Bamboo is not only the “national plant” of the Vietnamese people, but it is also used as a highly effective medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Historically, bamboo has always been regarded as a symbol of Vietnamese culture. When mentioning bamboo, friends both domestically and internationally will think of Vietnam. Beyond its beautiful image, bamboo is also a valuable medicinal herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
When mentioning bamboo, friends both domestically and internationally will think of Vietnam.
According to healer Nguyễn Đình Cự (Thai Binh Traditional Medicine Association), in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine texts, the part of the bamboo plant used as a precious medicine is the bamboo leaves, known scientifically as zhú yè. Bamboo leaves have a cooling property, a slightly sweet taste, and enter the heart and lung meridians, serving to clear heat, detoxify, relieve colds, and are used to treat ailments such as abscesses, inflammation, and fevers.
Modern medical research shows that bamboo leaves are rich in minerals such as Silicon, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium, which are very beneficial for health and can treat various diseases.
“Especially, bamboo leaves have a very strong blood circulation-promoting effect. Whenever there is a change in weather causing blood stagnation and resulting in body aches, particularly joint pain, use 50g of fresh bamboo leaves boiled in water to drink instead of tea, which helps reduce pain quickly, and the body will feel lighter,” said healer Cự.
Bamboo leaves have many medicinal properties that few know about. (Illustrative image).
Additionally, bamboo leaves are used in various remedies to treat ailments such as:
Treating cold and fever, dry mouth
The first effect of bamboo leaves to mention is their ability to treat cold and fever with dry mouth. Patients need to prepare 30g of bamboo leaves, 12g of gypsum, 8g of Ophiopogon, 4g of Pinellia, 7g of glutinous rice, 2g of ginseng, and 2g of licorice. Boil all the ingredients in a pot and consume one dose daily, and the illness will recover quickly.
Treating flu and high fever
Prepare 16g of bamboo leaves, 12g of licorice, 16g of honeysuckle flower, 8g of schizonepeta, and 8g of peppermint. Decoction should be taken once a day.
Treating convulsions in children
When a child experiences convulsions, the following remedy can be applied: 16g of bamboo leaves, 12g of Ophiopogon, 12g of Rehmannia, 12g of Uncaria, 10g of Gardenia, 12g of velvet leaf, and 8g of peppermint. Boil the herbs and consume throughout the day; the convulsions will gradually subside.
Treating dry cough
For dry cough, with phlegm irritation and sore throat, prepare 12g each of bamboo leaves, mulberry root bark, and pennywort, 8g of gardenia fruit, 8g of lemon leaves, and 6g of licorice. Decoction should be taken twice a day after meals.
Treating measles during the eruption phase
One lesser-known benefit of bamboo leaves is their efficacy in treating measles during the eruption phase. Simply apply the following remedy: 20g of bamboo leaves, 16g of earthworm herb, 16g of honeysuckle flower, 12g of Ophiopogon, 12g of glehnia, and 12g of licorice. Boil thoroughly and divide into doses to be taken throughout the day. Continue until recovery.
