The stems of water chestnuts not only have medicinal properties for clearing heat and reducing swelling, but can also be directly consumed when cold and mixed with other ingredients. They have a refreshing and delicious taste. The stems of water chestnuts are mainly used to treat gastric ulcers, warts, and sores.
[Morphological characteristics of water chestnut stems]
Water chestnut stems are annual aquatic herbaceous plants. They have two types of leaves: floating leaves are clustered at the end of the stem. The petiole may or may not have hair, and the upper part has elongated oval-shaped gas-filled bladders. The leaf blades are nearly triangular or diamond-shaped, measuring 1.5-3.5cm in length and 1.5-4cm in width. The upper part of the edge has larger notched teeth. The base is wedge-shaped or broadly wedge-shaped. The upper surface is green and hairless, while the lower surface has sparse soft hairs. The submerged leaves are feather-like. The flowers are bisexual, white in color, and grow in the leaf axils. The flower stalk is about 1.5cm long and covered with short soft hairs. There are 4 sepals, lanceolate in shape and about 5mm long, with hairs along the ridge. There are 4 petals and 4 stamens. The ovary is semi-inferior and has a single stigma.
The nut is inverted triangular, about 1.5cm tall. The shoulder angles are flat or slightly upward-slanting, with thorns at the tip. The distance between the two angles is 3-4.5cm wide. There are no waist angles, but there are often mound-like protrusions in their place. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
[Precautions for using water chestnut stems]
Due to the close relationship between the usage, dosage, and therapeutic effect of medications, it is recommended to grasp the correct usage and dosage in order to achieve the best treatment effect.
It is also important to remember the number of doses and the interval between each dose to ensure timely medication.
In addition, in order to ensure the efficacy, patients with gastric ulcers should pay attention to their diet while taking water chestnut stems. They should strengthen their nutrition and choose easily digestible foods that are rich in calories, protein, and vitamins.
Examples include porridge, noodles, milk, soft rice, soy milk, eggs, lean meat, tofu, and soy products. It is also recommended to consume foods rich in vitamins A, B, and C, such as fresh vegetables and fruits.
[Selected medicinal prescriptions using water chestnut stems]
1. Treatment of gastric ulcers, gastric cancer, and cervical cancer: Take 30-45g of water chestnut stems and 30g of Coix seeds. Brew and drink the decoction continuously.
2. Treatment of head sores in children and alcohol poisoning: Take 60-120g of fresh water chestnut stems (remove the leaves and root hairs). Boil in water and drink the decoction.
Dosage of water chestnut stems:
For daily use: Take 30-45g of fresh water chestnut stems as a decoction. For external use, apply an appropriate amount of crushed stems as a poultice or for rubbing.
