Why is the gourd a “summer elixir”?

Colonel, physician Bui Hong Minh (Ba Dinh Oriental Medicine Association, Hanoi) said that gourd is abundant in Vietnam and used by many families, especially in the summer. According to Mr. Minh, in the past, when the economy was still difficult, gourd was a “hunger relief” food, in addition to the fruit, many people used the leaves and tops of the gourd to process it into dishes.

In terms of oriental medicine, herbalist Hong Minh said that gourd is no different from “fairy medicine” because in addition to having many good nutrients for health, gourd also helps to cure many diseases that many people encounter.

“Gourd has the scientific name of Lagenaria ciceraria, also known as Gourd Canh, Gourd Nam. Gourd has a slightly pale taste, cool properties, and has the effect of cooling, detoxifying, diuretic, lung laxative, except for itching; In addition to gourd, gourd leaves were used as anti-starvation food, tassels, gourd flowers have detoxifying effects, and gourd seeds cure gums. swelling and pain”, Mr. Minh shared.

Gourd is very popular in the summer because it has a cool taste and helps to cool down. Illustration.

As for nutrition, in 100g fresh gourd contains Carbohydrates: 3.93g, protein: 0.72g, fat: 0.02g, fiber: 0.6g, vitamin C: 11.7mg, vitamin B3 (niacin): 0.371g, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): 0.176 mg, potassium: 174 mg, phosphorus: 15 mg, magnesium: 13 mg.

In addition, gourd contains many other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B2, vitamin B9, vitamin A, calcium, iron, zinc, copper… along with amino acids such as tryptophan, lysine, valine…

From the above nutritional values, Mr. Minh said that gourd meat is very good for people with hepatitis, kidney stones, high blood pressure. Usage is as follows: Take fresh gourd juice mixed with honey and drink twice a day.

In addition, the flesh of the gourd is sweet, cold, has a cooling effect, eliminates toxins, is used to treat diabetes, edema, diabetes… How to use gourd as medicine is as follows: 50-100g gourd cooked into a daily soup.

This fruit also helps to nourish the lungs very well, especially people with hot lungs, producing coughs. Usage is as follows: 50g gourd is boiled for drinking water instead of tea during the day. In particular, the gourd shell is the most commonly discarded part, but in traditional medicine, the gourd shell is a medicine that helps to clear heat, detoxify, cool the blood, cool the liver, and benefit the kidneys.

Most people, when eating gourd, remove the seeds and peel without even knowing that this is a very good medicine.

Not only gourd pods, leaves and seeds are often discarded, but have a very good therapeutic effect. Specifically, use boiled seeds to take mouthwash to treat swollen gums, loose teeth, receding gums. Gourd leaves have a sweet taste and can be used as a cooling vegetable. Tassels and gourd flowers have the effect of eliminating toxic heat, cooking and bathing children to prevent pox, measles, and itchy sores.

Healer Bui Hong Minh also noted not to use gourd for people with leprosy, eating indigestion due to its cold nature can cause abdominal pain.

Refer to some remedies from gourd:

– Cure loose teeth, gingivitis: 20g gourd seeds, 20g ox socks, cook with water and gargle 3-4 times a day.

– Cure diarrhea: 50g gourd, 30g gotu kola, 10g corn silk, 20g grass roots. Color of drinking water.

– Cure an undigested stomach: Dried gourd shells are stewed in a closed pot for finely pulverized charcoal. Take 1 big spoon each time and drink with warm water. Add a few slices of ginger as possible.

– Detoxification: Use tassels and flowers to cook drinking water.

– Cure constipation: 50g gourd, 50g sweet potato, 30g red sugar. Cook drinking water 3 times a day. If not, drink for 5 days.