Pennywort is commonly used as a remedy for rheumatism and joint pain… The leaves of pennywort and wild white flower nightshade, when crushed, can treat bee stings. Pennywort is a herbaceous plant, standing 30 – 40cm tall. Its stem is swollen at the nodes and has sparse hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately, with a slightly hairy underside. The flowers are unisexual. The fruit is a berry.
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Pennywort (Photo: toildepices) |
This plant grows naturally in humid, shaded areas. It is also cultivated in some regions for its leaves, which are used as a culinary herb.
All parts of the pennywort plant, including the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, are utilized in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, bone pain, muscle aches, back pain, and vomiting. The medicinal parts are harvested year-round, used fresh or dried and then roasted before use. They are often combined with other herbal ingredients:
– Pennywort roots and stems (20g), pain vine (10g), castor bean roots (10g). All parts should be chopped, dried, and boiled in 400ml of water until reduced to 100ml, consumed in two doses throughout the day. Use for 7 – 8 days.
– Pennywort leaves (20g), thousand-year vine (12g), thorny nightshade (16g). Boil and drink throughout the day.
– Pennywort leaves (20g), creeping fern (20g), dog’s claw (20g), hy thiêm (20g), sy roots (16g), wild tangerine roots (16g), prickly nightshade (12g), thousand-year vine (12g), boil and drink (Binh Nguyen Commune Health Station, Kien Xuong, Thai Binh).
Hai Thuong Lan Ong has a remedy for long-term abscesses that do not heal effectively, which includes pennywort leaves, thanh yen leaves, lemon leaves, taro leaves, and perilla (a handful of each). The inner peel of the lemon tree (discard the outer peel) is dried, crushed into a fine powder, and sprinkled onto the wound, followed by a paste made from the crushed herbs. Bandage the area. Change the dressing once every day and night.
Additionally, pennywort can be combined with wild white flower nightshade, crushed, and the juice applied to treat bee stings; mixed with star fruit leaves and white bean leaves, the juice can be consumed to treat mushroom poisoning and snake bites; boiled with prickly nightshade, crow’s foot roots, thorny nightshade roots, hairy mulberry leaves, and plantain to treat edema.
Pharmacist DO HUY BICH
