What Are the Surprising Benefits of Drinking Water Steeped with Achyranthes Root (Niuxi) Over a Long Period?

Jan 07, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Soaking and drinking cow knee (Achyranthes root) for a prolonged period offers various health benefits, including promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, strengthening tendons and bones, nourishing the liver and kidneys, promoting urination to relieve urinary difficulties, and providing anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. 1. Promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis: Cow knee contains multiple active ingredients, such as saponins and flavonoids. These components can improve blood circulation, enhance local blood supply, and thereby help alleviate pain and numbness caused by blocked meridians.

Generally speaking, there are no astonishing effects claimed for long-term consumption of Achyranthes root (Niuxi) steeped in water. However, long-term consumption of Achyranthes root steeped in water may have various benefits, including promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, strengthening tendons and bones, nourishing the liver and kidneys, promoting diuresis and relieving dysuria, as well as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The specific details are as follows:

1. Promoting Blood Circulation and Removing Blood Stasis: Achyranthes root contains various active ingredients, such as saponins and flavonoids, which can improve blood circulation and alleviate pain and numbness caused by blocked meridians. Additionally, Achyranthes root has the effect of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, increasing blood flow and reducing platelet aggregation, thus helping to prevent and treat diseases related to blood stasis.

2. Strengthening Tendons and Bones: Achyranthes root contains abundant trace elements, such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which help maintain bone health. Long-term consumption of Achyranthes root steeped in water can enhance bone density, prevent osteoporosis, and provide some relief for symptoms such as soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees and weak muscles and bones.

3. Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys: Achyranthes root enters the liver and kidney meridians and can nourish the yin essence of the liver and kidneys, thereby achieving the purpose of tonifying these organs. It may help alleviate symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, and soreness in the lower back and knees caused by liver and kidney deficiency.

4. Promoting Diuresis and Relieving Dysuria: Achyranthes root has a certain diuretic effect, helping to increase urine output and improve conditions such as edema, oliguria, turbid urine, and leukorrhea. It may aid in treating urinary system-related diseases.

5. Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects: Drinking Achyranthes root steeped in water also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, offering some therapeutic effect on inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Achyranthes root can reduce inflammatory responses and alleviate joint swelling and pain, thereby improving patients' quality of life.

Achyranthes root is slightly bitter and cold in nature; therefore, individuals with weak constitutions or pregnant women should avoid long-term consumption. Moreover, Achyranthes root has certain pharmacological effects. It is advisable to consult a physician before use, and appropriately combine it with other medications and determine dosages according to individual constitution and medical conditions, to ensure safe and effective medication use.