This isn't just hearsay; the Qing Dynasty pharmaceutical work "Ben Cao Qiu Yuan" already clearly recorded that sweet potatoes can "cool the blood and invigorate circulation, relax the stomach and intestines, relieve constipation, remove old stasis and toxins from the viscera, relax muscles and meridians, stop bleeding from heat-thirst, and are most beneficial for postpartum women."
Actually, compared to roasted sweet potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes are more beneficial for nourishing the spleen and stomach, and can also expel cold and enhance beauty! The famous Qing Dynasty dietetic work "Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu" records that sweet potatoes, "when boiled, nourish the spleen and stomach, replenish qi and strength, ward off cold winds, and improve complexion."
There are many ways to boil sweet potatoes, and their therapeutic effects also differ. Have you ever tried pairing sweet potatoes with vinegar? What are its effects? The "Lingnan Cai Yao Lu" records that sweet potatoes, "when boiled with vinegar and consumed, treat systemic swelling."
Compared to yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes, many readers don't particularly like the white-fleshed ones because they are not very sweet and don't look as appealing. However, the effects of these two types of sweet potatoes are different, especially the white-fleshed ones, whose effects are not comparable to those of yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes. Why is that? Both yellow-fleshed and white-fleshed sweet potatoes are recorded in the Qing Dynasty pharmaceutical work "Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi" to have the effects of "tonifying the middle jiao, harmonizing the blood, warming the stomach, and nourishing the five organs." However, only the "white-skinned and white-fleshed" variety has the effect of "benefiting lung qi and generating fluids." Additionally, the "Lingnan Cao Yao Zhi" also records a method for treating breast sores with white sweet potatoes: mash the white sweet potato and apply it to the affected area, replacing it when it gets warm, and continue for several days.
[Consumption Notes] Sweet potatoes contain an oxidase that can easily produce large amounts of carbon dioxide gas in the human gastrointestinal tract. Eating too much can cause bloating and belching. Due to the high sugar content in sweet potatoes, eating too much can produce a large amount of stomach acid, leading to a "heartburn" sensation.
Sweet potatoes are best eaten at lunch. Because every 500 grams of sweet potatoes contains about 90 milligrams of calcium. After eating sweet potatoes, the calcium they contain takes about four to five hours to be absorbed by the body, and the afternoon sunlight can help promote this absorption.
Ancient Chinese medical texts warn against eating too many sweet potatoes, especially for those with bloating, such as the record in "Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi": "Those with fullness in the middle jiao should not eat too much, as it can obstruct qi." Additionally, they should not be consumed during epidemics, malaria, or dysentery, as recorded in "Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu": "All conditions such as epidemics, malaria, dysentery, and swelling are contraindicated."