Purslane treats acne and impetigo

"I heard many people recommend using purslane juice to treat dysentery in children. Please tell me more about the uses of this vegetable and dosage."

Purslane is also called horse teeth (because the leaves resemble horse teeth), the scientific name is Portulaca oleracea L., grows wild in all humid places. In May-July, people pick the whole plant, sometimes cut off the roots and wash it, use it fresh or dry it or use it as medicine (treat rectal dysentery, apply on boils, diuretic, expel pinworms).

According to Oriental medicine, purslane is sour, cold, non-toxic, and is effective in treating bloody dysentery, cloudy urine, and eliminating worms and poisonous boils. Dosage: 6-12g dried/day in decoction form. For external use, regardless of dosage. People with weak spleen and stomach, cold, and diarrhea should not use purslane.

Some prescriptions containing purslane:

1. Treating dysentery in children: 250g fresh purslane (or 50g dried), 600ml water, boil down to 100ml, divide into 4 doses to drink during the day. Children under 6 months old take 5ml each time; children 6 months to 1 year old take 10ml each time; children 2 years old and older add 5ml each time for each year of age.

Or: 100g fresh purslane, 100g milkweed; if there is blood in the stool, add 20g of Eclipta prostrata and 20g of pennywort. Add 3 bowls of water (600ml), boil down to 1 bowl (200ml). Adults take 2 doses as above per day. Children 2 years old take 5-10 teaspoons per day, 3-5 years old: 3 large spoons, 10 years old: 5 large spoons, 15 years old: 150ml. Usually the treatment time is 5-7 days.

2. Pinworm treatment: Wash 50g fresh purslane, add a little salt, crush, squeeze to get the juice, add a little sugar to make it easier to drink. Drink continuously for 3-5 days.

3. Leukorrhea: Crush purslane, squeeze out the juice, mix with egg white, steam, eat for several days. Use 100g fresh purslane every day.

4. Children with ringworm: Crush fresh purslane, add water, boil to concentrate and apply (or burn to charcoal, mix with lard to apply).

5. Boils: Crush fresh purslane and apply on boils, the boils will come out easily.

6. Blood in urine: Cook purslane soup and eat daily, continuously for 3-7 days.

According to Professor Do Tat Loi - Health & Life -NT