|
| |
| Latin: |
Herba Portulacae |
| |
| Origin: |
Purslane refers to the whole herb of a fleshy annual succulent plant Portulaca oleracea L. (common purslane), of the family Portulaceae. It is with prostrate, reddish stems, egg-shaped leaves attached by the narrower end, and small yellow flowers that open in the sunlight. Grown mainly in America, it is also distributed throughout China.
Portulaca oleracea is a widespread weed, but the variety Portulaca oleracea sativa, known as kitchen garden pusley, is grown to some extent as a potherb, mostly in Europe. All plants of the genus are known for their persistence; they grow well even in dry waste soil and can retain enough moisture to bloom and ripen seeds long after they have been uprooted. The capsules, which open by a lid, scatter many small seeds of great longevity.
The purslane tree (Portulacaria afra), native to South Africa, is a fleshy-leaved, soft-wooded tree up to 4 m high. It is grown in California as a specimen plant for its succulent habit and its tiny pink flowers in clusters and is also cultivated widely as an indoor pot plant.
Purslane is harvested in summer. The herb is then steamed or scalded for a while, dried in the sun and used when fresh or when raw.
Also called Pusley.
See also Food, Vegetables, Purslane. |
| |
| Properties: |
| Sour in flavor, cold in nature, it is related to the large intestine and liver channels. |
| |
| Functions: |
| Clears away heat to expel toxic substances, removes heat from the blood, promotes blood circulation, relieves swelling and arrests dysentery. |
| |
| Applications: |
1. For treating dysentery due to pathogenic damp-heat:
a) Purslane can be decocted alone for drinking or the fresh herb can be taken blended into juice and mixed with honey.
b) It can also be used together with skullcap root (Radix Scutellariae), Chinese goldthread rhizome (Rhizoma Coptidis), etc.
c) Prepare two large bundles of purslane and cut into small pieces. boil it with rice to make porridge. No salt is to be added.
2. For treating skin and external diseases due to toxic heat:
Purslane can be decocted alone for oral ingestion and external washing or the fresh herb can be mashed for external application. It can also be used in combination with other herbs for clearing away heat to remove toxic substances.
3. For treating metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding):
(a) Metrorrhagia due to blood heat:
Purslane can be blended alone into juice for drinking or used as an injection, with clear uterine contraction and hemostatic effects.
(b) Bleeding hemorrhoids due to wind-heat in the large intestine:
Purslane can be used alone or together with garden burnet root (Radix Sanguisorbae), Chinese honeylocust spine (Spina Gleditsiae) and phoenix-tail fern (Herba Pteridis multifidae).
4. For treating strangury (painful discharge of urine, drop by drop) due to heat and hematuria (blood in urine):
Purslane can be used alone or together with other herbs for arresting bleeding and relieving strangury. |
| |
| Dosage and Administration: |
30-60 g.
Decoct the ingredients for drinking. The dose of the fresh herb should be doubled. Use an adequate amount externally. |
| |
| Cautions on Use: |
| Purslane should be avoided by anyone with spleen-yang insufficiency and by those who suffer from diarrhea due to cold of the insufficiency type. |
| |
| Reference Materials: |
The Newly-Revised Materia Medica : "Blend this herb into juice for application onto tumors and verucae. Drink the juice for the treatment of dysphagia, various kinds of strangury and bleeding wounds, or use it to wash the lips and facial ulcers."
Compendium of Materia Medica : "Treat postpartum sweating by eliminating blood stasis, relieving swelling, lubricating the large intestine, preventing habitual abortion, removing toxic substances and relieving strangury." |
| |
| Toxic or Side Effects: |
|
| |
| Modern Researches: |
Purslane contains large amounts of L-noradrenaline and dopamine and a small amount of dopa as well as vitamins B1, B2, and C, carrotene, potassium salts, glucose, cellulose, calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc.
Every 10O g of the edible part contains 2.3 g of protein, 0.5 g of fat, 3 g of sugar, 85 mg of calcium, 56 mg of phosphorus, 1.5 mg of iron, 2.23 mg of carotene, 0.03 mg of thiamine, 0.11 mg of ovoflavin, 0.7 mg of nicotinic acid, and 23 mg of vitamin C.
In in vitro experiments showed a concentration of 1:4 solution revealing bactericidal action on dysentery, bacilli and Eschericher coli. Clinically, it has been reported that fresh purslane porridge yields preventive action on epidemic dysentery in several thousand cases observed. In a comparative study, it was shown that wild fresh purslane yields anti-dysentery action similar to that of sulfonamides and synthomycin.
The decoction of the purslane can also inhibit typhoid bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, and some pathogenic fungi.
Purslane injections have a clear stimulant effect on the smooth uterine muscle. In addition, the herb can strengthen the peristalsis of the intestines and induce diuresis. |
| |
| |
|
