Many foods are also medicines, which is what we call “food and medicine sharing the same source.” Roadside wild vegetable purslane, for friends with diabetes, also has health benefits. Purslane is a wild vegetable that serves as both food and medicine.
Purslane is a traditional Chinese medicine and also a type of wild vegetable. In some northern regions, it is called “horse mustache vegetable.” Many wild vegetables are region-specific, but I have found that almost everyone from south to north eats purslane. It grows widely across the country, in cold and hot areas alike, thriving as long as there is a bit of soil. In fields, by roadsides, in front of houses, as long as there is some space, purslane can be found.
Across the country, one can almost always see purslane by roadsides, in fields, and gardens. Its name comes from the extremely short stem and ovate leaf with a slightly concave front, resembling a horse’s tooth. Traditional Chinese medicine considers purslane to be cool in nature, slightly sour in taste, capable of clearing heat, eliminating dampness, cooling blood, and detoxifying. It can be used to satisfy hunger, with no adverse reactions and significant effects on lowering blood sugar.
The nutritional and traditional medicinal benefits of purslane have been gradually confirmed by scientific research both domestically and internationally, with various effective components quantified. As early as 1944, researchers analyzed that purslane from Taiwan contained potassium salts, accounting for 1% in fresh produce and up to 10% in dried form. The high potassium salt content sets it apart from other fruits and vegetables, and potassium deficiency can lead to severe fatigue symptoms. Subsequently, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiotonic glycosides, and alanine were found in purslane. Some researchers conducted pharmacological studies on purslane extracts in mice and rabbits with diabetes and found that it could prolong the lifespan of diabetic animals.
The stems of purslane are red cylindrical, and the fleshy leaves are easily recognizable. In spring and summer, fresh purslane is also available in the market. If fresh purslane is unavailable, you can purchase dried purslane from a traditional Chinese medicine store. Purslane is known as a longevity vegetable and has strong liver-protecting effects. Among vegetables, it has the highest content of fatty acids, comparable to marine fish. It can lower cholesterol and triglycerides, preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Purslane, though cool in nature, does not cool the stomach, but it specifically clears heat from the heart, liver, lungs, and colon. It particularly excels in protecting the intestines, eliminating intestinal toxins, and regulating conditions such as dysentery and constipation. Purslane has a slippery fetus effect, so pregnant women should avoid it. Those experiencing abdominal diarrhea due to cold, taking medications, or using turtle shells should also avoid purslane.
Originally, fresh purslane contains a high concentration of norepinephrine, an important hormone secreted by normal adrenal medulla. Moreover, precursors and intermediates of norepinephrine have been found in purslane. Norepinephrine can promote the release of insulin from the pancreas, regulate glucose metabolism in the body, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. The precursors and intermediates of norepinephrine provide the body with raw materials for its slow synthesis, avoiding sudden massive release that could cause hypoglycemia and hypertension. This helps maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Purslane mostly grows in spring and summer, suitable for cold salads. The stems and leaves are blanched in boiling water, then soaked in cold water to remove mucilage, drained, mixed with minced garlic, salt, sesame oil, and MSG for a delicious cold dish. It can also be stir-fried with meat, adding a little chili for a flavorful appetizer. It can be blanched in boiling water, sun-dried, and stored for winter.
Purslane seeds promote eyesight, and tender stems and leaves can be used as fertilizer. Purslane can be enjoyed both cold and stir-fried, both flavorsome.
1. Those with spleen and stomach deficiencies;
2. Pregnant women due to purslane’s slippery nature, which may lead to miscarriage.
3. Individuals with diarrhea;
4. Those with loose stools, among others;
These four types of individuals are advised against consuming purslane to avoid adverse effects.
### Cooking Methods ###
1. Cold Dish: Cut cleaned purslane into sections, blanch briefly in boiling water until the water turns green, then remove. Rinse blanched purslane in cold water to improve texture. Mix with various seasonings and serve.
Tips: Do not blanch purslane for too long and rinse it with clear water after blanching to wash away the mucilage, improving the taste.
2. Congee: Stir-fry purslane in a pot, remove impurities, blanch in boiling water, then clean and chop. Stir-fry prepared purslane until fragrant, then simmer with glutinous rice to make congee.
3. Dumplings: Wash fresh purslane, blanch in boiling water, drain, chop finely. Mix purslane with other dumpling fillings and wrap dumplings.
4. Stir-frying with Meat: Before stir-frying purslane with meat, blanch it in boiling water to remove mucilage for better texture.
When starting to consume purslane, begin with small amounts and gradually increase once the body adapts to its properties. If making purslane tea, do not add brown sugar – opt for white sugar as brown sugar’s warm nature can affect the medicinal properties. Purslane is cool in nature, hence those with weak spleen and stomach, diarrhea, or pregnant women should avoid it. Additionally, do not consume purslane together with pepper or turtle shells.
Apart from purslane, the following foods have significant effects on lowering blood sugar:
### Indigo plateau vine ###
As a unique natural health food resource in China, it is rich in germanium, selenium, vanadium, zinc, iron, calcium, and other trace elements, with potent effects on preventing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, effectively reducing triglycerides and cholesterol. Research from the Beijing Institute of Medicinal Plants showed that indigo plateau vine significantly lowers blood sugar, by restoring damaged pancreatic islet cells’ structure and function, increasing insulin receptors in peripheral tissues. The herb accelerates insulin secretion and regulates blood glucose levels bidirectionally while containing unique components that repair pancreatic beta cells, activate islets, improve blood sugar control, regulate blood lipids, enhancing patients’ immune system and reducing triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Patients with high blood sugar reported significant drops in fasting blood sugar and increased plasma insulin levels after drinking wild indigo plateau vine tea.
### Mulberry Leaf Tea ###
Mulberry leaves are processed into tea by infusion in hot water. Rich in amino acids, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and various bioactive substances, mulberry leaves offer long-term benefits. Mulberry leaves have effects on reducing blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, delaying aging, and other health benefits. Tadasikaloids found in mulberry leaves lower blood sugar levels and effectively convert excess glucose in the body into glycogen without disturbing normal blood sugar levels. This, without harming overall health, helps suppress and treat diseases with high blood sugar levels effectively.
Traditional Chinese medicine attributes the root cause of diabetes (polydipsia) to yin deficiency and internal heat, and dendrobium functions to nourish yin, clear heat, moisten dryness, invigorate the body, balance yin and yang, making it an essential remedy for polydipsia. Dendrobium nourishes fluids, moistening meridians, expanding blood vessels to promote circulation. The extracts of dendrobium polysaccharides can lower blood sugar and correct the basic pathogenesis of diabetes caused by yin deficiency and internal heat, organ damage. By nourishing the five internal organs and strengthening the body, dendrobium can prevent the occurrence of complications. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies diabetes into upper, middle, and lower types, each requiring different treatments. Combining dendrobium with other herbs achieves a good therapeutic effect.
