well, it can lead to problems like clogged vessels or poor circulation. In TCM, these issues are known as:
Phlegm-dampness: Fat buildup and poor digestion
Blood stasis: Sluggish or obstructed blood flow
Both of these problems can increase the risk of stroke. An ideal food-based remedy for these risks is combining buckwheat and hawthorn.
Buckwheat, on the other hand, supports the spleen, reduces dampness, promotes digestion, and helps remove excess fats and waste from the body. It also boosts digestion and metabolism, making it a good choice for preventing artery hardening and protecting blood vessels by managing lipid levels. Buckwheat is also rich in flavonoids, potent antioxidants that shield blood vessels from free radical damage, preserve vascular elasticity, and help regulate blood lipids and blood sugar levels. Additionally, buckwheat contains niacin (vitamin B3), which also helps reduce blood lipids. Chang noted that a specific flavonoid in buckwheat, called rutin, can improve vascular fragility and is beneficial for conditions like varicose veins and vascular inflammation.
Buckwheat and Hawthorn Porridge
A humble bowl of porridge may do more than warm you up—it could help protect your heart and reduce your risk of stroke, especially when it’s made with the traditional pairing of buckwheat and hawthorn.
Ingredients:
0.65 ounce buckwheat
0.26 ounce red sage (danshen)
0.13 ounce Chinese ginseng (sanqi)
0.26 ounce hawthorn
24 ounces water (for the herbal broth)
2 cups water (for cooking the buckwheat)
Instructions:
- Rinse the red sage, Chinese ginseng, and hawthorn thoroughly.
- In a pot, add 24 ounces of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce to low heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced to roughly 80 percent.
- Strain the herbal broth and set it aside.
- Rinse the buckwheat and place it in a clean pot with 2 cups of water.
- Cook over medium heat for approximately 20 minutes, or until the grains are tender.
- Pour the reserved herbal broth into the cooked buckwheat and stir to combine.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
Chang suggested that the cooked buckwheat porridge can be enjoyed either with the buckwheat or just the broth—both are equally effective. For those with high cholesterol, eating the porridge every two to three days can support ongoing maintenance. After two to three months, a blood test can be done to assess cholesterol levels. If there’s a noticeable decrease, one can switch to regularly eating buckwheat rice, buckwheat noodles, or drinking buckwheat tea for long-term support.
To make buckwheat tea, simply place buckwheat in a thermos, steep it in hot water for about 30 minutes, and drink as needed.
- Those with high blood lipids, high blood sugar, or high blood pressure
- Those who frequently eat fried, fatty, or heavily seasoned foods and snacks
- Those with slow digestion or trouble digesting food
- Those with symptoms such as bloating, feeling full after meals, or particularly foul-smelling stools
The following people are advised to avoid or be cautious when eating buckwheat and hawthorn porridge:
- People with a weak spleen and stomach or a cold constitution—meaning they tend to feel cold easily, have poor circulation, or experience symptoms like fatigue, bloating, or loose stools. These people may be more sensitive to high-fiber or cooling foods. Adding approximately 0.4 ounce of baizhu (Atractylodes rhizome) may support digestion, and small portions are recommended.
- People with excessive stomach acid or gastric ulcers, since the acidity of hawthorn can irritate the stomach lining and worsen symptoms. Buckwheat alone may be a gentler option.
- Pregnant women in early pregnancy, as large amounts of hawthorn may pose risks due to its blood-activating properties.
Additionally, hawthorn should not be eaten on an empty stomach. It’s best consumed after meals to prevent its acidity from irritating the stomach lining and causing discomfort.
Understanding Stroke From the Lens of TCM
Stroke may seem sudden, but TCM views it as the result of deeper imbalances that develop over time—often with subtle warning signs the body tries to send.
Low Blood Pressure Doesn’t Mean Low Risk
Western medicine often focuses on high blood pressure as a primary stroke risk. However, low or even normal blood pressure doesn’t guarantee immunity, said Chang.
He noted that some people—especially those who follow very light or vegetarian diets—can still suffer strokes. Many of these cases are due to blood vessels becoming hardened and fragile from a lack of nourishment and moisture.
Stress: A Silent Stroke Trigger
Chronic stress is another major, often-overlooked contributor to stroke. High stress levels can cause an overproduction of free radicals, damage blood vessel linings, and increase blood clot formation.
- Those experiencing long-term family stress had nearly twice the stroke risk
- Those experiencing chronic work stress had 2.7 times the stroke risk
- Those experiencing major life events, such as divorce or the death of a loved one, had a 31 percent higher stroke risk
Stress also disrupts the autonomic nervous system, encourages sedentary behavior, and raises inflammation levels. Moderate daily exercise and a sense of control over life and work were linked to significantly lower risk.
Stroke Warning Signs to Watch For
Even minor symptoms may signal a “mini-stroke,” or transient ischemic attack—a critical warning of a potential full-blown stroke. Chang advised staying alert to the following signs:
- Tightness or stiffness in the neck or shoulders, especially a heavy, pressure-like sensation
- Numbness or tingling in fingers or lips
- Difficulty swallowing or choking on water
- Sudden forgetfulness or slurred speech
- One-sided facial dropping
- Blurred vision, dizziness, or loss of coordination
- Headaches at the back of the head, especially if accompanied by nausea
These symptoms may last only minutes—but they’re not to be ignored.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.theepochtimes.com by Leo Cheung and JoJo Novaes, where all credits are due.
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