Home Medicinal plants and herbs Purslane: medicinal properties and contraindications

Purslane: medicinal properties and contraindications

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The oleracea portulaca , also known as purslane , is a medicinal plant native India, but also in the Middle East and countries of southern Europe such as Spain. Purslane flowers in spring and lives until mid-autumn, and although in some regions such as the United States it is considered a molasses (weed or undesirable plant), in other parts of the world such as Mexico, Asia and Europe it is edible and consumed as a vegetable.

Due to its high content of vitamins, minerals, fiber, beta-carotene, calcium, iron and potassium, purslane is considered a medicinal plant that offers multiple health benefits and is used in some regions to treat conditions and improve symptoms of kidney diseases. . If you want to know what are the medicinal properties of purslane and its contraindications , read this article by FastlyHealcarefully.

Diuretic properties of purslane

One of the great health benefits of purslane is its diuretic effect. This function stimulates kidney function, allowing the body to more easily and constantly eliminate waste and toxic substances that accumulate in the body through urination.

This effect is also of great help to prevent cardiovascular diseases and to improve high blood pressure. For the proper functioning of the heart, it is important to avoid the accumulation of water and purslane helps prevent fluid retention .

To take advantage of these medicinal properties of purslane, it is recommended to consume an infusion made with fresh leaves of this plant every day on an empty stomach, specifically, 15 grams of purslane for each glass of water.

Purifying properties of purslane

Purslane is a plant rich in mucilage that purifies the blood through its emollient action .

Many people will wonder why it is important to purify the blood, well, the reasons are many: purifying the blood is of great help for the body because it allows treating conditions such as allergies, improving skin irritations , preventing colds, avoiding infections respiratory tract and ensure that the blood is free of toxins.

Properties of purslane to lose weight

Thanks also to the above properties, purslane can be a helpful medicinal plant for people who want to lose weight and not gain weight. On the one hand, its diuretic action stimulates the elimination of fluids by the kidneys, which prevents those fluids from accumulating in the body and, therefore, prevents weight gain and swelling.

On the other hand, it is purifying and also reduces the absorption of fat and glucose from the food consumed, which is ideal for people with overweight, diabetes or high cholesterol levels.

Antiseptic and antibacterial properties of purslane

Other important medicinal properties of purslane are those that directly affect the prevention of urinary tract infections: antibacterial, soothing and diuretic . This plant acts on the kidneys as a very effective natural stimulant, helping them to work more actively, but also cleansing the ureter and bladder of germs and bacteria.

When the kidneys work properly, they help to eliminate waste and toxins from the body faster, but also prevent any bacteria from staying in them. Also, constant urination decreases the chance that bacteria will colonize the bladder and stay there for much longer than desired.

In this article, you can consult the infusions to cleanse the bladder .

Purslane antioxidant properties

Due to its high content of vitamin C and flavonoids, purslane offers an antioxidant effect on the body. Antioxidants are very important, since they are the only substances that allow to reverse the damage caused by free radicals in the cells of the body, not to mention that they also help prevent oxidation of the tissues.

Free radicals are considered one of the main causes of cell mutation, since they stimulate the proliferation of malignant cells in the body and, therefore, intervene in the formation of tumors. Antioxidants are able to stop and reverse this action, which is why they mainly prevent breast cancer and colon cancer. In addition, antioxidants stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, thus delaying premature aging and keeping the dermis hydrated.

Soothing properties of purslane

Its high content of beta-carotene and vitamin C, allows purslane to have a calming effect on the body, ideal to help treat conditions that can cause joint or muscle pain . For this reason, it is recommended to take purslane infusions to alleviate the discomfort of inflammatory diseases.

Likewise, also due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, one of the medicinal properties of purslane is that it allows to relieve stomach pain , reducing abdominal inflammation and helping women to be more active during the menstrual period. To relieve belly pain with purslane, the leaves of the plant should be boiled and, when they are warm, placed on the belly and let it rest there for 20 minutes.

Strengthens the immune system and has digestive properties

The high content of purslane in vitamin C helps the immune system work better, since it raises the body’s defenses. When we have a healthy immune system, our body is in the best condition to fight any virus, germ or bacteria that could threaten health. For this reason, purslane is considered to be ideal for boosting defenses and allowing the body to prevent contagious diseases, flu, colds, and infections. These are some of the foods to strengthen the immune system .

Likewise, purslane also helps the digestive system to digest food more effectively, as it processes fats and sugar. For this reason, many people consume purslane juice to avoid stomach bloating.

How to prepare purslane

Purslane can be ingested in the daily diet through salads that include edible purslane leaves. However, to take better advantage of all its benefits, it is recommended to prepare purslane infusions .

Ingredients

  • 15 grams of fresh leaves.
  • 1 glass of water.
  • Honey.

Preparation

  1. Heat the glass of water over low heat until it boils.
  2. Add the purslane and cook for five minutes.
  3. Let stand for five more minutes, strain and drink the water. If desired, you can add honey to sweeten the sour taste of purslane.

Purslane contraindications

In addition to knowing what the medicinal properties of purslane are, before consuming it it is also important to know what its contraindications are. Although it has important contraindications, its consumption should be done carefully and preferably after medical consultation in the following cases:

  • Pregnant women.
  • Lactating women.
  • People who suffer from stomach problems, gastritis or stomach ulcers.
  • People with rheumatic diseases.
  • People with kidney stones (kidney stones).

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Purslane: medicinal properties and contraindications , we recommend that you enter our Well-being category .

You may also like

Leave a Comment