The combination of beauty and ugliness is also a panacea for curing diseases

People who have read "Journey to the West" may think that among the four masters and apprentices, Zhu Bajie is the funniest and cutest. But this is not the point. The point is that Zhu Bajie said a shocking statement - a coarse willow winnowing basket and a thin willow bucket, who in the world thinks a man is ugly? I believe this sentence has helped many men who are not very handsome to get out of trouble.

But in the world of traditional Chinese medicine, there is also a medicine that is misunderstood by the world because there is a word "ugly" in its name. So what is the name of this medicine? That is "Erchou". In fact, it has another name that is familiar to people - morning glory. When it comes to morning glory, everyone must be familiar with it. It can be seen everywhere in mountains, roadsides, wild bushes, etc. But it is called Erchou probably because its flowers are so bright but its seeds are so ugly. Plus, its seeds come in two types, black and white, so it got the name Erchou.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the seeds of morning glory are cold in nature, bitter in taste, and poisonous; they belong to the lung meridian, kidney meridian, and large intestine meridian; they have the effects of purging water and relieving constipation, eliminating phlegm and fluid, killing insects and attacking accumulations; they are suitable for edema, constipation, accumulation of phlegm and fluid, qi reversal, cough, abdominal pain due to worm accumulation, ascariasis, and red worm disease; the general dosage is 3 to 6 grams of decoction in water, and 0.5 to 1 gram of powder to be swallowed, 2 to 3 times a day.

However, the effects of the drug Pharbitis chinensis when used raw or cooked have different advantages. Raw Pharbitis seeds are good at expelling water, reducing swelling, and killing insects; they are suitable for symptoms such as edema, constipation, and diarrhea caused by worms. However, fried Pharbitis seeds have lower toxicity and milder medicinal properties after frying, which avoids damaging the body's vital energy. They are good at clearing phlegm and eliminating stagnation, and they have a fragrant smell after frying, and have a slight spleen-strengthening effect while eliminating stagnation. They are suitable for symptoms such as cough due to excessive phlegm, and food stagnation.

The main effects of Pharbitis seeds are to purge water and relieve constipation, eliminate phlegm and fluid, kill parasites and attack accumulations. However, in clinical practice, it also needs to be used in combination with other drugs. For example, for edema and ascites caused by internal damp-heat, Pharbitis seeds can be used in combination with Gelsemium elegans, Rhubarb, Talcum, etc. to enhance the power of clearing heat and purging water; if it is the symptoms of phlegm congestion, chest fullness, wheezing and cough, Pharbitis seeds can be used in combination with Trichosanthes kirilowii, Morus alba bark, Apricot kernel, Tangerine peel, etc. to enhance the power of purging the lungs, resolving phlegm and relieving wheezing; if it is the symptoms of internal heat accumulation, abdominal pain and constipation, Pharbitis seeds can be used in combination with Rhubarb, Areca nut, Citrus aurantium and other drugs to enhance the power of clearing heat, purging and relieving constipation; if it is the symptoms of abdominal pain caused by worm accumulation, Pharbitis seeds can be used together with Areca nut, Rhubarb and other drugs, which have the effect of expelling Ascaris and Red Worm.

The medicinal properties of morning glory seeds are very strong. If they are used to treat the right diseases, they will definitely have a devastating effect. However, if they are used in inappropriate places, the situation will often be bad. Among the "Nineteen Fears", it is important to remember that morning glory seeds should not be used together with croton seeds or croton cream. The medicinal properties of the seeds of the morning glory are very strong. In the past, it was a taboo for pregnant women and people with weak stomachs and deficient qi, and they were generally not allowed to take it.

But what is interesting is that although the seeds of the morning glory are a strong laxative, if used in small amounts, they can help with bowel movements, while if used in large amounts, they can cause watery diarrhea and can also act as a diuretic. Therefore, in clinical practice, they are mainly used for symptoms such as ascites, difficulty in defecation and urination, food stagnation, and constipation. As for the treatment of phlegm, qi stagnation, cough, wheezing and fullness, it should only be used temporarily and not for a long time. If the patient has a weak spleen, a sluggish stomach, and abdominal distension due to qi deficiency, the focus should be on strengthening the spleen and tonifying the middle. It is not appropriate to use the seeds of the morning glory to attack and eliminate accumulation, or to suppress stomach qi.