As spring arrives, trees begin to sprout new leaves. Many of these young leaves are trusted remedies by folk medicine. For example, bamboo shoots reduce fever, guava buds treat diarrhea, and banyan buds help with gum inflammation…
Bamboo Shoots
Also known as bamboo buds, their medicinal name in traditional medicine is “Trúc Diệp Quyển Tâm,” characterized by a mild sweetness and a cooling nature.
To treat painful urination: Combine 20 g of bamboo shoots with 20 g of pennywort, wash them fresh, pound with a few grains of salt, add water, and strain to drink.
To treat chronic dysentery: Use 4 g of bamboo shoots; 2 g of mature betel nut; 10 g of dried tea, roasted until golden, then boil with 200 ml of water until reduced to 50 ml, and drink throughout the day.
To alleviate high fever and thirst: Take 20 g of bamboo shoots; 12 g of calcined gypsum, finely powdered, mix well, and boil to drink throughout the day.
Guava Buds
Rich in tannins, guava buds help tighten and relieve abdominal pain and diarrhea. For use, take 5-7 buds, wash them clean, chew with a few grains of salt, and swallow the juice. Alternatively: Use 20 g of guava buds combined with 12 g of bitter herb leaves and 8 g of fresh ginger, chopped, and boil to drink, or use roasted guava buds 20 g; 10 g each of dried tangerine peel and roasted ginger, boil to treat diarrhea.
Banyan Buds
To treat swollen gums: Take 2 fresh banyan buds, wash, chew thoroughly, hold in the mouth for 10-15 minutes, then spit out the residue and liquid.
For antibacterial properties: Combine banyan buds with purple-leafed herb leaves, boil in concentrated water, and use to wash wounds.
Tea Buds
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Tea Buds (Image: lamdong-industry) |
To treat edema: Use 300 g of fresh tea buds, crush them, and boil in water to drink multiple times throughout the day.
To treat diarrhea and dysentery: Take long-stored tea buds, chew a handful at a time, gradually swallowing the juice, several times a day. Alternatively, combine 20 g of tea buds with 20 g of guava buds, roasted; and 5 g of licorice, boil strongly, and drink twice a day.
Wild Pineapple Buds
Use 20 g of wild pineapple buds crushed with 20 g of wormwood leaves, 30 g of watercress, and 10 g of black ironweed leaves, add water, strain to drink, treating kidney stones. Alternatively, boil with equal parts of ginger root sprouts to treat painful and bloody urination.
For external use, crush wild pineapple buds and clove leaves to create a poultice for treating thorn wounds.
Sim Buds
Use 8-16 g of sim buds, chopped and boiled to drink, treating abdominal pain and diarrhea. They can also be ground into powder for consumption. For treating bacillary dysentery, take 16 g each of sim buds and guava buds; 10 g each of yellow root, black ironweed leaves, honeysuckle, and sweet potato root, boil to drink throughout the day. Use for 3-5 days.
For external use, boil sim buds in water and concentrate for rinsing to disinfect wounds.
Mulberry Buds
To treat whooping cough, use 16 g of mulberry buds; 30 g of roasted sesame; 12 g of lemon buds; and 20 g of roasted water lily flowers. Chop everything, boil in water, and sweeten. For children aged 1-3 years, give 1 teaspoon; 4-6 years, 1.5 teaspoons; 7-9 years, 2 teaspoons; 10-12 years, 2.5 teaspoons; 13-15 years, 3 teaspoons. Administer twice daily, avoiding pungent food.
Pharmacist Đỗ Huy Bích, Health & Life
