Although loofah is a common summer vegetable, it should be a more beloved vegetable for women due to its beauty and skincare benefits, as well as its effectiveness in preventing and treating some gynecological diseases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that loofah has a neutral nature and a sweet taste, and it functions to unblock meridians, promote blood circulation, and cool the blood to detoxify. In particular, the network of fibers in an old loofah runs through it, similar to the human body's meridians. With the help of the energy from an old loofah, it can guide the body's collaterals to become unobstructed and the qi and blood to flow smoothly. This, in turn, naturally resolves issues with obstructed menstrual flow. Several proven loofah remedies are introduced below:
1. Beauty: Loofah juice is known as "beauty water." By cutting a growing loofah vine, the sap that flows out can be applied to the face or skin with a gauze cloth to moisturize the skin and prevent wrinkles. Alternatively, you can squeeze the loofah directly, mix in an appropriate amount of honey or glycerin, and apply it for equally good results.
2. Uterine bleeding: The residue left after burning a loofah sponge until it becomes ash is called loofah frost. Grind this into a fine powder and set it aside. Take 3-6 grams each time, mixed with salt water or yellow wine, and drink it twice a day. It is effective for uterine bleeding or hemorrhage. Roasting loofah seeds or leaves until black, grinding them into a powder, and taking it with salt water can also treat excessive menstrual flow.
3. Menstrual irregularity: Dry loofah seeds, decoct them in water, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar, and then take the mixture with warm yellow wine, twice a day.
4. Menorrhagia (excessive menstrual flow): Take one old loofah, burn it to ash, grind the ash into a powder. Take 9 grams each time, mixed with salt water. If taken with yellow wine, it has a galactagogic effect (promotes lactation).
5. Dysmenorrhea (painful periods): Take one dry loofah, decoct it in water, and drink the decoction twice a day.