- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Found worldwide; in Chinese medicine mainly from China
Asia · Food · № 689
Portulaca oleracea
Food · Asia
Purslane (ma chi xian)
Portulaca oleracea
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.
Safety notes
Not with a cold, weak spleen and stomach or during pregnancy. 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 (2)
- Chinese materia medica: Snakebites are an emergency.
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Contains oxalic acid; take care with kidney stones.
Preparation
Aerial parts, fresh or dried. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that cool heat and detoxify'. In Chinese medicine purslane (ma chi xian) is used for dysentery with blood and for boils. In Unani medicine it is called khurfa. Around the Mediterranean and in Mexico (verdolaga) it is eaten as a vegetable; it contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids.
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.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sour, cold
- Meridians
- liver, heart, large intestine
Attributed effects
Cools heat in the blood and lower abdomen in bloody diarrhoea and painful, bloody urination, and is used internally and externally for boils, poorly healing ulcers, discharge and the pain and swelling of insect and snake bites.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 15–60 g a day, fresh also as a vegetable or juice. A valued vegetable in Latin countries and France: briefly steamed with olive oil and salt.
Caution: Snakebites are an emergency.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
For burns and bruises.
Preparation and amount
Crush a bunch and lay it on.
Caution: Contains oxalic acid; take care with kidney stones.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction