5 types of vegetables that grow anywhere and are used as medicine by traditional healers.
These common vegetables can grow anywhere, are very inexpensive, yet are familiar remedies in traditional medicine.
Five types of wild or easily grown vegetables can be used as medicine, but please note that you should consult a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor before using them: purslane, centella, houttuynia cordata, amaranth, and mugwort.
Houttuynia cordata
According to the Health and Life newspaper, Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, Head of the Day Treatment Unit at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that Houttuynia cordata, also known as fish mint, is a plant with the scientific name Houttuynia cordata, belonging to the Saururaceae family. It is cultivated or grows naturally in many places. It is very easy to find and inexpensive.
Chemical composition of Houttuynia cordata: The entire Houttuynia cordata plant contains essential oils. The main component is aldehyde. In addition, Houttuynia cordata also contains caprinic acid, laurinaldehyde, benzamide, decanoic acid, lipids, and vitamin K… The leaves of Houttuynia cordata contain β-sitosterol and alkaloids.
Pharmacological effects and uses of Houttuynia cordata: Houttuynia cordata has diuretic, heat-clearing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic effects. It is used to treat hemorrhoids, boils, measles in children, pneumonia or lung abscesses, conjunctivitis or eye infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enteritis, urinary retention, and irregular menstruation. Houttuynia cordata is also used to treat malaria, convulsions in children, and toothache.
Mugwort
According to Sohu, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, mugwort leaves are also known as "herbs for women's health." Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that mugwort leaves help regulate menstruation, stop bleeding, warm the middle part of the body, eliminate colds, and are used for women with stagnant cold energy.
Many women experience problems such as irregular menstruation and cold hands and feet; drinking mugwort tea is very helpful in alleviating these symptoms. In addition, mugwort tea helps warm the uterus, thereby improving women's reproductive health. Adding a little ginger, brown sugar, and red dates to mugwort tea makes it easier to drink and enhances its effectiveness.
Purslane
According to Vietnamnet, pharmacist Ma Thi Trang, a researcher at the Vietnam Institute of Traditional Medicine, said that in the Netherlands, people use purslane to make pickles and salads with oil and vinegar dressing.
The Chinese call purslane the "longevity vegetable." Meanwhile, purslane is a wild vegetable found in Vietnam, rarely eaten by people. In many regions of the country, it is used as animal feed.
Purslane is a type of grass with smooth, fleshy stems, very familiar in many rural areas. In the past, purslane was considered a wild vegetable, a famine relief during seasons when vegetables were scarce. However, nowadays, with the abundance of green vegetables, this herb is often overlooked. In reality, purslane contains many valuable nutrients that are good for health.
Many modern studies show that purslane contains numerous bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, coumarins, monoterpene glycosides, and phenolic compounds. Purslane also contains many fatty acids such as omega-3, vitamins, minerals, and several other health-beneficial compounds.
Flavonoids are the most abundant component of purslane, concentrated in the leaves and stems. These substances possess effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Modern studies indicate that flavonoids help prevent and fight cancer, protect the cardiovascular system, and boost the immune system to fight infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Flavonoids are also beneficial for women during menopause, reducing hot flashes and discomfort.
Purslane also contains several beneficial minerals such as phosphorus, iron, manganese, calcium, and copper in its roots, stems, and leaves. The leaves are also rich in selenium, magnesium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Centella asiatica
According to the Health & Life newspaper, Traditional Medicine Practitioner Tran Dang Tai stated that Centella asiatica grows wild throughout Vietnam and other tropical countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and India. In some countries, researchers are studying Centella asiatica to find its potential uses in treating leprosy and tuberculosis.
Currently, there are no studies indicating how much centella asiatica (gotu kola) can cause harm to health, or for how long.
According to traditional medicine experts, no matter how good a medicine is, it should not be used excessively. Abuse of centella asiatica can harm the liver, kidneys, and blood cells. Therefore, it should only be used in moderation. The recommended daily dose is 30 to 40g of fresh centella asiatica, crushed and squeezed to extract the juice for drinking, or brewed into a decoction.
Centella asiatica, also known as phanok (Vientian), and rachiek kranh (Cambodia), has the scientific name Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., (Hydrocotyle asiatica L. Trisanthus cochinchinensis Lour.) and belongs to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family.
Amaranth
According to the Health & Life newspaper, Dr. Hoang Xuan Dai said that amaranth, also known as spiny amaranth, grows wild in abandoned land.
Amaranth, also known as spiny amaranth, is rich in medicinal properties and is used in traditional medicine; the parts used are the roots, stems, and leaves. The roots are harvested year-round, thoroughly washed, sliced thinly, and dried. The leaves and young stems are eaten as a green vegetable.
Chemical composition (according to Hooper): water 52.10% (fresh), fat 2.21% (dry), alblumenoids 19.43% (dry), carbohydrates 38.35% (dry), dietary fiber 19.82% (dry), ash 20.20% (dry), nitrogen 3.11% (dry), phosphoric acid 1.13% (dry), silicates 1.90% (dry).
Traditional Chinese medicine considers amaranth to have a mildly sweet taste and slightly cooling properties; it is used to clear heat, promote diuresis, eliminate dampness, and stop diarrhea. It is commonly used to treat edema, kidney diseases, dysentery, and menstrual disorders. The above-ground parts of the plant are used to treat burns and as a poultice to reduce inflammation of boils. The leaves have expectorant properties and are used to treat coughs and respiratory illnesses. The seeds are used as a poultice or bandage for injuries.
Above are 5 types of vegetables that grow anywhere and are used by traditional medicine practitioners. If you want to use these vegetables as medicine or for long-term use, you should consult your doctor before using them.