1. Description:
Lemna minor (also known as common duckweed or lesser duckweed, Chinese Pinyin: Fu Ping, Simplified Chinese: 浮萍, 青萍, 田萍, 浮萍草, 水浮萍, 水萍草), is a species of aquatic floating freshwater plant in genus Lemna (botanical duckweed family, Lemnoideae). Found in freshwater ponds and slow-moving streams throughout most of Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, Lemna minor is used as cardiotonic, antipyretic, diaphoretic and emmenagogue in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as measles and edema.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Lemna minor is considered to have pungent, cold and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the lung meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Lemna Minor & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Mosquito Expelling
Burning dried Lemna minor can help to expel mosquitos.
3.2 Typhoid Fever
Lemna minor, rhinoceros horn and stem of Uncaria rhynchophylla are powdered and taken with honey water to treat typhoid fever.
3.3 Reducing Inflammation, Swelling And Relieving Pain
Powdered Lemna minor is taken orally with water to treat edema (swelling caused by fluid retention).
3.4 Bleeding Stopping
Lemna minor and Astragalus propinquus are powdered and taken with ginger honey water to stop hematemesis.
3.5 Skin Health
Smashed Lemna minor can be applied externally to stop boils and sores at the beginning stages.
Medicated bath with Lemna minor and Stephania tetrandra root can be used in treating tinea versicolour (fungal infection).
3.6 Diabetes
Lemna minor juice is taken orally to treat diabetes.
3.7 The Excretory System
Dried Lemna minor is powdered and applied externally to treat prolapse of anus.
3.8 Erysipelas
Smashed Lemna minor can be applied externally to treat erysipelas (an acute streptococcal infectious disease of the skin, characterized by fever, headache, vomiting, and purplish raised lesions, especially on the face, also called Saint Anthony’s fire).
4. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions:
Administration with caution for people with vital energy (qi) deficiency.
5. Research And Studies:
Lemna minor contains vitamin B1, B2, C and other water-soluble vitamins, luteolin-7-β-glucoside. 8-hydroxy luteolin-8-β-glucoside and other flavonoids and iodine, bromine. The extracted polysaccharide is a rich source of D-coriander sugar.
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.