Spinacia, Spinach

Spinachia, Lapathum hortense
Ispanaj (Arabic)
Palak, Asfanakh (Unani)
Paluk, Chular (Ayurveda)
Bo Cai (TCM)

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Fuchs, L., New Kreüterbuch (1543)

Botanical name:

Spinacia oleracea

Parts used:

Herb; juice; occasionally the root and seed

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, moist when fresh. Sweet, slightly Bitter
“Cold and Moist in the last of the First degree”. (Avicenna)

Uses:

1. Clears Liver Heat:
-use as a Spring Tonic
-Liver and Stomach disharmony associated with Heat; Gastritis, Colitis
-Biliousness, Jaundice, Cholecystitis
-acute Heat and Toxin, Fever, Abscess, Mastitis
-seeds are likewise used and are cooling and laxative, and have been given in Jaundice

2. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-Cough from Lung heat
-Inflammations of the Lungs
-“useful for Heat of the Chest and Lungs”. (Avicenna)

3. Clears Damp-Heat, Promotes Urine:
-irritation of the Urinary tract, urgency
-Urinary Calculi (not from Oxalates)

4. Benefits the Blood and Liver:
-rich in nutrients, it nourishes Liver Blood
-juice has been claimed to improve complexion
-used for Fatigue and useful in Convalescence
-regarded as stimulating growth in Children when failing to thrive
-when cooked, it is gently laxative and emollient, and nutritious, and was therefore recommended for the elderly.

5. Externally:
-applied to cool heat of the Stomach and Liver
-juice is used as a gargle for Sore Throat

Dose:

Usually eaten as a vegetable boiled or steamed, traditionally with butter, vinegar and lemon juice.
In medicine, the Juice is often used, after being clarified by gently heating, removing the scum and separating from the sediment.

Substitute:

1. Endive
2. Chicory
3. Dandelion
4. Chickweed
5. Goosefoot (Chenopodium)

Main Combinations:

1. Heat disease, Abscess, Mastitis, with decoct with Barley (Avicenna)
2. To cool and moisten the Stomach and Liver, and for Inflammations, it was often combined with Lettuce, Endive, Chicory, Purslane etc.

Cautions:

Generally Safe
1. Not recommended in those with Cold and weak digestion.
2. Contains high levels of oxalic acid so use with caution in those sensitive to oxalates such as those with Gout.