What are the uses of water spinach?

Water spinach is a familiar herb used by many people to support their health, but what are the benefits of water spinach?

What kind of plant is water spinach?

The water spinach plant is also known by other names such as: green water spinach, slender water spinach, ground water spinach, lying water spinach.

Water spinach is a fairly easy-to-find plant, usually growing in damp places such as ditches, rice fields, or pond banks. The plant has a soft stem, small green leaves, and typically spreads along the ground.

Benefits of water spinach

According to Traditional Medicine Practitioner Nguyen Duc Nghia, as shared in the Health & Life newspaper, water spinach is a mild herb that has long been used both as a vegetable and to support health in folk medicine. According to traditional medicine, the plant has a mildly sweet, slightly astringent taste, a cooling nature, and helps to clear heat, detoxify, reduce inflammation, and aid digestion.

Water spinach contains tannins, flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds with antibacterial, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this plant is also used to help relieve stomach pain caused by H. pylori bacteria, improve bloating and diarrhea, stimulate digestion, and soothe sore throats. Additionally, water spinach can help stabilize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Besides being used for drinking, crushed water spinach leaves are also applied topically to help reduce boils and abscesses thanks to their natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Water spinach is a familiar herb used by many people to support their health (illustrative image).

Some ways to use water spinach to support health.

Support for diabetes treatment

Prepare 15g of water spinach, 15g of banana blossom, 15g of rattan vine, 15g of water hyacinth, 20g of bitter melon, 10g of purple milkweed leaves, and 10g of licorice root. Then put all the ingredients into an earthenware pot, add 3 cups of clean water. Simmer over low heat until the water reduces to about 1 cup of medicinal liquid, then turn off the heat.

Strain the liquid and divide it into two equal portions to drink twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Helps relieve stomach pain caused by H.Pylori (HP) bacteria.

Method 1 (Dried Water Spinach Decoction): Select yellow-flowered water spinach plants (over 1 meter tall). Wash them thoroughly, dry them in the sun, then roast them until golden brown and bury them in the ground. Each day, take a sufficient amount and boil it with water, using it as a daily drink.

Method 2 (Drinking fresh juice): Wash a handful of fresh water spinach thoroughly, soak in diluted salt water for 15 minutes to disinfect, then drain. Crush the spinach with a little filtered water, and strain to extract the juice. Divide into two portions and drink throughout the day to quickly relieve acute symptoms.

Method 3 (Soaking water spinach in alcohol): Wash fresh water spinach thoroughly, cut into small pieces, and rinse briefly with a little white wine. Put the spinach into a glass jar, pour in 45° alcohol until the spinach is completely submerged, and seal the lid tightly. Store in a cool, dry place. After 15 days, it is ready to use. Drink twice a day, 15ml each time.

Treats diarrhea, bloating, and stimulates digestion.

Prepare a handful of fresh water spinach leaves, wash them thoroughly, and soak them in diluted salt water to ensure hygiene. Crush them in a mortar, squeeze out the pure juice, and drink it directly.

Helps soothe sore throats.

Take a handful of fresh water spinach leaves, wash them thoroughly, then chew them well with a few grains of salt. Hold the mixture in your mouth for a few minutes before swallowing slowly. Do this once a day in the evening before bed, and continue until your throat is no longer sore and swollen.

"Internal and external application" helps treat boils and abscesses.

Topical application: Take a handful of fresh water spinach stems and leaves, soak them in salt water for 5-10 minutes, crush them, and apply directly to the affected area for 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling.

Oral medication: Take 30-40g of dried and roasted water spinach, decoct it in water, and drink the resulting liquid daily to clear heat and detoxify the body from within.

Notes on using water spinach

Water spinach is a familiar medicinal herb in traditional Eastern medicine and is used by many people to support their health. However, when using water spinach, some issues need to be considered to ensure safety.

Do not use water spinach to treat illnesses without consulting a doctor or a qualified professional.

Before use, water spinach should be washed thoroughly and soaked in diluted salt water to reduce bacteria and parasites, as this plant usually grows in damp places.

Furthermore, although considered relatively harmless, users should not overuse water spinach for extended periods. Excessive or improper use can lead to undesirable side effects.

According to Vinmec International General Hospital, water spinach is a medicinal herb used in many health-supporting remedies; however, it can cause side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor before using it to achieve the best results.

Khanh Giao

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cay-rau-muong-co-tac-dung-gi-ar1020262.html