purslane

Introduction to Purslane

Portulaca oleracea L. is an annual herb with no hair. The stem is prostrate and spreads on the ground. The branches are light green or dark red. The leaves are alternate, flat, thick, and horse-tooth-shaped. The upper surface is dark green, and the lower surface is light green or dark red. The petioles are short and thick. The flowers are sessile and bloom at noon. The bracts are leaf-shaped. The sepals are green and helmet-shaped. The petals are yellow and obovate. The stamens and anthers are yellow. The ovary is glabrous. The capsule is ovoid. The seeds are small, obliquely spherical, dark brown, and shiny. The flowering period is May to August, and the fruiting period is June to September.

It is produced in all parts of China, both north and south. It likes fertile soil, is drought-resistant and waterlogged, and has strong vitality. It grows in vegetable gardens, farmlands, and roadsides, and is a common weed in the fields. It is widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions around the world. The whole plant is used for medicinal purposes, and has the effects of clearing away heat and dampness, detoxifying and reducing swelling, reducing inflammation, quenching thirst, and diuresis; the seeds improve eyesight; it can also be used as veterinary medicine and pesticides; the tender stems and leaves can be used as vegetables, and they are sour and are also very good feed.

Purslane Effects and Functions

1. Diuresis and swelling

Lowers blood pressure: Purslane contains a large amount of potassium salt, which has a good diuretic and anti-edema effect. Potassium ions can also directly act on the blood vessel walls, causing the blood vessel walls to expand and prevent the thickening of the arterial walls, thereby lowering blood pressure.

2. Eliminate dust and poison

Preventing and treating ulcers: Purslane can eliminate dust toxins, prevent degeneration and necrosis of phagocytes, prevent lymphatic vessel inflammation and fibrous changes, prevent the formation of silicosis nodules, and has a certain effect on vitiligo. Purslane also contains more carotene, which can promote the healing of ulcers.

3. Sterilization and anti-inflammatory

Purslane has a strong inhibitory effect on Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli. It can be used as an auxiliary treatment for various inflammations and is known as a "natural antibiotic".

4. Prevent and treat heart disease

Purslane is rich in Y-3 fatty acids, which can inhibit the production of serum cholesterol and triglycerides in the human body, help increase the synthesis of prostaglandins by vascular endothelial cells, inhibit platelet formation of thromboxane A2, reduce blood viscosity, promote vasodilation, prevent platelet aggregation, coronary artery spasm and thrombosis, and thus play a role in preventing and treating heart disease.

Medicinal value of purslane

[Tibetan medicine] Cangeri: The whole herb can treat dysentery, leucorrhea, enteritis; it can be used externally to treat erysipelas, carbuncle, swelling, poison, insect and snake bites (Tibetan Materia Medica). Portulaca oleracea: The whole herb can treat dysentery, leucorrhea, enteritis, gonorrhea; it can be used externally to treat furuncle and erysipelas (Chinese Tibetan Medicine).

[Brown medicine] Zong Xinduo: The whole plant is used to treat dizziness and blurred vision (Dian Medicine Records). Zong Xinduo: The whole plant is used externally to treat dizziness and blurred vision (Yunnan Province Records). Zong Xinduo: The whole plant is mainly used to treat dizziness and blurred vision (National Medicine Records II).

[Dai medicine] Pabalang (Western Dai), Yaxima, Yaxima (De Dai): The whole plant is used to treat lung heat, cough, and dysentery (Yunnan Medicine Records). Pabanliang: The whole plant is used for lung heat, cough, and dysentery (Yunnan Province Records). Pabanliang: Treats palpitations, headaches, lung diseases, and knife wounds (Dai Medicine). Pabanliang: The whole plant is used to treat palpitations, headaches, tuberculosis, knife wounds, sprains, and bone and tendon setting (Dai Medicine Records). Yaxima: The whole plant is mainly used to treat lung heat and cough (National Medicine Records II).

[Hani medicine] Bu Ze: The aboveground part is used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, and hematuria. "Yunnan Medicine Records". Bu Ze Lu Gu Tea: The whole plant is used for diarrhea, dysentery, and hematuria. "Yunnan Provincial Records". Bu Ze, Lu Bi Gu Tea: The whole plant is mainly used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and hematuria. "National Medicine Records II".

[Beijing medicine] Zhaotan: The whole herb is used to treat dysentery (National Medicine Records II).

[Dongyao] Purslane: The whole herb is used to clear away heat and detoxify, quench thirst, kill insects, and is used for dysentery, various swellings and malignant ulcers, wounds, and fistulas. "Dongyaozhi". Dejipu: The whole herb is mainly used to treat dysentery, various swellings and malignant ulcers, wounds, and fistulas. "Minzuyaozhi II".

[Mao Nan Yao] Majuning: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis and diarrhea (Guizhou Medicine Collection). Majuning: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery (National Medicine Records II).

[Miao medicine] Huowei: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis and diarrhea, sore throat, toothache, and nameless swelling and poison "Guizhou Medicine Collection". Rongzhuodao: The whole plant is used to treat enteritis, diarrhea, dysentery, nephritis, urinary tract infection edema, ulcer disease, hemorrhoid bleeding, sore throat, toothache, nameless swelling and poison, carbuncle "Yunnan Medicine Record". Rongzhuodao: The whole plant is used for urinary tract infection, edema, ulcer disease, sore throat, toothache; externally used for nameless swelling and poison "Yunnan Province Records". Reibxandmel (Ruixianmai), Vobhmidniangx (Wo Miyang): The whole plant is used to treat diarrhea in children and herpes zoster "Miao Medicine". The aboveground part is used for dysentery, furuncles, carbuncle, insect and snake bites "Xianglan Kao". Huowei, Xiemangmie, Rongzhuodao: The whole plant is mainly used to treat enteritis, diarrhea, dysentery, nephritis, urinary tract infection, edema, ulcer disease, hemorrhoid bleeding, sore throat, toothache "Ethnopharmacology II".

[Mulao medicine] Ma Youma: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea, and paddy field dermatitis (Guangxi Medicine Collection). Ma Youma: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery and paddy field dermatitis (National Medicine Records II).

[Naxi medicine] Buma: The whole plant is used to treat enteritis and dysentery (Yunnan Medicine Records and National Medicine Records II).

[Pu Mi medicine] Ma Ci Jian: The above-ground part is used to treat enteritis, dysentery, diarrhea, pus and blood, stranguria with heat, and hematuria (Yunnan Medicine Records, "National Medicine Records II").

[She medicine] Fresh Amaranthus sourensis: The whole plant is mainly used to treat hepatitis (Ethnological Medicinal Records II).

[Uyghur medicine] Silk seed Oti: The whole plant and seeds are mainly used to treat internal heat, long-term low-grade fever, heat stroke, constipation, dysentery, and enteritis (National Pharmacopoeia II). Purslane: The fruit is used to treat diabetes.

[Wa medicine] The whole plant is used for red and white dysentery, bruises, blood stasis, swelling and pain (Zhong Wa medicine). Yazhema: The whole plant is used to treat nephritis, edema, and skin diseases (Yunnan medicine record, National medicine record II).

[Yao medicine] Mo Ruilai: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea, and lung heat cough "Guizhou Medicine Collection". Ma Ya Ma: The whole plant is used for lung heat cough, nephritis, dysentery, enteritis, and hemorrhoid bleeding "Yunnan Province Records". Ma Ya Zhe: The whole plant is used to treat lung heat cough, nephritis, dysentery, diarrhea, and hemorrhoid bleeding "Yunnan Medicine Records". Ma Zui Lai, Mo Ruilai, Ma Ya Ma: The whole plant is used to treat lung heat cough, nephritis, dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea, hemorrhoid bleeding, carbuncle and swelling "National Medicine Records II".

[Yi medicine] Yan Nien Xi: The whole herb is used to treat dysentery and fractures (Gui Yao Bian). The whole herb is used for lung abscess, intestinal abscess, diarrhea, dysentery, urethral burning, bloody leucorrhea, hemorrhoid fistula bleeding, mastitis, scrofula, poisonous snake bites, fractures and bruises (Ailao). The whole herb is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, carbuncle and furuncle (Dali Zi Zhi). Yan Nien Xi Xian: The whole herb is mainly used to treat fractures (National Medicine Records II).

[Zhuang medicine] Binggu: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea, hepatitis, pneumonia, gastric bleeding, leucorrhea, uterine bleeding, furuncle, eczema, and herpes zoster (Guizhou Medicine Collection). Pahuibo: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, hepatitis, pneumonia, leucorrhea, gastric bleeding, uterine bleeding, and is used externally for herpes zoster, eczema, sores, boils, redness and swelling, and prolapse of the anus (Yunnan Province Records and Yunnan Medicine Records). Baiyanshai, Binggu, Biemulian, Bingtoushi, Fengua, Baimi, Balinfei, Pahuibo: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, hepatitis, pneumonia, leucorrhea, gastric bleeding, uterine bleeding, herpes zoster, eczema, sores, boils, redness and swelling (National Medicine Records II).

[Jingpo medicine] ngimang: Treats dysentery, enteritis, and mastitis (Dehong Medicine Record).

[De'ang Medicine] Daohuai: Its function is the same as that in the Jingpo nationality's Dehong Medicine Record.

[Lisu Medicine] Oubu'e: The whole plant is used to treat acute gastroenteritis, dysentery, appendicitis, mastitis, hemorrhoidal bleeding, leucorrhea; externally used to treat sores, swelling and pain, eczema [Nujiang Medicine].

[Beijing medicine] Zhaotan: The whole herb is used to treat dysentery, enteritis and diarrhea. "Guizhou Medicine Collection".

[Dong medicine] Mabei Shen: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea, and fractures (Guizhou Medicine Collection). Mabei Shen, Mabi: The whole plant is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, and fractures (National Medicine Records II). Mal Nguedc: The whole plant is used to treat bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, and blood in the stool.

[Gelao medicine] Jie Gaihei: Cook the whole herb with glutinous rice porridge and take it regularly to treat tuberculosis.

[Man Medicine] Ye Luoshao, Ant Vegetable: Fresh stems and leaves are boiled and used to stop dysentery; the raw stems and leaves are mashed into juice and mixed with a little white sugar, and taken with water to treat appendicitis and relieve pain; add a little honey and boil it to treat tuberculosis.

Purslane beauty effects

Purslane has the effects of beauty and weight loss. Studies have shown that purslane is rich in vitamin C (23mg/100g), vitamin E (12.2mg/100g), dietary fiber, pectin, minerals, etc. Among them, vitamin C and vitamin E are strong antioxidants and have anti-aging effects. In addition, vitamin C has a certain effect in eliminating pigment spots, while vitamin E can protect the phospholipids of mitochondria and has an anti-free radical effect, making it a good beauty product.

Nutritional value of purslane

Purslane is rich in dihydroxyethylamine, malic acid, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin E, carotene, vitamin B, vitamin C and other nutrients. Purslane has a prominent nutritional feature, its ω-3 fatty acid content is higher than that of humans and plants. ω-3 fatty acids can inhibit the body's absorption of cholesterol, reduce blood cholesterol concentration, improve blood vessel wall elasticity, and are very beneficial for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

How to eat purslane

1. Cold salad

The most common way to eat purslane is to mix it with cold food. It is simple to prepare and the taste is relatively fresh with a sour and smooth taste. The most common way to eat purslane is to mix it with cold food.

Ingredients: 600g purslane, appropriate amounts of MSG, vinegar, chili oil, salt and sesame oil.

The method is: put the purslane segments into a boiling water pot and blanch until the color changes. When the color turns green, you can take it out and put it into cold water to cool it down for later use. Take a bowl and put monosodium glutamate, vinegar, chili oil, salt, and sesame oil evenly for later use. Take out the cooled purslane, drain the water, put it into a container, add the seasoning, and stir evenly. The purslane should not be boiled in the pot for too long or the taste will be lost. In addition, you can use clean water to wash away the mucus after boiling to wash away the slightly sticky feeling.

2. Cook porridge

Purslane porridge is light and refreshing. The taste is much less sour than stir-fried dishes and cold dishes.

Ingredients: 500g purslane, appropriate amount of chopped green onion, appropriate amount of fine salt.

Method: First, fry the purslane, remove impurities, wash it, put it in boiling water for a while, remove it, wash off the mucus, and chop it into pieces. Heat the oil in a pan, add chopped green onions, then add the purslane, add refined salt and fry until it is fragrant, then set aside. Then cook the purslane and rice into porridge.

3. Making Dumplings

Dumplings made with purslane have a unique flavor.

Ingredients: appropriate amount of purslane.

The method is: wash the purslane, put it into boiling water without blanching, take it out, squeeze out the water and chop the purslane. Then you can use it to make dumplings with other ingredients.

4. Stir-fried meat

It is also very common to stir-fry purslane with meat. The sourness of purslane is very tasty, and the sourness of purslane is the main flavor of the stir-fried dish.

Ingredients: appropriate amount of purslane, meat, oil, salt, vinegar and MSG.

Method: Purslane is not fried directly, but usually needs to be soaked in boiling water to wash off the mucus, so that the taste is good. Then the method is the same as ordinary home cooking. As long as you like the taste of purslane, it will taste good no matter how you fry it.

Contraindications of using purslane

At the beginning, you must eat purslane in small amounts, and you can eat more after you get used to it. You can only add white sugar, not brown sugar. Because brown sugar is warm in nature, it goes against the direction of treatment. Purslane is a cold product, so people with weak spleen and stomach, diarrhea, and pregnant women should not eat it; it should not be eaten with pepper, powder, and turtle shell.

Toxic side effects: Purslane can be eaten. In clinical application, the decoction has no obvious toxicity when taken orally. Injection with a large dosage may cause nausea.

Three types of people should avoid eating purslane

1. People who have diarrhea caused by cold in the abdomen, if it is just general diarrhea caused by cold, do not eat it by mistake

2. Pregnant women should not eat purslane. Purslane is slippery and can help induce miscarriage.

3. If you are taking traditional Chinese medicine and there is turtle shell in the prescription, please be aware that purslane and turtle shell are incompatible and should not be taken together.

Precautions

Do's and Don'ts: "Do not use it if you have a weak spleen and stomach, loose bowels and diarrhea; do not use it with turtle shell in a decoction." ("Compendium of Materia Medica")