Purslane’s Cooling Nature
It's purslane season!
My siblings are in town and I've been out at the farm a lot. Mom's growing quite the impressive patch of purslane. A weed in her book, it's food in mine. Which means it has ended up in several meals.
Native to Persia, purslane (herba portulaca) is everywhere. Likely you have some growing in your garden or along the sidewalks. Considered an weed by many purslane is a succulent, and an excellent food that is rich in vitamins, minerals and Omega 3's. It's also a strong medicinal with strong cooling and demulcent actions - it relieves inflammation.
Looking at purslane thru the lens of Chinese food energetics it is salty, slightly sour, nourishes Yin, quenches thirst and - most notably - clears heat. Any heat, anywhere in the body. Want a few examples?
Heat in the organs— especially Lung, Stomach and Intestines. Dry cough, sensation of heat in the chest, hot diarrhea, acid reflux, and gnawing hunger.
Heat in the blood— any reckless bleeding pattern. Heavy periods, bleeding gums, and nose bleeds.
Toxic heat — infections, dysentery, carbuncles, and rashes.
Heat in the channels and joints — rheumatic conditions, arthritis, aches and pains that are worse in hot weather, post vital syndromes (mono, long-covid, shingles, and MS).
Yin deficiency — these heat waves arise from a lack of Yin that can’t quell Yang (fire). The pattern can arise due to -
post an attack of heat (you had a nasty fever)
decline of Yin as we see with women in in peri-menopause and menopause
chronic patterns such as diabetes and other wasting and thirsty syndromes.
Wonderful purslane is light and pleasant tasting and easy to use.
Add the fresh herb to salads, sandwiches, toss it with melons or berries, add it to slaws, bean and grain salads. It's lovely with jicama. Use it to make syrups, mouthwashes and decoctions. Pickle it, dry it. It's easy to forage or grow, and often available at farmer's markets.
Happy noshing.
Be well!
April
