Known as Ma Chi Xian, purslane has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese folk remedies for long time, it is used to treat infections, dysentery and bleeding of the genito-urinary tract, sores and insect or snake bites. Fresh Ma Chi Xian is used as a summer vegetable to reduce heat, fight infections and cool the body.
According to traditional Chinese medicine guidelines, purslane is a sour and cooling herb. It has detoxifying, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic properties, and can be used to clear internal fire, expel toxins, cool blood and stop bleeding. It is often used to treat dysentery, enteritis, nephritis, post-partum bleeding, blood in the stool, mastitis and other diseases.
Modern scientific studies have shown that purslane has strong effects to fight shigella, salmonella typhi and E. Coli (Escherichia coli), and can be used to prevent and help treat of a variety of infections.