What plant's fruit is the water caltrop? One article explains it clearly
The water caltrop is the fruit of the annual herbaceous aquatic plant water caltrop, a member of the family Trapaceae, genus Trapa. Also known as waist caltrop, water chestnut, and water caltrop fruit, its skin is crisp and its flesh delicious; it is eaten after being steamed or boiled and shelled, and can also be cooked into congee. The water caltrop is rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and a variety of vitamins and trace elements. It has the effects of promoting urination and lactation, quenching thirst, and relieving alcohol toxicity.
I. The Effects of Water Caltrop
Suitable groups: generally everyone can eat it.
Dietary therapy effects: the water caltrop is sweet and astringent in taste and cool in nature;
1. Tonifies the spleen, boosts qi, and strengthens the spleen; strengthens the thighs and knees and invigorates strength and qi
2. Anti-cancer: the alcoholic infusion of the water caltrop fruit has an inhibitory effect on the degeneration of cancer cells and tissue proliferation.
3. Weight loss: the water caltrop promotes urination, promotes lactation, and relieves alcohol toxicity, and is an auxiliary food for weight loss.
4. Relieves skin diseases: assists in treating various skin diseases such as head sores in children, yellow water sores on the head and face, and skin warts.
In addition, the water caltrop can quell the flames of desire in men and women. “Dietary Materia Medica” states: “Among all fruits in water, this one most generates cold qi; when people consume it cold, it damages yang and causes the penis to wither.”
Regular consumption of water caltrop is beneficial for the elderly. According to modern pharmacological experiments, the water caltrop has a certain anti-cancer effect. It can be used to prevent and treat esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, uterine cancer, and so on.
II. Eating Recommendations
Try not to eat water caltrops, water chestnuts, or lotus roots raw, and do not peel them with your teeth. When eating them raw, be sure to wash and scrub them thoroughly, and scald them in boiling water for a few minutes or dry them in the sun for a day before eating. If you have come into contact with aquatic plants or sewage, wash your hands thoroughly to prevent contamination by metacercariae.
1. Eating too much of the fresh fruit raw easily harms the spleen and stomach; it is best eaten cooked.
2. Water caltrop powder congee benefits the stomach and intestines and can clear internal heat.
Medicinal value of the water caltrop
Water caltrop, sweet and astringent in taste and cool in nature;
1. Anti-cancer: the alcoholic infusion of the water caltrop fruit has an inhibitory effect on the degeneration of cancer cells and tissue proliferation.
2. Tonifies the spleen, boosts qi, and strengthens the spleen; strengthens the thighs and knees and invigorates strength and qi
3. Relieves skin diseases: assists in treating various skin diseases such as head sores in children, yellow water sores on the head and face, and skin warts.
4. Weight loss: the water caltrop promotes urination, promotes lactation, and relieves alcohol toxicity, and is an auxiliary food for weight loss.
5. Dry red water caltrops in the sun and grind them into powder; take 10 grams on an empty stomach, swallowed with aged wine for bloody dysentery and with rice water for white dysentery, to treat dysentery.
6. Rub the fresh water caltrop stem (the caltrop stalk) on the affected area several times a day to treat warts (juvenile flat warts, multiple common warts).
7. Take 120 grams of fresh water caltrop grass stems (with leaves and fibrous roots removed), decoct in water, to treat head sores and toxins in children, and it can also relieve alcohol.
8. Char old water caltrops while retaining their nature, grind them into a fine powder, and apply it mixed with sesame oil to the affected area to treat yellow water sores on the head and face.
9. Take 10-50 grams of water caltrop powder and an appropriate amount of white sugar, decoct in water into a paste and eat. It clears summer heat and relieves fever, removes restlessness and quenches thirst, boosts qi and strengthens the spleen, and relieves alcohol toxicity. It is suitable for symptoms such as bitter taste in the mouth, excessive thirst, and sore throat caused by heavy drinking.
10. Take 10 grams each of water caltrop, myrobalan, coix seed, and wisteria gall, decoct in water, and take twice a day to treat esophageal cancer and stomach cancer.
11. Boil raw water caltrop flesh into a thick brown soup, using 20-30 water caltrops per day. Divide the soup into 2-3 servings; it can treat uterine cancer and stomach cancer. According to reports from Japan, long-term use of this formula has repeatedly produced results.
12. Water caltrop congee: cook 100 grams of rice into congee; when it is half-cooked, add 30-60 grams of water caltrop powder, cook together until done, and season with an appropriate amount of brown sugar before eating. It strengthens the spleen and benefits the stomach and boosts qi and prevents cancer. It is suitable for chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, old age and weakness, and other conditions. It also has the effect of preventing and treating stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and uterine cancer.
The water caltrop has relatively high nutritional value and is suitable for middle-aged and elderly people to eat more of; moreover, it is delicious, so when it is in season, be sure to eat more, otherwise you will have to wait another year.