The Benefits and Uses of Luffa

One, the nature and meridian of loofah rind

Loofah rind, also known as loofah net, loofah shell, gourd rind, loofah tendon, has a sweet taste, neutral nature, and belongs to the lung, stomach, and liver meridians.

Two, the application of loofah rind in rheumatism and heat bi syndrome

Loofah rind has the effects of dispelling wind, promoting circulation, detoxifying, and resolving phlegm, and is particularly suitable for the treatment of rheumatism and heat bi syndrome. In ancient literature "Ben Cao Bian Du", it is recorded that loofah rind can dispel depression and heat, remove wind, and prevent the formation of phlegm caused by the accumulation of body fluids, thus it is called a detoxifying medicine. "Lu Chuan Ben Cao" also records that loofah rind can clear away heat, transform phlegm, promote urination, and relieve symptoms such as cough, delirium, emotional irritability, and muscle spasms caused by lung heat. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that loofah rind also has analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Three, identification and health preservation of authenticity

Pay attention to the phenomenon of sponge contamination in loofah rind. Loofah rind is usually a long strip with a cross section width of 1-1.5 centimeters and a length of 3-6 centimeters. It is white in color, hard and tough in texture, and the cross section appears as a network pattern; sponge is an organic chemical synthetic product, soft and loose in texture, and similar in size, shape, and color to loofah rind, making it difficult to distinguish. The recommended dosage for internal use is 10-15 grams, and it is used externally as needed.

The silk melon pedicle can also be used in medicinal diet.

1. Removing wind and toxins, promoting blood circulation

10 grams of silk melon pedicle, 10 grams of white chrysanthemum flower, 5 grams of rose flower, 5 red dates, steep with boiling water and drink. Suitable for butterfly spots and yellow-brown spots.

2. Regulating Qi and blood in the breasts

6 grams of Chinese dodder seed, 10 grams of silk melon pedicle, 15 grams of astragalus root. Cook with water, filter the juice, cook the peeled shrimp meat with the medicinal juice, season with salt and ginger, drink the soup and eat the shrimp meat once a day. Suitable for breast beauty and fullness, especially for middle-aged women.

3. Clearing heat and promoting diuresis

100 grams of silk melon pedicle, cook with water, filter the juice, add 10 grams of honey and vinegar each, take twice a day. Suitable for patients with urethritis.

Silk melon and orange peel decoction: 30 grams of silk melon pedicle, 6 grams of orange peel, 15 grams of radish seeds, 3 scallions, decoct with water, drink instead of tea. Suitable for chest and rib injuries caused by qi damage.

IV. Ancient and modern recipes with silk melon pedicle

1. Treating arm pain in the elderly: 50 grams of silk melon pedicle, 50 grams of tendon-relaxing herb, 30 grams of mulberry branch, cook with water and drink for two doses. Add 50 grams of chicken wings herb and 12 grams of Chinese angelica for those with blood deficiency and numbness in limbs. Add 30 grams of astragalus root and 30 grams of codonopsis root for those with Qi deficiency.

2. Treatment of acute mastitis: 30g of silk gourd vine, 30g of whole indigo plant, decoct with water, filter the juice, then add appropriate amount of brown sugar, take it while hot, 1 dose per day, continue until effective.

3. Treatment of joint pain: 300g of silk gourd vine, soak in 500ml of white wine, drink after 7 days, 1 small cup each time.

4. Treatment of chronic cholecystitis: 40g of moneywort, decoct to make concentrated juice, add a few drops of white wine, serve with 20g of silk gourd vine powder, can be divided into morning and evening doses.

5. Treatment of hypertension: 12g of silk gourd vine, decoct with water, divide into 3 doses and take them in the morning, noon, and evening.

6. Treatment of gastric prolapse: appropriate amount of pig stomach, 15g of silk gourd vine, suitable amount of water, cook until the pig stomach is tender, remove the silk gourd vine. Take another 100g of silk gourd vine, fry until golden brown, grind into powder, take 6g each time, 3 times a day, 30 minutes before meals, warm it up and take it.

5. Precautions for the use of wind-dampness-dispelling drugs

Wind-dampness-dispelling drugs are mostly pungent, warm, and drying, which can easily damage yin and blood. Therefore, they should be used with caution in those with deficient yin and blood, and should be avoided in those with internal wind syndrome. Bi syndrome is mostly a chronic disease, and wind-dampness-dispelling drugs are often prepared as wine or ointment for patients to take for a long time.