Winter melon has a fresh and sweet taste, is rich in nutrition, and is inexpensive, so it is very popular. But what everyone should know is that compared to the flesh of the winter melon, the rind is an even greater treasure. Winter melon has a high yield and can be grown everywhere, which is why it's cheap. From middle school to high school graduation, the most common vegetable in the cafeteria was winter melon. Back then, I didn't know that winter melon is actually a good medicinal herb.
Stir-fried Spicy and Sour Winter Melon Rind
The winter melon itself is used for medicinal purposes, but eating it every day is not very effective. The winter melon rind is a rare delicacy. The rind is very hard, so every time you eat winter melon, you have to peel it, otherwise it's inedible. When eating winter melon, collect the outer peel, dry it in the sun, and set it aside. Winter melon rind can clear heat, promote urination, and reduce swelling. It is used to treat edema, difficult urination, diarrhea, sores and swellings, and other diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation, where one syndrome can correspond to many diseases. For example, edema can be caused by kidney disease, heart disease, or diabetes. Winter melon has a good diuretic effect and can be used for edema caused by kidney disease, heart disease, and diabetes.
1. For nephritis, difficult urination, and systemic edema
20 grams each of winter melon rind, watermelon rind, and cogon grass root; 15 grams of corn pith; 90 grams of red beans. Decoct in water and take in three divided doses per day.
2. For acute nephritis edema and difficult urination
25 grams each of winter melon rind, watermelon rind, and corn silk; 50 grams of red beans. Decoct in water and take in three divided doses. Continue for 10-15 doses.
3. For cough
15 grams of winter melon rind and a little honey. Decoct in water and drink as a tea. Note: Winter melon and its rind are cold in nature. Those with a weak spleen and stomach who are prone to diarrhea should use with caution. Those with chronic illness, cold limbs due to yang deficiency, or edema caused by malnutrition should avoid it.
4. For incessant thirst and frequent urination (diabetes)
30-60 grams each of winter melon rind and Ophiopogon japonicus; 3-9 grams of coptis. Decoct in water and take in 2-3 divided doses per day.
5. For edema, abdominal distension, and difficult urination (kidney disease, heart disease)
60-90 grams of winter melon rind (double the amount for fresh product). Boil into a strong decoction and take 2-3 times per day (this liquid can be taken in large quantities without side effects). If you didn't fully understand the explanation of winter melon rind above, that's okay. Just keep reading, as the effects of winter melon rind will be detailed below.
The Effects of Winter Melon Rind
1. Edema
This herb is sweet in taste and mild in nature, good at promoting urination to reduce swelling. It is used to treat edema. For example, it can be decocted with Acanthopanax root bark and ginger bark. For treating edema due to body deficiency, it can be used with red beans and brown sugar, boiled until soft, then eat the beans and drink the soup.
2. Summer Heat Syndrome
This herb is cool in nature and has the effect of clearing heat and relieving summer heat. It is used to treat summer heat, thirst, and scanty, dark urine. For example, equal parts of winter melon rind and watermelon rind can be decocted in water and drunk as a tea. For summer dampness syndrome, it can be used with raw Job's tears, talc, and hyacinth bean flowers.
3. Clearing Heat to Stop Cough
Used for cough caused by internal phlegm-heat, it is often used with herbs that clear heat and transform phlegm.
4. Promoting Dampness and Draining Pus
Used for lung abscess, it is often used with reed rhizome, Job's tears, and scutellaria root.
5. Antibacterial Effect
Diuretic and dampness-draining herbs, especially those that promote urination and treat strangury, have varying degrees of antibacterial effects through in vitro tests. Artemisia scoparia inhibits the growth of tuberculosis bacteria and cocci. Polygonum aviculare extract has an inhibitory effect on some fungi but a weaker effect on bacteria. Alisma orientale can inhibit the growth of tuberculosis bacteria. Akebia stem decoction and Lobelia chinensis also have varying degrees of inhibitory effects on many pathogenic fungi. Kochia scoparia water extract has an inhibitory effect on skin fungi such as Trichophyton schoenleinii and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in vitro.
Clever Uses of Winter Melon Rind
1. Winter Melon Rind + Salt
Reduces cough-relieving effect
Winter melon rind has the effect of moistening the lungs and nourishing the kidneys, and can promote urination and stop coughs. However, if too much salt is added, the effect of resolving phlegm and stopping coughs will be affected, significantly reducing its auxiliary therapeutic effect.
Seafood and Winter Melon Soup
2. Winter Melon Rind + Crucian Carp
Can lead to dehydration
Crucian carp is warm in nature and sweet in taste, it can harmonize the stomach, tonify deficiency, reduce swelling and detoxify, and promote urination and lactation. However, eating it with winter melon rind may cause severe dehydration because winter melon also has a diuretic effect.
3. Winter Melon Rind + Red Beans
Can lead to increased urination
Red beans contain nutrients such as protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, calcium, and iron, and have the effect of reducing fat and losing weight. Winter melon rind is cool and promotes urination. Eating them together can increase urination and may lead to dehydration.
4. Winter Melon Rind + Vinegar
Reduces nutritional value
Winter melon rind contains various vitamins and inorganic salts, while vinegar can destroy the nutrients in winter melon, reducing its nutritional value. Therefore, they should not be eaten together.
Seafood melon soup
Pepper