Summer is the season when you worry about internal heat - how many of these wild vegetables that clear heat, detoxify, lower blood pressure and treat stones do you know?
Stone-breaking herb (fossil grass) dissolves stones. Seventy percent of the human body is water, and the quality of that water directly affects your health. It promotes urination and clears urinary blockages, reduces swelling and dissolves stones; its nature is slightly cold, its taste sweet with a hint of bitterness. It clears heat and removes dampness, reduces inflammation and detoxifies, and has a diuretic effect. Because it treats all kinds of stones, it is called stone-breaking herb. It is mostly used to treat diseases of the urinary system and also has the effect of lowering blood pressure. It mainly treats all kinds of stone conditions, nephritis, hepatitis, cystitis and high blood pressure; applied externally it treats swollen sores and dermatitis. Because its medicinal action is strong, it must be prescribed by a doctor and used with care. It is contraindicated for pregnant women and people with weak bladder function, so it must be used with caution.
Chrysanthemum greens (Dendranthema nankingense) is the most common dish on folk dinner tables, and chrysanthemum greens soup with duck eggs in particular is an excellent dish for preventing heatstroke and clearing internal heat in summer. Chrysanthemum greens is rich in nutrients and is a wild vegetable with great prospects for development. Besides nutrients such as protein, fat, cellulose and vitamins, it also contains flavonoids and volatile oils, giving it a distinctive fragrance and a cool, refreshing taste. It can be stir-fried, served cold with dressing, or cooked in soup. It is used for wind-heat colds with fever and dizziness; heat in the liver meridian; red eyes with excessive tears, or yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys with blurred vision; ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang with vertigo and headache; and painful swollen sores and ulcers. In modern times it is also used for coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.
The root and leaves of curled dock (Rumex crispus) can be used as medicine, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping bleeding, removing blood stasis, relieving constipation and killing parasites. Dig up the roots in autumn, wash them, slice them, and dry them in the sun or use them fresh. Collect the leaves in October, picking them as needed.
Mountain lettuce (Lactuca raddeana) is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients. Besides very high levels of chlorophyll, protein, carbohydrates and crude fiber, it is also high in vitamin C and trace elements such as calcium, zinc and iron. It has good effects on softening blood vessels, regulating the endocrine system, aiding digestion, controlling weight and promoting longevity. Mountain lettuce has the special flavor and aroma of a wild vegetable, leaving a fresh feeling after eating. It can be made into stir-fried dishes or cold dressed dishes with seasonings, and is even more suitable as a filling for steamed buns, dumplings and wontons. There are many ways to eat it; it is emerald green in color, delicious in flavor and excellent in texture, and it is also a tasty dish that local people love. Does your hometown have it?