Water spinach

Water spinach

(notes on materia medica)

[synonyms] wengcai (min Shu), kohlrabi (Guangxi wild resources plants), kongtangcai (Guizhou traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions), tengtengcai, wuxincai (collection of folk commonly used herbs), shuijicai (Guangdong traditional Chinese Medicine II).

[source] stems and leaves of water spinach (Convolvulaceae).

[plant morphology] Ipomoea aquatica

Annual vine like herbs, all glabrous. Stem hollow, prostrate. Leaves alternate, long petiole, leaf blade oblong ovate or elliptic oblong, 6-15 cm long, apex short pointed or obtuse, base truncate, heart-shaped or halberd shaped, margin entire or undulate. Cymes axillary, erect, 3-6cm long, with one or several flowers; calyx green, ovate, apex obtuse; corolla white or reddish, broad campanulate; stamens 5, unequal; pistil 1, longer, stigma lobed and capitate. Capsule ovate. 2-4 seeds. The flowering period is summer and autumn.

Born in wetland or paddy field. It has been cultivated in the Yangtze River Valley, South to Guangdong.

The root of this plant (water spinach root) is also used for medicine. See special article for details.

[collection] collected in summer and autumn, usually fresh.

[pharmacological action] it has been reported that purple water spinach contains insulin-like components, which can be used for diabetes.

Sweet and cold.

① "Southern vegetation shape": cold in nature, sweet in taste. "

② Jiayou materia medica: "sweet, flat, non-toxic. "

③ Yilin zuanyao: "sweet, salty, cold, slippery. "

[Guijing] Ben Cao Qiu Zhen: "enter the intestines and stomach. "

[function indications] it is used to treat epistaxis, constipation, drenching, bloody stool, hemorrhoids, carbuncle, fracture, snake bite.

① "Southern vegetation shape": it can detoxify the poison of Pueraria lobata. "

② Yilin zuanyao: "it can relieve the poison of arsenic and stone, invigorate the heart and blood, and promote the flow of water. "

③ Lingnan caiyao Lu: "eating dog meat poisoning, cooking it.". "

④ Flora of Guangzhou: "oral solution of food poisoning, external treatment of all fetal toxins, tumors and injuries. "

⑤ "Wild resources plants in Guangxi": "the roots and stems are pounded and simmered, and the milk is ironed and blown. "

⑥ "Lu Chuan's materia medica:" it can cure intestinal and stomach heat and constipation. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 2-4 Liang; or mash juice. External use: fried, washed or tamped.

[prescription selection] 1. To cure nosebleed: take several water spinach, mash them with sugar, and take them in boiling water. (collection of herbs in Lingnan)

② Treatment of drenching, urine blood, stool blood: wash fresh water spinach, mash juice, and take it with honey. (Minnan folk herbal medicine)

③ Treatment of anal hemorrhoids: empty tube vegetables 2 jin, water 2 jin, boil rotten to residue filter, add sugar 42, with fried like maltose. Take three Liang each time, twice a day, sooner or later, and take it again. (the secret recipe of traditional Chinese medicine in Guizhou Province)

④ Treatment spot: water spinach, wild taro, realgar, cinnabar. Mash and apply to the chest. (collection of herbs in Lingnan)

⑤ Treatment of cyst carbuncle: mash water spinach in Sui Dynasty, mix with honey and evenly apply on the affected area. (collection of herbs in Lingnan)

⑥ Treatment of skin itching: fresh water spinach, boiling several times, wait for a slight temperature wash affected parts, wash once a day.

⑦ Treatment of snake bite: wash and mash water spinach, take about half a bowl of juice and wine, apply residue to the affected area.

⑧ Treatment of centipede bite: fresh water spinach, a little salt, rub rotten, rub the affected area. (6) folk herbal medicine of Southern Fujian is published below the prescription.)

Chinese PinYin : Weng Cai