Ling Jiao - 菱角 - Fructus Trapae Bispinosae

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Fructus Trappae Bispinosae
Common English:	Water Caltrop Water Chestnut

Category

Herbs that Clear Heat: Herbs that Relieve Summerheat

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet	Cool	Large Intestine Stomach	6-9g

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Relieves Summeheat, stops restlessness and quenches thirst	Summerheat, fever due to Heat Accumulation, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, strangury, intermittent fevers, pharyngitis, lumbago, bronchitis, sore throat, dysuria, inflammation and alcohol intoxication
Circulates Qi	Cancer, Leprosy, Rheumatalgia, Rheumatism
Strengthens the Spleen	Dyspepsia, hemorrhage, generalized debility, leukorrhea, threatened and abortion

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Notes

1. Its uses include those of an aphrodisiac, astringent, appetizer, anti-pyretic, diuretic, hemostatic, refrigerant, anti-diarrheal, and tonic.
2. The fruit serves as an anti-inflammatory, an aphrodisiac, and an intestinal astringent.
3. It is applied in cases of leprosy, urinary discharges, fractures, sore throat, and anemia.
4. In Kashmir, poultices made from the upper part of the stem act as a dispersing agent, and the pressed juice is used for eye diseases.
5. Unani Medicine employs it for sexual debility, spermatorrhea, general debility, fatigue, tuberculosis, intermittent fevers, dysentery, dry cough, bilious affections, bleeding disorders, anal fissure, lumbago, dental caries and sore throat.
6. A woman with itching on the lower abdomen, thigh or breast can take water chestnut.
7. Taken with milk, water chestnut fruits are used for leucorrhoea, seminal weakness, and nervous and general debility.
8. An ethanolic extract of the fruits shows potential anti-ulcer activity.
9. Trapa bispinosa may serve as an anti-microbial agent.
10. Its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties are strong.
11. A water extract of the seed resists Liver cancer and ascites cancer.
12. Erysipelas is reportedly treated by this herb.
13. According to one source, this herb Clears Heat Accumulation from Exogenous Invasion, cures consumptive diseases, dispels alcohol poisoning and eliminates stubborn poisoning.
14. For warts, rub the fresh herb on the affected area one or two times daily. The stalk can be used for warts that keep recurring.