In traditional Chinese medicine, there are many Chinese herbal medicines that actually grow in rural fields. However, many rural people do not recognize them and consider them weeds, getting rid of them. Purslane is one of the Chinese herbal medicines that are often overlooked.
Benefits of Purslane
Purslane mainly grows on field roadsides and is also known as “longevity herb” or “longevity vegetable.” In traditional Chinese medicine, it is a Chinese herbal medicine with high medicinal value. It has a cold nature and sour taste, with the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood, and stopping diarrhea. Clinically, purslane is suitable for treating symptoms of heat-induced frequent urination, hemorrhoids, and eczema.
5 Benefits of Eating Purslane
1. Lowering Blood Pressure – Purslane is a suitable food for people with high blood pressure. It contains abundant potassium, which helps regulate heart rhythm, dilate blood vessels, maintain vessel patency, and thus lower blood pressure.
2. Treating Dysentery
Pharmacological studies have shown that purslane has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, especially strong inhibition on dysentery bacilli and Escherichia coli, making it effective in treating bacterial infections-induced dysentery and other diseases. For patients with dysentery, drinking water boiled with purslane daily can help alleviate the condition.
3. Reducing Liver Fire – Purslane, a cold-natured Chinese herbal medicine, mainly enters the liver and large intestine meridians, hence it can reduce liver fire. For individuals with increased liver fire due to staying up late regularly, consuming purslane daily can reduce the fire.
4. Preventing Heart Disease – In addition to potassium, purslane also contains flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and other active components that can dilate blood vessels, inhibit serum cholesterol synthesis, and prevent thrombosis formation, thus preventing heart disease when consumed regularly.
5. Anti-cancer Effects
Flavonoids in purslane along with vitamin E, carotene, etc., have antioxidant effects to eliminate oxidative free radicals in the body, thereby preventing external pathogens invasion and having anti-aging and anti-cancer effects.
Purslane is a wild vegetable often overlooked by people. Although it has good effects, not everyone can consume it. Generally, individuals with cold constitutions should consume less purslane to avoid diarrhea. Additionally, pregnant women and women during menstruation should avoid eating purslane as it promotes blood circulation, preventing miscarriage or excessive menstrual bleeding.
