Watermelon vine is a highly nutritious ingredient, with a spindle-shaped appearance and can also be used as a medicine when ripe. It has many uses in daily life. Let's take a look at the uses of watermelon vine together.
【Morphological characteristics of watermelon vine】
The fruit of the watermelon vine is round in the middle and pointed at both ends, resembling a streamline shape, resembling a goat horn. It is about 4 to 5 centimeters in length, very adorable, and resembles a small mango.
The watermelon vine has a milky white juice that is sticky and difficult to wipe off when it gets on hands. If children touch it frequently, they can first rub it with soil to remove the stickiness, and then wash it off with soap at home.
Peeling off the outer skin of a watermelon vine reveals white tender spikes inside, resembling fish scales, very beautiful. The tender watermelon vine is edible, with a fragrant and sweet taste, very delicious. When it becomes old and fibrous, it cannot be eaten.
The medicinal value of watermelon vine is also very high, known as the "king of herbal medicine". Its fruit can treat fatigue, back and leg pain, lack of milk, leukorrhea, cough, etc. Its root can treat bruises, snake bites, boils, impotence, etc. Its stem and leaves can treat pediatric malnutrition, boils, and swelling. The hairs of its seeds can stop bleeding. Its milk can remove warts.
【Medicinal effects of watermelon vine】
1. Supplementing vitamins
The young fruit of the watermelon vine can be eaten by people. It is a nutritious wild fruit that contains various vitamins necessary for normal human metabolism.
The content of vitamin B and vitamin E is relatively high. After eating it, these vitamins can be absorbed and utilized quickly, which can improve brain function and delay aging.
2. Tonifying qi and nourishing deficiency
After the watermelon vine is used as a medicine, it has a strong tonifying effect, which can tonify lung qi and relieve physical fatigue. It has a good relieving effect on asthma and cough caused by lung deficiency in humans.
3. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic
After the watermelon vine is used as a medicine, it can not only be eaten but also applied externally. When there is dermatitis, herpes, and skin pain, the watermelon vine can be crushed and directly applied to the affected area.
【Other uses of watermelon vine】
1. Used as feed
The stems of watermelon vine are relatively thin and have a low degree of lignification, which means that they are very soft. Therefore, it can be regarded as a medium to high-grade feed and is very suitable for livestock to eat.
2. Used as ingredients
The young fruit of the watermelon vine can be eaten directly, and it contains rich nutrients. For example, its protein content is much higher than many other plants, and its ash content and calcium content are also higher than those of ordinary crops.
3. Economic value
This plant contains 1.5% rubber and 3.6% resin in the whole plant, which determines that it is a good industrial raw material. Therefore, planting it can bring considerable economic benefits.
