Cowpea introduction, cowpea functions, indications, usage and dosage

Here is some general knowledge about cowpeas and what we should know when eating them:

【Synonyms】

Sheep's horns, beans (Yi Lin Zuan Yao), carob, rice beans, kidney beans, long beans, kelp beans (Illustrated Description of Main Plants in China: Leguminosae), and milk beans (Guizhou Folk Prescriptions and Medicines Collection).

【source】

It is the seed of cowpea, a plant of the legume family.

【Cowpea Collection】

The fruits are harvested in autumn when they are ripe.

【Chemical components of cowpea】

The seeds contain a lot of starch, fatty oil, protein, niacin, vitamin B1, B2. Fresh cowpea contains 22 mg% ascorbic acid.

【Nature and flavor of cowpea】

Sweet, neutral. ① "Southern Yunnan Materia Medica": "neutral." ② "Compendium of Materia Medica": "sweet, salty, neutral, non-toxic." ③ "New Materia Medica": "sweet, astringent, neutral."

【Meridian】

Enters the spleen and kidney meridians. ① "Depei Materia Medica": "Enters the Qi of the Taiyin meridian of the foot." ② "Bencao Qiuzhen": "Enters the kidney and also the stomach."

【Main functions and indications of cowpea】

Strengthens the spleen and kidneys. Treats spleen and stomach weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, thirst, spermatorrhea, leucorrhea, leucorrhea, and frequent urination.

① "Southern Yunnan Materia Medica": "It can treat spleen and earth deficiency, stimulate appetite and strengthen the spleen."

② "Compendium of Materia Medica": "It can regulate the middle qi, nourish the kidney and strengthen the stomach, harmonize the five internal organs, regulate the Ying and Wei, and produce essence. It can stop thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, and detoxify rat poison."

③ "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Disperse blood and reduce swelling, clear away heat and detoxify."

④ "Medical Collection": "It nourishes the heart and drains the kidneys, infiltrates water, promotes urination, and lowers turbidity and raises clarity."

⑤ "Sichuan Chinese Medicine Records": "It nourishes yin and kidney, strengthens spleen and stomach, and helps digestion. It treats abdominal distension due to food accumulation, leucorrhea, leucorrhea, and spermatorrhea due to kidney deficiency."

【Usage and dosage of cowpea】

For internal use: decoction or cooking.

[Dos and Don'ts] "Depei Materia Medica" states: "It is forbidden to use in patients with qi stagnation and constipation."

[Selected prescriptions] ① Treating abdominal distension and belching caused by food accumulation: chew and swallow an appropriate amount of raw cowpeas, or mash them and soak them in cold water. (Chengdu "Common Herbal Treatment Manual")

②Treat leucorrhea and leucorrhea: Cowpea and vine mustard. Stew with chicken and serve. (Sichuan Chinese Medicine Records)

③Treat snake bites: Cowpea, Mountain Sagittaria, cherry leaves, soybean leaves. Mash them into fluff and apply externally.