The efficacy and function of sweet potato

Sweet potato is a very good medicinal ingredient. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients. It has extremely high medicinal value. Let us learn about several aspects of sweet potato.

[Other names] Red potato (Min Shu), yam, sweet potato (Qunfangpu), red yam (Nongzhengquanshu), fragrant yam, sweet potato (Jixianzhi), golden potato (Ganshulu), fanru, earth melon (Compendium of Compendium of Materia Medica), sweet potato (Min Zaji), red potato (Flora of Guangzhou), sweet potato (Lingnan Herbal Records).

[Source] It is the tuberous root of the sweet potato plant of the Convolvulaceae family. Harvest in winter, dig out the tubers and remove the soil.

[Original form] Perennial creeping herbaceous vine, bare or slightly hairy, with latex. The tubers are white, yellow, red or have purple spots. The leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate, 6 to 14 cm long, gradually pointed at the apex, truncated to cordate at the base, with nearly entire margins, angular or notched, and sometimes deeply finger-like. Cymes, axillary, with several flowers borne on a sturdy inflorescence stalk; calyx deeply lobed, light green, about 1 cm long, obtuse at apex but with a small acute tip; corolla funnel-shaped, 4-5 cm long, 5 short lobes, purple-red or white; stamens 5; ovary 2-chambered, capsules usually rare. Flowering period is winter.

[Habitat distribution] It is cultivated in all parts of my country.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, neutral.

【Entry into meridians】 "Bencao Zaixin": "enters the spleen and kidney meridians."

[Functions and indications] Nourish the middle and harmonize blood, replenish qi and produce body fluid, relax the intestines and stomach, and relieve constipation.

【Usage and Dosage】 Oral administration: raw or cooked. For external use: mash and apply.

【Note】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica" says: "People with fullness in the middle should not eat too much, as it can cause stagnation of qi."

[Additional prescription] ① To treat diarrhea caused by alcohol dampness entering the spleen: stew sweet potatoes and eat them. (The Record of the Learning of Golden Potato)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From Compendium of Materia Medica; 1. Book of Fujian: Sweet potato was obtained from foreign countries by the people of Fujian during the Wanli period. It can be grown on any land with poor soil or gravel. Its stems and leaves are creeping, like those of Cucurbita wilt, Polygonatum sibiricum, yam, and Yam, and they are moist and edible. The Chinese cut a small amount of the vines, cut them and plant them.

In fact, you will only know its benefits after practicing it. Just like the traditional Chinese medicine sweet potato introduced above, it turns out that sweet potato can also treat some other diseases. Therefore, eating it in moderation has many benefits.