Introduction to the plant morphology and effects of amaranth seed
There is a traditional Chinese medicine called amaranth seed. Long ago, it began to be used as a medicinal material, and today it still exerts its own effects and functions, making a contribution to people's health. As a herbal medicine, the most important thing to understand about amaranth seed is what effects and functions it has, so that it can be used better.
Brief introduction to amaranth seed
Amaranth seed is also known as Mo seed, amaranth seed, and amaranth vegetable seed. It is the seed of the amaranth plant in the Amaranthaceae family. Harvesting and storage: harvest the aboveground parts in autumn, dry them in the sun and then rub off the seeds, winnow them clean, and dry them in the sun. It is an annual herb. The flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period is from July to September.
Morphology of the amaranth seed plant
The stem is erect, stout, green or red, with relatively few branches. The leaves are alternate; the petiole is 3-10 cm long, green or red; the leaf blade is ovate, rhombic-ovate, or lanceolate, 4-12 cm long and 3-7 cm wide, green or often red, purple, or yellow, or partly green mixed with other colors, with a blunt tip or slightly concave, a broadly wedge-shaped base, entire or wavy margins, and no hairs.
The flower clusters are axillary, spherical; the inflorescences on the lower part are spherical, while the upper ones are slightly interrupted spike-like inflorescences. The flowers are yellow-green, unisexual, and monoecious; the bracts and bracteoles are ovate-lanceolate, with an awn-like tip, about 4 mm long, membranous, and transparent; there are 3 sepals, lanceolate, membranous, with an awn-like tip; there are 3 stamens; there is 1 pistil, and the stigma is 3-lobed. The utricle is ovate-oblong, longer than the fruit, opening in a ring shape when ripe, with the upper half falling off like a lid, enclosed within the persistent perianth segments. The seeds are dark brown, nearly oblate, convex on both sides, smooth and glossy, with blunt edges.
The effects and functions of amaranth seed
It clears the liver and improves vision, and promotes urination and defecation. It is used to treat night blindness and corneal opacity, blurred vision, chyluria and hematuria, and difficult urination and defecation.
1. To treat wind-heat in the liver meridian attacking upward, with red painful eyes and corneal opacity, obstructed vision, and night blindness, amaranth vegetable seed is suitable to be taken. Grind it into powder, and take one square-inch scoop with tea every night.
2. To treat red flooding: amaranth vegetable seed, red cockscomb flower, and red lingzi, stewed with meat and taken.
3. To treat difficulty in urination and defecation: half a liang of amaranth seed powder. Divide into two doses, and take with newly drawn water.
4. To treat chyluria and hematuria: fry red amaranth vegetable seeds until they pop, then grind into a fine powder. Take 9 g each time, swallowed with sugar water, 3 times a day. After taking it several times, if the urine is still turbid and unclear, 30 g of Weixian vegetable can be used, decocted in water and taken.
5. To treat blurred vision and white corneal opacity: amaranth vegetable seed, Celosia argentea seed, and cicada flower, stewed with pig liver and taken.
The amaranth seed plant is not common. It is semi-wild and does not need manual care; simply scattering the seeds is enough. Although it is only a small herb, it silently realizes its own value in our lives. Although the effects and functions of amaranth seed cannot compare with other medicinal materials, its therapeutic effect is very remarkable. After understanding its effects and functions, the medicinal material can be used flexibly. When consuming it, attention should also be paid to its method of consumption, and the medicine should be prepared strictly according to the prescription, so that its maximum effect can be brought into play.
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