What are the benefits of drinking psyllium herb (Plantago asiatica) steeped in water, can it be drunk long-term, and is dried or fresh better?

Plantago asiatica is a common wild vegetable found in grasslands, fields, ditch edges and riverbanks. Because it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, cough-relieving and phlegm-resolving effects, it is widely used as a medicinal herb. At present, many people like to steep it in water to drink, in order to strengthen the body, so what benefits does drinking Plantago asiatica steeped in water have? Can it be taken long-term? Is dried or fresh better?

1. What benefits does drinking Plantago asiatica steeped in water have?

Benefit 1. Clearing heat and relieving summer heat: Plantago asiatica is cold in nature and is a cold-natured herb. It can eliminate dry heat in the body and has the effect of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, making it suitable for steeping in water and consuming during hot summer.

Benefit 2. Promoting urination and treating strangury: The aucubin in Plantago asiatica is a diuretic component that can improve symptoms such as very little urine and difficult urination.

Benefit 3. Lowering blood pressure: Plantago asiatica is rich in potassium, which can promote the excretion of sodium ions in the body, has a certain effect of lowering blood pressure, and improves bodily discomfort.

Benefit 4. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory: The glassy acid in Plantago asiatica has a certain inhibitory effect on various bacteria, and Plantago asiatica is a cold-natured herb, which has a certain relieving effect on inflammation caused by excess internal heat.

Benefit 5. Relieving cough and resolving phlegm: Drinking Plantago asiatica as tea can promote the removal of phlegm, and it also has a certain cough-relieving effect, mainly with a better effect on cough due to lung heat.

2. Can Plantago asiatica be drunk long-term?

It is not recommended to consume it every day. Although drinking Plantago asiatica steeped in water is good for the body, Plantago asiatica is cold in nature, and eating it every day can easily irritate the stomach and intestines, making the stomach and intestines deficient-cold and the body weak. It is recommended to consume it 3 times per week on average.

3. Is dried Plantago asiatica better or fresh better?

1. There is not much difference in benefits between dried and fresh Plantago asiatica. This is because the active ingredients in a single Plantago asiatica plant will not be greatly reduced by the act of sun-drying, so the difference in benefits between fresh and dried is not very great; it is just that the dried one is easy to store and has a longer storage time.

2. The biggest difference between dried and fresh Plantago asiatica is the difference in water content. The main component of fresh Plantago asiatica is water, and after sun-drying the component that is mainly reduced is water. After a large amount of water is lost, a large amount of water-soluble vitamins will be lost or oxidized, leading to the loss of water-soluble B vitamins and vitamin C.

3. As water decreases, when dried and wet Plantago asiatica of the same quality are compared, the contents of cellulose, minerals, protein and so on in dried Plantago asiatica will accordingly increase.

4. Is Plantago asiatica toxic?

1. Plantago asiatica is not toxic. Plantago asiatica is the young leaf bud of Plantago asiatica, a plant in the Plantaginaceae family, also known as wheel-vegetable. It is commonly seen by roadsides, field ridges and ditch edges. Every 100 grams of young leaf buds of Plantago asiatica contains 79 grams of water, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, 309 milligrams of calcium, 175 milligrams of phosphorus, 25 milligrams of iron, 5.8 milligrams of carotene, 23 milligrams of vitamin C, and also various components such as choline, potassium salts, citric acid, oxalic acid and aucubin.

2. Plantago asiatica is sweet and cold in nature and flavor, and has the effects of promoting water metabolism, clearing heat, improving eyesight and removing phlegm. It mainly treats strangury, blood in urine, inability to urinate, jaundice, edema, heat dysentery, diarrhea, red swollen and painful eyes, sore throat and so on. “Caoxing Lun” records “treats blood in urine, can tonify the five zang organs, improve eyesight, promote urination, and free the five stranguries”. “Bencao Fengyuan” records “those with deficiency and slippage and unstable essence should not use it”.