Sea purslane is the whole plant of the sea purslane family. It grows wild on slopes and in grassy areas, climbing on other objects. Its functions are clearing heat, detoxifying, and promoting diuresis. Can sea purslane prevent and treat urinary calculi?
【Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Calculi with Sea Purslane】
Wang Runxia and others studied the effect of the aqueous extract of sea purslane on calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals. They found that the sea purslane extract can transform the calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) crystals into the more thermodynamically stable COM crystals. This inhibitory effect increases with the concentration of the sea purslane extract. Moreover, the size of the COD crystals decreases with the increase in the concentration of the sea purslane extract. This result provides theoretical support for the ability of sea purslane to treat urinary calculi.
【Precautions for Sea Purslane】
1. When using sea purslane spores for medicinal purposes, it is necessary to cook them in the form of decoction because the spores are very fine.
2. Due to the cold nature of sea purslane, it should be used with caution in people with deficient kidney yin to avoid adverse effects on the kidneys.
3. The dosage of sea purslane should be used reasonably. Generally, the recommended dosage of dried whole plant is 6-15 grams per time, and long-term continuous use should be avoided.
