There are many ways to consume rhizoma smilacis glabrae, such as boiling it in water, making soup, or cooking it with porridge. However, some people want to eat it directly for convenience. Can rhizoma smilacis glabrae be eaten directly?
Can Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae be Eaten Directly?
Rhizoma smilacis glabrae can be eaten directly, but it is not recommended.
Rhizoma smilacis glabrae is the pith extracted from the stem of the smilax glabra, a plant in the Liliaceae family. It has a sweet and mild taste and a slightly cold nature. It has the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, and promoting lactation. It can be used to treat symptoms such as painful urination, difficulty in urination, and insufficient lactation after childbirth. It does not have any obvious toxic side effects, so it can be eaten directly. However, it is generally not recommended to eat it directly for the following reasons:
Reason 1:
Rhizoma smilacis glabrae is a traditional Chinese medicine. Its medicinal effects are more difficult to absorb when chewed directly. Generally, its medicinal ingredients are more easily extracted and absorbed by the body after being decocted or cooked, which makes it take effect faster.
Reason 2:
Rhizoma smilacis glabrae has a mild and tasteless flavor, and its texture is light. Eating it directly requires a larger quantity, and not everyone can accept this taste. It is more convenient to consume it by boiling it in water or cooking it in soup. This way, the dosage can be achieved, and the taste is also better.
How to Consume Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae Better
Boiling Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae in Water
1. Soak 3-5 grams of rhizoma smilacis glabrae in water for about 30 minutes.
2. Pour it into a clay pot.
3. Boil it over high heat, then simmer for about 15 minutes over low heat.
4. Filter the residue and drink the juice.
Cooking Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae in Soup
Ingredients: 1 pig's trotter, 5 grams of rhizoma smilacis glabrae, 15 red dates, 50 grams of peanuts, salt to taste.
1. Wash the pig's trotter, cut it into pieces, blanch it, and remove any foam.
2. Wash the rhizoma smilacis glabrae, red dates, and peanuts.
3. Put the rhizoma smilacis glabrae, red dates, peanuts, and pig's trotter into a pot.
4. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring it to a boil.
5. Then simmer over low heat for about 1-2 hours until the pig's trotter is tender.
6. Finally, add salt to taste.
How Much Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae to Eat
3-5 grams.
It is generally recommended to consume 3-5 grams of rhizoma smilacis glabrae. Rhizoma smilacis glabrae is a traditional Chinese medicine, and a dosage that is too small may not achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Rhizoma smilacis glabrae has a cold nature, and a dosage that is too large may stimulate the stomach and intestines, causing discomfort or an increase in urination frequency, which can burden the kidneys.
Can Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae be Consumed Long-term?
It is not recommended to consume rhizoma smilacis glabrae long-term.
Rhizoma smilacis glabrae has strong diuretic effects. Long-term consumption can increase the burden on the kidneys and affect their normal functioning, which is not beneficial to kidney health. Therefore, it is generally recommended to stop consuming rhizoma smilacis glabrae once the symptoms disappear.
Who Should Avoid Consuming Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae?
Pregnant Women
Rhizoma smilacis glabrae has a slightly cold nature and has the effect of promoting blood circulation. Pregnant women have a special constitution, and consuming a large amount of rhizoma smilacis glabrae during pregnancy may cause miscarriage. Moreover, the medicinal ingredients in rhizoma smilacis glabrae may also affect the growth and development of the fetus.
People with Cold Constitution
People with a cold constitution should be cautious about consuming rhizoma smilacis glabrae. "Cold constitution" refers to the invasion of external cold, which affects the five viscera, causing symptoms such as weakness in the limbs, cold limbs, and abdominal pain. Rhizoma smilacis glabrae has a sweet taste and a cold nature. Consuming it may aggravate the accumulation of cold in the body, leading to increased discomfort.
People with Deficiency of Qi and Yin
People with deficiency of qi and yin should not consume rhizoma smilacis glabrae. Rhizoma smilacis glabrae has the effect of promoting diuresis and relieving stranguria. Consuming it may further deplete qi and body fluids, resulting in symptoms such as thirst, shortness of breath, epigastric fullness and pain, pale complexion, fatigue, and dry throat.
