What is loofah

We should all be familiar with the vegetable loofah in our daily lives. However, when we eat loofah, it is usually when it is young and tender. Have you ever seen a mature loofah? The mature loofah will not rot like other melon varieties, but will form a layer of loofah net on its own basis. Therefore, many people make the mature loofah into loofah sponge. Today I will give you a detailed introduction to what loofah sponge is.

1. What is loofah?

This product is the vascular bundle of the mature loofah fruit of the Cucurbitaceae plant Loofah. In summer and autumn, the fruits are picked when they are ripe, the skin turns yellow, and the inside is dry. The skin and pulp are removed, and the fruits are washed, dried, and the seeds are removed.

2. The efficacy and function of loofah

1. Promote blood circulation and activate collaterals

The loofah is in the shape of an elongated cylinder or spindle. The whole system is composed of multiple layers of silky fibers interwoven into a network, which resembles the blood vessels in the human body. Therefore, this product has the effect of dredging the meridians and activating the collaterals. For symptoms such as chest and flank pain, abdominal pain, back pain, testicular pain caused by blood stasis caused by various reasons, amenorrhea in women, and milk blockage, this product can be used to dredge the meridians and benefit the qi and blood. If the meridians are unblocked, there will be no pain. If the meridians are unblocked, all pains will heal themselves. If the qi and blood flow smoothly, menstruation will return and milk will flow. Therefore, it is an excellent product for dredging the meridians and activating the collaterals.

2. Lactation

The essence of loofah's lactation-promoting effect actually lies in the loofah sponge, which is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. Loofah can promote lactation and facilitate smooth milk secretion. Some postpartum women stew loofah with crucian carp, pig's trotters and kidneys into soup. After drinking it, they find that their milk secretion increases. In fact, this is mainly due to the effect of the soup. Simply stewing loofah into soup will not achieve the effect of promoting lactation. However, if loofah is stewed with broth, it can not only promote lactation, but also promote milk secretion. For example, it is recommended to use 30 grams of loofah, 60 grams of figs, and stewed pig's trotters or pork.

3. Relieve gout

One of the most popular medicinal uses of loofah is to relieve gout. Take 50 grams of loofah, add appropriate amount of scallion segments and water, boil over high heat for 10 to 15 minutes, finally add 5 grams of green tea, soak until the tea leaves release their flavor, and drink it while it is hot instead of tea. Drink 2 to 3 times a day.

This method is effective in relieving pain, but don't expect to cure gout with just this few dollars' worth of stuff.

4. Improve irregular menstruation

Boiling loofah in water can also have a good effect on women's menstrual disorders. Dry the loofah seeds, add 1 bowl of water, boil them, add a small amount of brown sugar after the water boils, and drink it warm with rice wine. Take it once in the morning and once in the evening, it is effective in regulating irregular menstruation.