The efficacy and function of thorny water chestnut

Echinops is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine. It is very helpful to the human body in treating certain diseases. Moreover, this kind of medicine is also widely used. When choosing Echinops, it is necessary to understand its efficacy, effects and contraindications. Let's take a look at it below.

[Other name] Wild water chestnut (Compendium of Materia Medica)

[Source] It is the fruit of the wild water chestnut plant of the Trapaceae family.

[Original form] Annual aquatic herb. Floating leaves are usually rhombus-shaped or triangular-rhombus-shaped, 2-5 cm long and 2-7 cm wide, smooth on the upper side, slightly pubescent on the main vein below, with sharp teeth on the upper edge, and the base edge is broadly cuneate and entire; the petiole is 5-10 cm long. Flowers white, axillary. There are sharp green thorns on the four or two corners of the fruit. The two upper thorns extend upward, while the two lower thorns point downward. The fruit stalk is thin and short. Flowering period is from July to August. The fruit ripens in October.

[Habitat distribution] Grows wild in ponds or field ditches. Distributed in the Yangtze River Basin.

[Nature and flavor] "Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica": "Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic."

【Functions and indications】 "Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica": "Eating it raw can nourish the spleen and stomach, quench thirst, promote the production of body fluids, soothe liver qi, promote kidney water flow, benefit blood and help digestion. For the elderly, cooking it can strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea."

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

The above is an introduction to the functions, effects and eating methods of prickly water chestnut. When choosing it, you need to understand how to use it.