Watermelon rind

Watermelon rind is also known as watermelon green. It comes from the outer rind of the watermelon plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. The watermelon rind is collected in July and August, and the inner soft part is peeled off and dried in the sun. Some people peel off the outer green rind and only take the middle part.

Properties: The dried peel is thin and curled, cylindrical or irregular in shape, of varying sizes, with yellow, yellow-green or dark brown on the outside and a network of vascular bundles on the inside. It is brittle and easy to break. After removing the outer green peel, it is in irregular strips, wrinkled and curled, with a grayish-yellow surface, obvious wrinkles and a network of vascular bundles. It has a slight odor and a light taste.

Plant morphology

Annual vine. Stem with long hairs, tendril with 2 lobes. Leaves are broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, 8-20cm long, 5-15cm wide, 3-lobed, middle lobe is longer, side lobes are shorter, and the edges of each lobe are irregularly pinnate-shaped; petiole with long hairs. Flowers are unisexual; corolla is yellow, lobes are ovate-oblong, with long hairs on the outside. Fruits are round or oblong, with smooth skin, thick and juicy flesh, and sweet leaves. Flowering period is April to July, fruiting period is July to August.

The efficacy and function of watermelon rind

1. Aphrodisiac

Cut the watermelon rind into shreds, blanch it in boiling water, remove it from the rind, and eat it with cooked shredded chicken and lean pork with seasonings.

2. Summer heat damages the lungs, fever, thirst, dry cough without phlegm or constipation

50g each of fresh lentils and fresh snake tongue grass, 60g of fresh lotus leaves, 200g of jellyfish, 500g of watermelon rind, 250g of loofah, wash and cut into pieces, put into a casserole, boil over high heat, simmer for 1 hour, season and drink the soup and eat the jellyfish. 1 dose per day.

3. Strengthen the spleen and relieve heat

100 grams of fresh watermelon rind and 10 jujubes, boil them together and drink it as tea every day.

4. Summer acne

Add 100 grams of mung beans to 1500 ml of water and cook the soup. Remove the mung beans after about 10 minutes of boiling. Add 500 grams of washed watermelon rind and continue cooking. Cool after boiling.

Drink the soup several times a day.

The mung bean in the recipe is sweet and cool, which can reduce swelling, relieve gas, clear away heat and detoxify; the watermelon peel is sweet and cold, which can clear away heat and relieve summer heat, eliminate restlessness and quench thirst.

5. Relieve heat and promote diuresis

Cut the watermelon rind into small pieces or strips after removing the outer hard skin, boil it in water, add tomatoes, eggs and seasonings, drink the soup and eat the rind.

Nutritional value of watermelon rind

Watermelon rind is rich in protein, sugar, cellulose and other nutrients. Watermelon rind has a diuretic effect and can help people cool down and quench thirst in the summer. It also has anti-inflammatory and blood pressure-lowering effects and improves human metabolism. Watermelon rind is also rich in cellulose. Patients with diabetes and obesity can achieve good therapeutic effects by eating dishes made from watermelon rind.

Medicinal value of watermelon rind

1. "Dan Xi's Secret Method": To treat severe mouth ulcers, burn watermelon peel and apply the ash to the affected area.

2. "Essential Chinese Medicines" says: It can relieve heat between the skin and the skin.

3. "New Compendium of Materia Medica": It can dissipate heat, relieve restlessness, remove wind and dampness.

4. "Sui Xi Ju Diet": Cools the body and removes heat.

5. "New Reference to Medicinal Pieces": Clears away summer heat and nourishes the stomach.

6. "Modern Practical Chinese Medicine": It is a diuretic. It can treat edema caused by kidney inflammation, diabetes, jaundice, and can also detoxify alcohol.