Fu Ping is also known as Duckweed or Spirodela polyrhiza, which is a perennial aquatic plant belonging to the Araceae. It has a medicinal history of more than 2,000 years.
This plant often grows in paddy fields, ponds, or other lentic habitats. It is widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions of the world.
Duckweed can be used to feed grass carp, poultry and cattle. The grass carp species feeding on duckweed rarely develop the hepatobiliary syndrome.
From June to September of each year, people gather all parts of Spirodela polyrhiza, wash them with water, remove their impurities, use them directly or dry them in the sun and make them into Chinese herbs. It contains carotene, xanthophyll, orientin, vitexin, flavonoids, and fatty acids.
According to <Shennong Ben Cao Jing>, the medicinal property of Fu Ping is relatively cold, with a pungent taste. It has a certain therapeutic effect on the pathological changes of the lung and bladder meridians.
In Chinese medicine, Fu Ping is often used to promote eruptions and treat fever without sweat caused by colds, edema, and dysuria.
Health benefits of Fu Ping (Duckweed)
- Bacteriostatic, anti-infective, and anticoagulant effects.
- Enhancing heart function, constricting blood vessels and raising blood pressure.
- Promoting the full outbreak of rash and relieving itching of the skin.
- Promoting urination and eliminating edema.
- Releasing pulmonary qi, promote sweat gland secretion and relieving fever without sweat caused by colds.
- Treating acute nephritis, acute jaundice hepatitis, and chronic hepatitis.
- Treating acne, eczema, erysipelas, urticaria, and rubella.
Fu Ping is used with other Chinese herbs
- It with Ma Huang (Ephedra), Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae), and Dong Gua Pi (Exocarpium Benincasae) can promote urination and eliminate edema.
- It with Gui Zhi (cassia twig), Cang Zhu (Black Atractylodes Rhizome), Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis), and Zao Jiao Ci (Spina Gleditsiae) can treat urticaria.
- It with Bo He (Mentha), Sheng Ma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae), and Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii) can promote a full outbreak of measles and relieve itchy skin.
- It with Bo He (Mentha), Chan Tui (Periostracum Cicadae), and Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae) can relieve fever without sweat, sore throat, and cough caused by wind-heat.
- It with Ma Huang (Ephedra), Xiang Ru (Vietnamese balm), and Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Root) can treat aversion to cold, fever without sweat, and headache caused by wind-cold.
Side effects of Fu Ping
Fu Ping has been used clinically for many years, with almost no side effects.
Precautions of Fu Ping
- The dosage of Fu Ping should be controlled at 3-10g.
- It can be made into an oral decoction or be used to soak and wash the affected part.
- People with blood deficiency or dry skin should not take it.
- People with exterior deficiency or spontaneous sweating should not take it.