Spinaciae Herba
Aliases：Bō Léng (Spinach), Bō Léng Cài (Spinach Vegetable), Hóng Gēn Cài (Red Root Vegetable), Chì Gēn Cài (Red Root Vegetable), Bō Sī Cǎo (Persian Grass), Yīng Wǔ Cài (Parrot Vegetable), Shǔ Gēn Cài (Mouse Root Vegetable), Jiǎo Cài (Horned Vegetable), Tián Chá (Sweet Tea), Lā Jīn Cài (Sinew-stretching Vegetable), Mǐn Cài (Sensitive Vegetable), Fēi Léng Cài (Feileng Vegetable), Fēi Lóng Cài (Flying Dragon Vegetable).
Bō Cài (Spinach) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb derived from the dried whole plant of Spinacia oleracea L., a plant belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae. This plant is an annual herb, 50–80 cm tall, with an erect, hollow stem. The leaves are hastate or ovate, entire, fleshy, and bright green in color. Spinach has been used as both food and medicine since the Tang Dynasty, making it a medicinal and edible plant.
Efficacy & Actions
Nourishes blood, stops bleeding, calms the Liver, and moistens dryness. It is also recorded as having the effects of nourishing Yin, moistening dryness, unblocking blood vessels, benefiting the five viscera, quenching thirst, moistening the intestines, and aiding digestion.
Indications
Indicated for epistaxis (nosebleed), hematochezia (blood in stool), headache, dizziness, red eyes, night blindness, diabetes with excessive thirst, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It may also be used for hypertension, wind-fire red eyes, diabetes, and other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Antioxidant effects: Spinach contains dozens of naturally occurring active compounds, forming a “natural compound formula” with significant antioxidant activity. The water-soluble protein of spinach has a total antioxidant capacity of 160.38 U/mg and shows good scavenging activity against DPPH, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals. Antibacterial effects: Spinach saponins A and B found in the roots exhibit antibacterial activity. Anti-inflammatory effects: The photosynthetic system extracted from spinach has been shown to inhibit inflammation. Anti-aging and neuroprotective effects: Spinach provides multi-dimensional health protection through antioxidant, vascular-protective, and neuroprotective effects.
Ingredients
Nutrients: Proteins, fats, sugars, crude fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₁₂, niacin, vitamin C, folic acid, carotenoids, α-tocopherol. Flavonoids and their glycosides: Spinacetin, patuletin, rutin, hyperoside, astragalin, spinatoside. Sterols and their glycosides and esters: α-Spinasterol, stigmasterol, stigmastanol, 7-stigmastenol, cholesterol, and others. Insect metamorphosis hormones: Polypodine B, ecdysterone, dehydrocholesterol. Chlorophylls and carotenoids: Chlorophyll a, b; pheophytin a, b; violaxanthin; neoxanthin; lutein; β-carotene; and others. Amino acids and organic acids: Glutamic acid, alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, malic acid, proline, serine, aspartic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and others. Phospholipids: Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, monogalactosyl diglyceride, digalactosyl diglyceride, and others. Others: 6-Hydroxymethylpteridine-2,4-dione, ferredoxin, phylloquinone. The roots contain spinach saponins A and B.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: take in an appropriate amount, cooked and eaten; or crush and extract the juice for drinking.
Contraindications
Should not be consumed in large amounts.
Selected Formulas
For hypertensive headache, dizziness, and chronic constipation (Zhejiang Medicinal Plant Records) Take an appropriate amount of fresh spinach, blanch in boiling water for about 3 minutes, mix with sesame oil, and eat. Take twice daily. For wasting thirst disorder with polydipsia, consuming up to one dan (approx. 50 liters) of water daily (Bencao Gangmu, citing Jingyan Fang) Take equal parts of spinach root and Jineijin (chicken gizzard lining), grind into powder, and take with rice water, three times daily. For night blindness and spleen‑deficiency abdominal distension (Fujian Materia Medica) Take 500g of spinach daily, stir‑fry with cooking oil as a regular dish, or crush and extract juice to be taken in divided doses. For epistaxis and hematochezia (empirical formula) Take an appropriate amount of spinach, cook and eat, or crush to extract juice and drink. For traumatic injury with blood stasis affecting the heart (Taiwan Medicinal Plants) Take spinach, crush to extract juice, mix with wine, and take orally.
Daily Consumption
Cooking: Spinach can be cooked and eaten as a daily vegetable. It may be stir-fried, made into a thick soup, made into a broth, or dressed cold. Cold dressed: Wash the spinach, blanch in boiling water, remove and cut into sections, then mix with sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and other seasonings before eating. Juice: Crush fresh spinach and extract the juice for drinking. Spinach and Pork Liver Soup: Cook spinach together with pork liver. It has the effects of nourishing the blood, tonifying the Liver, and improving vision. Spinach Congee: Cook spinach with polished round-grained rice to make congee. It harmonizes the middle and promotes bowel movements, and is suitable for those with weak constitution, chronic constipation, and iron deficiency anemia.
Medicinal Parts
The whole plant of Spinacia oleracea L., a plant belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae.
Selection & Storage
Wash and use fresh. For storage, it may be washed and then dried in the shade or in the sun in a ventilated place, stored in a dry area, protected from moisture and mold.
