Many people may not be familiar with the benefits of bamboo shoots, but in fact, it is a commonly used herb for clearing heat and cooling blood. It is mainly used to treat indigestion, dysentery, and other diseases. Let's take a closer look at the benefits and effects of bamboo shoots!
【Benefits and Effects of Bamboo Shoots】
Bamboo shoots have powerful effects in clearing heat and phlegm, nourishing Qi and stomach, treating thirst, promoting diuresis, and they also have the characteristics of being low in fat, low in sugar, and high in fiber.
Eating bamboo shoots can not only promote intestinal peristalsis, help digestion, relieve food retention, and prevent constipation, but also have the effect of preventing colon cancer.
1. For treating indigestion and dysentery, take 30-60g of bamboo shoots, decoct in water and take orally; or use 30-60g of bamboo shoot water and take internally. (National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines)
2. For treating thorn or wood stuck in the flesh, use bamboo shoots, wine lees, Plantago seeds, and salt. Grind these four ingredients together and apply to the affected area. (Lingnan Materia Medica Records)
【Morphological Characteristics of Bamboo Shoots】
The original form of bamboo shoots is a tall bamboo plant, with a height of 10-24 meters, a diameter of 5-15 centimeters, and internodes about 30 centimeters long, hollow and delicate.
The leaves are long and lanceolate, measuring 6-20 centimeters in length and 6-20 millimeters in width. The base of the leaf tapers abruptly into a leaf stalk about 1-3 millimeters long. The back of the leaf is slightly hairy, with 4-7 secondary veins, and the small transverse veins are not obvious. The leaf margin is rough or smooth on one side.
There are 6 stamens, with anthers about 4 millimeters long. At the tip of the anther connective, there may be small hair-like structures. The apex of the ovary is covered with spines, and there is one pistil and three feather-shaped stigmas. The bamboo shoot period is from May to June, and the flowering period is from August to December.
【Precautions】
Ancient books record that bamboo shoots have slight toxicity, so when using this herb, it is important to pay attention to the dosage and preferably follow the instructions of a doctor.
It is also important to avoid eating raw and cold food, strong tea, spicy and greasy food, radishes, and fishy-smelling food, as these can reduce the effectiveness of the medicine, lower absorption, and have harmful effects.
