Amaranth and its surprising uses.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, amaranth has a mildly sweet taste and a slightly cooling nature; it has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, eliminating dampness, and stopping diarrhea.

Amaranth, also known as spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus), grows wild in abandoned land.

Spiny amaranth, also known as spiny amaranth, has a large, upright, branched herbaceous stem, about 0.4 to 1 meter tall, hairless, with many branches and thorns in the leaf axils (the presence of thorns helps distinguish spiny amaranth from green amaranth, Amaranthus viridis). The leaf blade is round, long, tapering, oval with a pointed tip, 4-10 cm long, light green on the underside, and the petiole has two thorns 3-15 mm long where it attaches to the stem.

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.

Amaranth

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 diseases. The seeds are used as a poultice or bandage for injuries...

Specifically, some therapeutic uses of amaranth (spiny amaranth) include: using the stem and leaves to treat pain, relieve swelling, promote lactation, act as a cooling agent, diuretic, laxative, treat stomach ailments, cholera, sweating, vomiting, and leprosy. The seeds are used as a poultice applied to broken bones. Spiny amaranth helps to constrict living tissues, reducing the flow of secretions and waste products such as blood and mucus. It also has antipyretic and skin-softening effects, providing warmth and moisture. It is used internally to treat internal bleeding, diarrhea, and excessive menstruation. The roots are used to treat menstrual disorders, gonorrhea, impetigo, abdominal pain, phlegm, relieve pain, promote lactation (galactogogue), and inflammation. The roots may help promote or increase menstrual flow.

Spiny amaranth also helps increase milk production in breastfeeding mothers. Spiny amaranth alone can be used to treat indigestion and vomiting that may occur when eating unfamiliar foods. Spiny amaranth juice is used in Nepal to treat fever, urinary disorders or difficulty urinating, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Here's how to treat illnesses using amaranth (spiny amaranth):

Spiny amaranth for treating spinal spurs and spinal degeneration: 50g of *Centella asiatica*, 30g of *Amaranthus spinosus*, 30g of *Piper betle* leaves, 30g of *Centella asiatica*, 30g of *Viscum album*, 2 liters of water. Boil *Vitex album*, *Viscum album*, and *Centella asiatica* with 2 liters of water until boiling. Add the spiny amaranth and *Piper betle* leaves, boil for another 3-5 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool. Drink daily instead of water. People with spinal spurs, whether in the early stages or long-term, have found this remedy very effective.

For sprains and bruises: boil the branches, leaves, or the whole plant in water and drink the decoction, 10-15g daily instead of tea.

Sore throat, pharyngitis: Take a sufficient amount of the stems and leaves of amaranth (thorny amaranth), add a little coarse salt, and 1-3 slices of fresh ginger. Chew everything thoroughly and swallow the juice gradually. Chew and hold in the mouth 1-2 times a day until the sore throat subsides.

For unruptured boils: Wash the roots of amaranth (thorny amaranth) thoroughly, crush them, and apply the paste to the boil; this helps to speed up the rupture of the boil.

For minor burns: Wash the stems and leaves of the spiny amaranth plant, crush them, and apply the paste to the burn.

Cough with phlegm:Crush 50-100g of the stems and leaves of spiny amaranth, squeeze out the juice and drink it. Alternatively, use 50g of spiny amaranth stems and leaves, 20g of *Polygonum multiflorum* leaves, 20g of honeysuckle flowers, and 16g of licorice root. Boil these ingredients together and drink one decoction per day, divided into 2-3 doses. Or, use 50g of spiny amaranth stems and leaves, 16g of lemon balm leaves, 16g of mulberry root bark, and 16g of licorice root. Boil these ingredients together and drink one decoction per day, divided into 2-3 doses. Use for 5-7 days.

Treating kidney stones:12g each of amaranth root (roasted), goldenrod, plantain, jasmine root, cogon grass root, and roasted black beans; 20g of winter melon peel. Boil these ingredients together and drink the decoction for 10 days.

Treating skin rashes and itching caused by contact with straw:Fresh amaranth, fresh purslane, and fresh chives (or fresh mint leaves) in equal amounts. Crush them together and apply to the rash, 2-3 times a day.

Treating irregular menstruation:Boil 15g of amaranth leaves and 20g of silverweed in water and drink the decoction.

Treatment for leucorrhea and vaginal discharge:Take 20g of amaranth root and 16g of mint leaves, dry them, chop them finely, and boil them in 400ml of water until only 200ml remains. Divide this into two doses and drink twice a day. Use for 7-10 days.

If you are stung by a bee or bitten by a centipede, crush a handful of amaranth leaves and apply the paste to the sting or bite.

Nutritional supplements for young children:Shrimp and amaranth porridge is considered by our people to be a nutritious dish and a health tonic for young children because it is rich in minerals and vitamins. Due to its high calcium content and vitamins A and C, amaranth helps children grow healthily and increase their height.

Treating dysentery:50g of amaranth stems and leaves; 30g of purslane, cook into a soup and eat 1-2 times a day. Alternatively, take 100g of amaranth stems and leaves, boil them to make a decoction and drink one dose per day.

Treating painful, unruptured boils:Wash the roots of the amaranth plant, crush them, and apply the paste to boils to help them burst faster and relieve pain.

Treating impetigo with amaranth leaves:Take the entire amaranth plant, wash it thoroughly, crush it, and apply it to the affected area.

Snake bite:5g (1 full spoonful) of amaranth seeds, 0.5g of alum. Crush both ingredients together, divide into two parts. Take one part orally, washing it down with alcohol or warm water (alcohol helps the medicine work faster). Apply the remaining part to the snakebite wound. Combine this with sucking out the snake venom from the bite. (Use only initially before reaching a hospital).

According to Family.net