Spinach is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It refers to the whole plant of Spinacia oleracea L., a member of the genus Spinacia in the Chenopodiaceae family. It has the effects of nourishing the blood, stopping bleeding, calming the liver, and moistening dryness. It is primarily used to treat nosebleeds, bloody stools, headaches, dizziness, red eyes, night blindness, excessive thirst with a strong desire to drink, constipation, and hemorrhoids.
Spinach
Spinach is the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It refers to the whole plant of Spinacia oleracea L., a member of the genus Spinacia in the Chenopodiaceae family. It has the effects of nourishing the blood, stopping bleeding, calming the liver, and moistening dryness. It is primarily used to treat nosebleeds, bloody stools, headaches, dizziness, red eyes, night blindness, excessive thirst with a strong desire to drink, constipation, and hemorrhoids.
Chinese Name : 菠菜
Aliases : Boleng, Bolengcai, Red-root Vegetable, Red-root Herb, Persian Grass, Parrot Herb, Mouse-root Herb, Horned Herb, Sweet Tea, Stretching Herb, Min Herb, Flying-herb, Flying-dragon Herb
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Nourishes blood, stops bleeding, calms the liver, and moistens dryness.
Indications
Epistaxis, bloody stools, headache, dizziness, red eyes, night blindness, excessive thirst with a strong desire to drink, constipation, hemorrhoids.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Take in appropriate amounts; cook and eat, or pound to extract juice and drink.
Precautions
Do not consume in excess. 1. *Dietary Therapy Materia Medica*: “People in the north eat meat and wheat flour; consuming spinach balances their constitution. People in the south eat fish, soft-shelled turtles, and rice grown in water; consuming spinach cools their constitution, so excessive consumption cools the large and small intestines.” 2. *Dietary Properties of Materia Medica*: “Excessive consumption weakens the legs, causes lower back pain, and induces cold symptoms. Do not consume it with eel, as this may trigger cholera.” 3. *Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan*: “Spinach damages the stomach and intestines; those with a common cold should avoid it, as it draws wind-pathogens into the internal organs and meridians, causing unrelenting coughing.” 4. *Compendium of Medical Essentials: Properties of Medicinal Herbs*: “Excessive consumption causes skin sores.” 5. *Essentials of Materia Medica*: “Excessive consumption causes diarrhea.” 6. *Dietary Manual of Suixi Residence*: “Should not be consumed after the Jingzhe solar term; patients should avoid it.”
Chemical Constituents
The whole plant contains protein, fat, sugar, crude fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, and B12, niacin, vitamin C, folic acid, carotenoids, and α-tocopherol.It contains flavonoids and their glycosides, including apigenin, marigoldin, rutin, hyperoside, astragalin, and spinastin. Sterols, their glycosides, and esters include α-spinasterol, stigmasterol, stigmastanol,7-stigmastanol, cholesterol, as well as esters of sterols linked to palmitic acid and glycosides linked to glucose and mannose. Insect metamorphosis hormones include polypodine B, ecdysone, and (24),28-dehydro-podocarpone.Chlorophylls and carotenoids include chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a', chlorophyll b, chlorophyll b', demagnesium chlorophyll a, demagnesium chlorophyll b, violaxanthin, neo-xanthin, lutein, β-carotene, neo-β-carotene B, and neo-β-carotene U.Amino acids and organic acids include glutamic acid, alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, malic acid, proline, serine, aspartic acid, aspartamide, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and protocatechuic acid.It also contains 6-hydroxymethylpteridinedione, iron redox proteins, and chlorophyllquinone.Spinach saponins A and B have been isolated from the roots. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, monogalactosyl glycerol diester, digalactosyl glycerol diester, polygalactosyl glycerol diester, and cerebrosides.
Pharmacological Actions
Spinach saponins A and B found in the roots exhibit antibacterial activity.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Dietary Therapy Materia Medica*: “Beneficial to the five viscera, clears heat from the stomach and intestines, neutralizes alcohol toxicity; ideal for those who have ingested mineral elixirs.”
2. *Daily-Use Materia Medica*: “Clears heat toxins.”
3. *Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan*: “Dispels wind and restores vision, opens the orifices, benefits the stomach and intestines, neutralizes alcohol, and promotes blood circulation.”
4. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Promotes blood circulation, opens the chest and diaphragm, descends qi and harmonizes the middle burner, quenches thirst, and moistens dryness. The root is particularly effective.”
5. *Compendium of Medical Forest: Medicinal Properties*: “Consolidates yin and harmonizes the blood.”
6. *Essentials of Materia Medica*: “Relieves restlessness and heat.”
7. *Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicines*: “Nourishes yin and calms the liver; quenches thirst and moistens the intestines.Treats hypertension, headaches, dizziness, wind-fire red eyes, diabetes, and constipation.”
8. *Flora of Medicinal Plants of Taiwan*: “Treats contusions and bruises, as well as blood stasis affecting the heart; crush to extract juice and mix with wine for oral administration.” “Treats urinary stones.”
9. *Fujian Materia Medica*: “Calms the liver and improves vision; descends qi and harmonizes the middle jiao. Treats night blindness and spleen deficiency with abdominal distension.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. For hypertension, headaches, dizziness, and chronic constipation: Use an appropriate amount of fresh spinach. Blanch in boiling water for about 3 minutes, then toss with sesame oil and eat twice daily. (*Flora of Medicinal Plants of Zhejiang*)
2. For excessive thirst and excessive fluid intake (up to one shi per day): Take equal parts of spinach root and chicken gizzard lining, grind into a powder. Take one qian with rice water three times daily.(From *Compendium of Materia Medica*, citing *Formulas from Clinical Experience*)
3. For night blindness and spleen deficiency with abdominal distension: Consume 500g of spinach daily. Stir-fry with vegetable oil as per household custom, or pound into a paste, extract the juice, and consume in divided doses. (*Fujian Pharmacopoeia*)
Medicinal Diet Therapy
Stir-Fried Spinach with Mushrooms
1. Benefits: Replenishes iron, strengthens the spleen, nourishes the blood, and clears dryness.
2. Ingredients: 200g spinach, 10g mushrooms, 3g sesame oil, and appropriate amounts of garlic, shredded ginger, cooking wine, and salt.
3. Preparation: Sort and wash the spinach thoroughly; remove the stems from the mushrooms, wash them, and cut them in half. Heat oil in a wok until it reaches 60% heat, add the spinach, and stir-fry until cooked. Transfer to a serving plate. Return the wok to the heat, add garlic, chopped scallions, shredded ginger, cooking wine, and salt. Add a small amount of water and bring to a boil, then add the mushrooms and stir-fry until cooked. Pour the mixture over the spinach on the plate.
4. Usage: Serve as a side dish.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional pattern differentiation and prescribe an herbal formula.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest in winter and spring; remove soil and impurities, wash thoroughly, and use fresh.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The root is conical and red, with a few fibrous roots. The stem is hollow and usually unbranched.Leaves are alternate; they have long petioles; the basal leaves and those on the lower part of the stem are larger, while the leaves on the upper part of the stem gradually become smaller, lanceolate or triangular-ovate, with entire or notched margins; the leaves on the inflorescence become lanceolate. The flowers are small and yellowish-green. The capsule is hard and has two angular spines. The seeds are flattened and round, with a pale red seed coat. It has a faint odor and a sweet, slightly pungent taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Spinach (Amaranthus sp.), a plant of the Amaranthaceae family.
Morphological Characteristics
Annual herb. The entire plant is smooth, tender, and succulent. Young roots are reddish. The stem is erect, hollow, and usually unbranched. Leaves are alternate; long-petiolate; basal and lower stem leaves are larger, while upper stem leaves gradually decrease in size; they are lanceolate or triangular-ovate, entire or notched; leaves on the inflorescence become lanceolate.Flowers are unisexual, with separate male and female plants; male flowers are arranged in discontinuous spicate panicles, terminal or axillary, with perianth segments usually numbering 4, yellowish-green; stamens are 4, exserted, with anthers lacking appendages;female flowers are clustered in the leaf axils, lacking a perianth; the bracts are longitudinally folded and fused into a flattened tube; the small bracts have two teeth at the apex and usually bear one spiny appendage on the back; the styles are four in number, linear, slender, and fused at the base. The capsule is hard, usually bearing two angular spines, with the pericarp and seed coat adnate. The seeds are erect.Flowering period: April–June; fruit ripening period: June.
Distribution Area
It is cultivated throughout China and is one of the most common vegetables.