Rau ngót (Sauropus androgynus), also known as bù ngót, is a popular vegetable of quite a few Vietnamese families throughout the country. The edible part of the plant is its leaves, which are rich in protein, sugar, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamins B1 and B2, vitamin C and vitamin K.
Rau ngót is good for human health and can help cure many illnesses
Rau ngót is good for human health and can help cure many illnesses
Rau ngót (Sauropus androgynus), also known as bù ngót, is a popular vegetable of quite a few Vietnamese families throughout the country. The edible part of the plant is its leaves, which are rich in protein, sugar, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamins B1 and B2, vitamin C and vitamin K.
Given such high nutrients, intake of rau ngót is highly recommended to restrict calcium metabolism disorders that may cause osteoporosis and kidney stones. The leaves are also good for those who want to lose unexpected weight and those with high blood sugar or high blood pressure.
The vitamin K in the vegetable can help reduce the risk of bone fracture for elderly people. The high content of papaverine in the leaves can help relieve pain, lower high blood pressure and facilitate males’ erection.
In traditional Vietnamese medicine, either the leaves or roots of rau ngót are considered to be refreshing, sweet and cool, and are good for the blood and urination. The plant’s leaves and roots have long been used to relieve fever and constipation, stop bleeding, cure coughing and detoxify the body.
Remedies
To treat tongue inflammation for children, wash and squeeze the leaves of rau ngót and mix the juice with a little honey; rub the mixture onto the infected tongue a few times a day with a clean cloth. Or, wash and crush the leaves, then add boiling water; use a clean cloth to rub the solution when it is still warm onto the tongue.
To treat unintentional urination at night for children, wash and squeeze the leaves; add water to the crushed leaves and stir well; drink the solution twice a day.
To cure nasal bleeding, wash and squeeze rau ngót leaves and add a little water and sugar to the juice; drink the solution during the day until the bleeding stops.
To detoxify the body after excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, wash and crush rau ngót leaves; add a little water and drink the solution as much as possible during the day.
The soup cooked with rau ngót and lean pork (or pig legs, shrimp, tilapia or snakehead fish) is very nutritious and good for elderly people, expectant mothers and postnatal women. The soup of this vegetable and freshwater or marine mussels is a very refreshing dish for the summer (do not forget to add some ginger slices to this soup to mitigate the “coldness” of mussels). Meanwhile, the soup of rau ngót and pig’s stomach can help cure anorexia and constipation for children.
(Source: SGT)
