This wild herb aids digestion and stops toothache, and is as well known as perilla; southerners often use it to stir-fry river snails.

Friends who have been to the countryside have surely seen those soft, limp, bright green leaves spread in piles over the ground, their edges glossy and smooth, as if about to ooze water. To us, it may just be an ordinary wild herb, but in the eyes of country people, this plant is a rare treasure, and they often pick it as soon as they see it. Why is that?

Those of you living in the south have probably already guessed which plant I am talking about. When some families make mapo tofu and fennel fish, they often sprinkle in a handful of this plant's leaves; the aroma of the meat blends with the fresh fragrance of the plant, and the moment it comes off the heat the scent fills the air. Who wouldn't start drooling? Although most people more or less know what this plant looks like, very few know its name. Today I will give you a little introduction to this amazing plant whose name people cannot quite say - piper sarmentosum (wild betel).

As an important cooking seasoning in rural areas of the south, piper sarmentosum holds the same important place as scallions, garlic and perilla, and it can be seen in most dishes. Besides the two most classic dishes, stir-fried meat with piper sarmentosum and stir-fried eggs with piper sarmentosum, southerners also use it to stir-fry river snails and to wrap meat zongzi. The unique fresh fragrance of piper sarmentosum can neutralise the fishy smell of river snails and the greasiness of fatty pork, greatly improving the taste and flavour of the dish.

In fact, piper sarmentosum is not only widely used as a seasoning, but even more for its medicinal value. Its rhizomes, leaves and even fruit can all be used as medicine, and can relieve stubborn problems such as toothache and headache. Its juice applied to red, swollen wounds can also reduce swelling and stop pain. When country people have a toothache, they grind piper sarmentosum into powder, mix it with clean water and apply it to the gums, and after a while they get relief.

It is worth mentioning that these past few days the weather across the country has been extremely hot, and heatstroke has become the number one illness harming our health. Piper sarmentosum can be made into a thin porridge to cool the body, remove dampness and promote the body's detoxification. It can truly be called a magical plant whose every part is a treasure.

Friends, have you ever seen piper sarmentosum? You are welcome to leave a comment and share!