The efficacy and function of chickweed

There are so many medicinal herbs in the world, and it is inevitable that there are some that we are not familiar with. But as long as we have the spirit of learning throughout our lives, I believe we can slowly learn more medical herbs. So do you know about the medicinal herb chickweed?

[Other names] Foot skin vegetable, chicken intestine vegetable, black kelp, small kelp, wild kelp, foot cabbage, goose egg vegetable, winnowing basket vegetable, gluten vegetable, native kelp, kelp shreds

[Source] Medicinal material source: The algae of the plant chickweed of the family Hemerocallis.

[Original morphology] The algae is dark brown, and the juveniles are lighter in color. They are generally 10-30 (-50) cm high, clustered, flat, leaf-shaped, 2-4 cm wide, sometimes up to 6 cm, slightly wider in the middle and upper parts, with blunt-rounded apex. When mature, the apex is often eroded and the leaf base is wedge-shaped. The outer cortex is composed of neatly arranged oval cells containing chromatophores; the inner cortex cells are larger and have thicker brittle walls; the medulla is composed of thick-walled branched filaments interwoven together. In mature algae, numerous gametangia grow from the outer cortical cells and are arranged in a palisade shape. To the naked eye, the gametangia appear as dark brown patches distributed throughout the algae. The holdfast is small disc-shaped.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Grown on rocks in inner bays where waves are not too strong and in low-tide zones.

【Properties】 Identification by properties: The algae are reddish brown to grayish brown, wrinkled and twisted into a mass. After being flattened in water, it appears as a flat ribbon, green-brown, 10-30cm long, some up to 50cm long, 2-4cm wide, up to 6cm, and the tip is often rotten and incomplete. Dark brown patchy gametangium groups can sometimes be seen on the surface of the algae. The holdfast is small disc-shaped with a short stalk. It is tough and not easy to break. It has a slightly fishy smell and tastes salty.

【Chemical composition】 Contains hexadecanoic acid, 24-methylenecholesterol, D-mannitol, phosphatidylcholine, saringosterol, and 24-methylcholesta-5,25-dien-3β-ol. Alginic acid, crude protein, mannitol, potassium, iodine, etc.

【Nature and flavor】 Salty; cold

【Meridian】 Liver; Lung

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and resolves phlegm; softens and disperses lumps. Main goiter; lymphadenopathy; pulmonary tuberculosis

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 15-30g.

[Various Comments] "Zhangpu County Chronicles": "Goose intestines grow in sea stones, four or five inches long, as thin as a belt, and yellow in color."

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction of goose intestines in this article, we can learn about the related functions and eating methods of goose intestines. The value of chickweed can be seen from its efficacy, which fully reflects the importance of chickweed.