The efficacy and function of water eggplant

Water eggplant and winter melon is a common Chinese medicine in clinical practice. For people with poor physical constitution, eating water eggplant and winter melon can help us better maintain our health. Today I will introduce water eggplant and winter melon to you.

[Source] Medicinal material source: the seeds of Bardellaria scabra.

[Original form] Barringtonia, an evergreen small tree or medium-large tree, sometimes shrub-like, up to 20m high. The twigs are slightly stout, 3-6 mm in diameter, and gray-brown when dry. Leaves often grow in clusters at the top of branches; with short petioles; leaf blades are papery, obovate or obovate-oblong, 12-30cm long or longer; 4-10cm wide, with short pointed to acuminate tips, obtuse to slightly cordate bases, and small crenate serrations on the edges; 10-15 pairs of lateral veins, raised on both sides, with distinct reticular veins. The raceme is terminal, rarely lateral on old branches, drooping, up to 70cm or longer, with a peduncle 2-5mm in diameter; the flowers are sparse, with a pedicel 0.5-1.5cm long or slightly longer; the calyx is torn into 2-4 lobes, which are equal or unequal, elliptic to nearly circular, 0.7-1.3cm long; there are 4 petals, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2.5cm long; there are usually 6 whorls of stamens, the most central whorl is sterile stamens, and the developed stamen filaments are 3-4.5cm long; the ovary has 3-4 chambers, the diaphragm is complete, and there are 2-3 ovules in each chamber. The fruit is oval, 5-7cm long, 2-4.5cm in diameter, with 4 slightly obtuse edges, and the peel is 3-5mm thick and slightly fleshy. The seeds are oval, 2-4 cm long. The flowering and fruiting period is almost all year round.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown in forests in coastal areas.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dampness; reduces jaundice; relieves pain. It is used to treat red and swollen eyes, jaundice, abdominal pain, hernia pain,

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-10g; or made into pills or powder.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the above introduction, I found that water eggplant has so many pharmacological effects, and it also has good effects on some diseases. In fact, there may be many "treasures" around our lives, but most of the time we don’t have a heart that is good at discovering them.