The efficacy and function of water shield

For many Chinese people, traditional Chinese medicine is very trustworthy because it has a long history and few side effects. Water shield is a common Chinese medicinal material, which has many benefits for human health. So how can we eat water shield? Let’s learn about it below.

[Other names] Mao (Book of Songs), screen (Chu Ci), duckweed (Mao Shi Zhuan), 虊 (Shuowen Jiezi), water sunflower (Lu Ji's Shi Shu), water celery (Qimin Yaoshu), dew sunflower (Family Instructions of Yan), silk shield (Tang Materia Medica), horse hoof grass, quepen grass (Experienced Prescriptions), brocade ribbon (Compendium of Materia Medica), horse millet grass (Modern Practical Chinese Medicine).

[Source] The stems and leaves of the water shield plant of the Nymphaeaceae family. Harvested from May to July.

[Original form] Water shield (Lu Ji's "Poetry Commentary")

【Habitat distribution】 In water. Distributed in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places.

【Chemical composition】 Contains a small amount of vitamin B12. The back of the leaves secrete a kind of mucus similar to "agar", and the new leaves have more mucus. This polysaccharide can be dissolved with hot water or dilute alkali. It contains 5.9% L-arabinose, 10.9% L-fucose, 34.1% D-galactose, 17.3% D-glucuronic acid, 13.4% D-mannose, 11.4% L-rhamnose, 7% D-xylose, and is said to contain D-galacturonic acid, D-fructose, D-glucosamine, etc. In addition, leucine, phenylalanine, methionine, proline, threonine, asparagine and histamine were also detected in water shield.

[Pharmacological action] Its mucilage is believed to have certain anti-cancer effects in animal screening tests. The extract of Brasenia schrenkiana has a weak inhibitory effect on the mitosis of undifferentiated cells of onion roots.

【Nature and flavor】 ① "Bielu": "sweet, cold, non-toxic."

【Meridian】 ① "Ben Cao Zai Xin": "enters the liver and spleen meridians."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat, promotes diuresis, reduces swelling and detoxifies. Treat heat dysentery, jaundice, carbuncle, and furuncle.

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoct in water or make into soup. For external use: mash and apply.

【Note】 ①Tao Hongjing: "It is slippery in nature, so people who take it should not eat too much."

[Additional prescription] ① To treat all carbuncle: use stems in spring and summer, and seeds in winter. Find them from the side of the root, mash them and apply them on the affected area. It can also be eaten with vegetables. (The remaining records of Baosheng)

【Discussions by various scholars】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Water shield is a medicine that cools the stomach and treats carbuncle, and dissipates heat and arthritis. This herb is cold and slippery in nature. When made into a soup with ginger and vinegar, it can greatly clear stomach fire, eliminate alcohol accumulation, and stop summer heat from causing dysentery. However, it is not advisable to eat too much or for a long time, as it may cause coldness, hinder the spleen and stomach, and also harm the body."

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Ming Yi Bie Lu"

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of water shield. Water shield has a great effect and is of great benefit to the human body. Therefore, everyone can choose water shield according to their physical condition, but it should still be done under the doctor's advice.