In the height of summer, a bowl of soup made from loofah can help relieve summer heat, clear the mind, stimulate the appetite, and free you from the annoyances of a bitter summer.
Both the young loofah gourds and its flowers are edible and highly nutritious, containing various amino acids, vitamins, and essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They also contain active compounds for disease prevention and health maintenance, such as saponins and cucurbitacins. Not only is loofah rich in nutrients, but its medicinal value is even higher. It is known for clearing summer heat and cooling the blood, detoxifying and promoting bowel movements, expelling wind, resolving phlegm, moisturizing and beautifying the skin, unblocking meridians, promoting blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, and promoting lactation. The entire loofah plant can be used for medicinal purposes. The root, vine, and leaves can relieve coughs, reduce phlegm, invigorate blood circulation, and resist bacteria. Fresh loofah leaves can be used to treat stubborn ringworm. The loofah flower is slightly bitter and cool, known for clearing heat and detoxifying, and can be used to treat conditions such as lung heat cough, sore throat, rhinitis, and hemorrhoids. Loofah seeds can clear heat, resolve phlegm, moisten dryness, and detoxify. Loofah sponge is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine that clears heat and detoxifies, invigorates blood and unblocks meridians, and promotes urination to reduce swelling.
Loofah is also noteworthy as a beauty product. For instance, applying evenly sliced young loofah to the face for 10-15 minutes before removing and washing it can, with consistent use, leave the face soft, moisturized, fair, and smooth.
The young loofah gourds and flowers can be prepared in a variety of ways: stir-fried, braised, made into soup, or served as a cold dish. Examples include mixed loofah shreds, honey-glazed loofah, loofah, shrimp, and pickled mustard green soup, loofah congee, loofah and minced meat tofu soup, loofah cakes, braised spare ribs with loofah flowers, and loofah and green pea stew. These dishes are not only delicious but also nutritious and nourishing.