1. Description:
Broad bean (scientific name: Vicia faba L., also known as fava bean, faba bean, field bean, bell bean, or tic bean; Chinese Pinyin: Can Dou, Simplified Chinese: 蚕豆), is a species of annual, erect, flowering, herbaceous plant in genus Vicia (bean family, Fabaceae). Native to North Africa, southwest and south Asia, and extensively cultivated across the world, the plant can grow up to 120 cm tall. The stem, leaves, flower, seeds and pods of broad bean are used as spleen tonic, dampness-dispelling drug and aperitive in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as high blood pressure.
Other simplified Chinese names for broad beans include: 罗汉豆, 胡豆, 兰花豆, 南豆, 竖豆, 佛豆.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Broad bean is considered to have sweet, mildly pungent, neutral and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the spleen and stomach meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Broad Beans & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Blood Pressure
Boiled water with Commelina communis and broad bean flower is taken orally to treat high blood pressure.
3.2 Edema
A decoction of old broad beans is taken orally to treat edema (swelling caused by fluid retention).
3.3 Nephritis
Cooked broad bean coat with brown sugar is taken orally to treat chronic nephritis.
3.4 Hangover Remedies
Broad bean seedling, vegetable oil and salt are mixed and taken orally to cure a hangover.
3.5 Skin Health
Smashed broad beans can be applied externally to treat head sores.
4. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions:
Administration with caution for people with vital energy (qi) deficiency.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.