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Duckweed

Lemna minor

Family: Araceae Genus: Lemna Species: minor

Synonyms: Lenticula vulgaris, Hydrophace minor, Lemna conjugata, Lemna minor var. minima, Lemna minor var. orbiculata, Lemna minima, Lemna minor var. oxymitra, Lenticula palustris, Lemna rwandensis, Lenticula minor, Lenticula minima, Lemna monorhiza, Lemna obcordata, Lemna minor f. macrorhiza, Lemna palustris, Lenticularia monorhiza, Lemna vulgaris, Lemna ovata

Duckweed (en)
Lemna minor — flower
Lemna minor — flower

☯ TCM Properties

Category: releasing_exterior
Temperature: cold
Taste: pungent
Meridians: bladder, lung
Functions:

Induces sweating and releases the exterior; Vents rashes and relieves itching; Promotes urination and reduces swelling

Botanical Description

Flower: Color: green; Inconspicuous

Foliage: Color: green; Texture: fine

Native Region: Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Cambodia, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Central European Rus, Chad, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Florida, France, Føroyar, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Louisiana, Madeira, Magadan, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, Nicaragua, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russi, Northern Provinces, Northwest European R, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, Sinai, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russi, Spain, Sudan, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tennessee, Texas, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Uganda, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Zaïre

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional Chinese Uses

Duckweed (Lemna minor, Fu Ping) is a cool, acrid herb used in Chinese medicine to dispel Wind-Heat from the exterior, promote the eruption of rashes and measles, and promote urination to relieve Wind-Water edema. It is a light, floating herb whose superficial dispersing action targets the skin and exterior of the body, clearing heat from the surface and facilitating the expression of lurking pathogens. Its diuretic action additionally addresses edema from Wind-Water affecting the Lung.

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
55344

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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