When it comes to Gleditsia, the first benefit that might come to mind is its use for washing clothes. In fact, Gleditsia is also a medicinal material. Today, the editor will talk to you about the benefits of Gleditsia for the human body!
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1. Treating Stomach Cancer
The scientific use of Gleditsia as a traditional Chinese medicine can also treat stomach cancer and is effective for advanced cases as well. It is recommended to decoct the charred Gleditsia in water and take it once or twice daily, depending on the severity of the condition. Additionally, Gleditsia can be decocted with Pinellia, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Red Ginseng, then mixed with a small amount of honey. Taking this three times a day for a week, and continuing for half a year, can alleviate stomach pain and the disappearance of abdominal masses.
2. Antibacterial Effect
In vitro, Gleditsia has an inhibitory effect on certain Gram-negative intestinal pathogenic bacteria. Its aqueous infusion (1:3) also inhibits certain skin fungi in vitro. The triacanthin in American honey locust has a papaverine-like effect and can be used to treat hypertension, bronchial asthma, peptic ulcers, and chronic cholecystitis. A decoction of 1g/kg administered by gavage to cats increases respiratory tract mucus secretion, acting as an expectorant. A 0.25% decoction has an excitatory effect on the isolated rat uterus. A 1:3 aqueous infusion has an inhibitory effect on *Trichophyton violaceum* and *Nocardia asteroides*.
3. Preventing Hair Loss and Darkening Hair
Medicinal preparations containing saponins can clear heat and transform dampness, remove excess fat, and unclog blocked hair follicles, making them very effective for preventing hair loss and darkening hair without irritating the scalp.
4. Expectorant Effect
Medicinal preparations containing saponins can stimulate the gastric mucosa, which reflexively promotes the secretion of respiratory tract mucus, producing an expectorant effect (an emetic expectorant). In cats, Gleditsia does increase respiratory secretion, but it is less effective and has a shorter duration than *Platycodon grandiflorus* and *Peucedanum decursivum*.
5. Treating Skin Itching
The benefits of soaking Gleditsia in wine also include dispelling wind, killing insects, and stopping itching. It is very effective for skin itching caused by various reasons. If you suffer from severe skin diseases, or mild dynamic intestinal obstruction and constipation, you can use Gleditsia soaked in water or made into medicinal wine.
6. Treating Cough, Wheezing, and Phlegm
After entering the body, the pungent nature of Gleditsia can help open the airways and soften and expel phlegm. Therefore, using Gleditsia can treat coughing, wheezing, and difficulty lying flat. Grind Gleditsia into a powder, mix with an appropriate amount of honey to make pills, and take them with a red date decoction. These Gleditsia pills are very effective for cough, phlegm, and wheezing. With the advancement of technology, to treat this condition, you can also add an appropriate amount of ephedra and pig bile to make a preparation, which also has a good effect.
7. Treating Childhood Anorexia
Clean the Gleditsia, cut it into sections, and place it in an iron pot with water to decoct. First, boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until the liquid is preserved. Alternatively, you can prepare raw Gleditsia, grind it into a powder with the decoction, and take it as needed. If a child has childhood anorexia, it is recommended to take it twice a day, with 1 gram each time, which can be mixed with sugar before taking.
8. Treating Chronic Bronchitis
Soak Gleditsia, Pinellia, placenta, *Andrographis paniculata*, and red dates in water, then decoct in a pot and add an appropriate amount of alcohol to make an extract. It is recommended to take this medicine three times a day, with ten days as a course of treatment. Persisting for four courses can yield good results. However, not all patients are suitable for this prescription. In clinical use, a small number of people may experience discomfort in the upper abdomen after taking it, in which case it should be stopped immediately.
9. Other Effects
Triacanthin has a papaverine-like effect and can be used to treat hypertension, bronchial asthma, peptic ulcers, and chronic cholecystitis.
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