The Efficacy and Functions of Luffa Vine
Dec 17, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the vine of the luffa (sponge gourd) has functions and effects including dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation and dredging the meridians, clearing heat and detoxifying, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, and regulating menstruation. Luffa vine is cool in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the lung and liver meridians. It has the effect of dispelling wind and dampness. It can effectively alleviate discomforts such as joint pain, muscle and bone pain, and soreness and weakness of the waist and knees caused by rheumatic diseases.
Generally, the effects and functions of luffa vine include dispelling wind and removing dampness, promoting blood circulation and dredging the meridians, clearing heat and detoxifying, eliminating phlegm and relieving cough, and regulating menstruation. Specific details are as follows:
1. Dispelling Wind and Removing Dampness: Luffa vine is cool in nature and sweet in taste, entering the lung and liver meridians. It has the effect of dispelling wind and removing dampness. It can effectively alleviate discomfort symptoms such as joint pain, muscle and bone pain, and soreness and weakness of the waist and knees caused by rheumatic diseases.
2. Promoting Blood Circulation and Dredging Meridians: Luffa vine can promote blood circulation and dredge the meridians, helping to improve blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis. It is commonly used to treat pain and numbness caused by sprains, bruises, and blocked meridians. It also has certain effects in improving limb numbness and soreness and pain in the waist and knees.
3. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Luffa vine has the function of clearing heat and detoxifying, which can remove internal heat toxins and alleviate inflammatory responses. It is suitable for treating conditions such as sore throat, mouth ulcers, heat-toxin sores, erysipelas, and heat-toxin bloody diarrhea, helping to relieve these symptoms and promote recovery.
4. Eliminating Phlegm and Relieving Cough: Luffa vine can eliminate phlegm and relieve cough, showing certain therapeutic effects on symptoms such as coughing and phlegm production. Its methanol extract has significant cough-relieving and phlegm-reducing effects, helping to reduce phlegm accumulation and providing good relief for conditions such as lung abscess, pulmonary atrophy, and chronic bronchitis.
5. Regulating Menstruation: Luffa vine also has the effect of regulating menstruation, making it suitable for treating symptoms such as irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea in women. It can regulate female endocrine function, improve menstrual cycles, and alleviate discomfort symptoms such as dysmenorrhea.
When using luffa vine, it is important to follow medical advice. Additionally, special populations such as pregnant women, lactating women, children, and patients with impaired liver or kidney function should use it cautiously or avoid its use altogether.
