- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (South Asia)
- Other names
- Mung dal
- Traditions
- Ayurveda, Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Food · № 358
Vigna radiata
Food · Asia
Mung bean
Vigna radiata
Traditionally attributed effects: light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with a cold, weak spleen. Aconite poisoning is an emergency: call 112 at once.
Preparation
In khichadi, mung dal soup, pancakes and fajitas (soak beforehand); green mung dal flour as a soap substitute, body scrub and for the scalp.
Use in traditions
Described in Ayurveda in the kitchen and daily care. In Ayurveda (mudga) mung beans are the lightest pulse food and the basis of kitchari, the porridge for recovery and fasting. In China mung bean soup is eaten in summer against heat (lü dou tang). Bean sprouts are usually grown from mung beans.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Everyday Ayurveda
Attributed effects
Light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.
Preparation and amount
In khichadi, mung dal soup, pancakes and fajitas (soak beforehand); green mung dal flour as a soap substitute, body scrub and for the scalp.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, cool
- Meridians
- heart, stomach
Attributed effects
Lu dou cools and prevents summer heat with thirst and fever and was traditionally given for an overdose of prepared aconite. It is a protein-rich food that nevertheless cools.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 15–30 g a day, usually in a decoction. Kichari, an Indian dish of mung beans, rice, turmeric, coriander and cumin, is eaten as a light, cleansing cure. For high blood pressure you can pour boiling water over 2 tablespoons of raw mung beans three times a day and drink the cooled water; eat the beans in the evening.
Caution: Not with a cold, weak spleen. Aconite poisoning is an emergency: call 112 at once.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionPowder and kitchen