Dried watercress

Dried watercress

(Handbook of raw herbs)

[source] the whole plant of watercress, a cruciferous plant.

[plant morphology] watercress, also known as watercress, watercress and watercress.

Perennial aquatic herbs, 20-40 cm high. The stem is creeping and floating, rooting and branched. Leaflets 1-4 pairs, oblong or suborbicular, apex 1 larger, undulate lobed. Flowers small, white, petiolate, elongated raceme; sepals 4, short, extended, base flat; petals 4, crisscross, longer than calyx. Long horned fruit stipitate, 8-25 mm long, cylindrical, flat, with short beak. Seeds numerous, ovate, brownish red. The flowering period is from April to May.

Born in paddy field or shallow ditch with water all year round. It is cultivated in Guangdong and Shanghai.

[collection] harvest in winter and spring and dry in the sun.

[pharmacological action] it is rich in vitamin A, C and D, so it has nutritional value. The seeds also contain mustard oil, which is highly irritant. Its aqueous extract can inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, but has no effect on Staphylococcus aureus. It is believed that the whole herb can interfere with egg implantation and pregnancy. There are people who eat boiled watercress for menstruation, abortion and contraception in foreign countries. The squeezed juice is an antagonist of nicotine poisoning in rabbits and dogs.

[functions and indications] Handbook of raw herbs: "it is used to treat lung disease and lung heat and dry cough. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: Decoction (also used as vegetable food).