Table 2 Plants used in the preparation of medicinal foods by Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants in the metro-Atlanta area
Scientific name [Voucher ID] | Chinese name | English name | PUa | MCb | Medicinal use | %Tc | %TW | %CHN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AMARANTHACEAE | ||||||||
Amaranthus spp. [SJ05] | 苋菜 | Amaranth | St; Le | SF; So | Source of iron | 25 | 33 | 17 |
AMARYLLIDACEAE | ||||||||
Allium cepa L. [SJ19] | 洋葱 | Onion | Bu | So; SF | High in nutrients; Antioxidant | 19 | 30 | 10 |
Allium chinense G. Don [SJ04] | 葱 | Chinese scallion | Le | So; F; R | Immune enhancer | 32 | 44 | 20 |
Allium sativum L. [SJ13] | 大蒜 | Garlic | Bu | SF; So | Immune enhancer; Used to treat first signs of cold/viral infection. | 70 | 70 | 70 |
Allium schoenoprasum L. [SJ23] | 韭菜 | Chives | St; Le | Fr; Du | Tonic | 18 | 19 | 17 |
APIACEAE | ||||||||
Angelica spp. [SJH18] | 当归 | Angelica | Ro | T | Tonic | 21 | 26 | 17 |
Bupleurum chinense DC. | 柴胡 | Thorowax root | Ro | T | Tonic | 9 | 0 | 17 |
ARACEAE | ||||||||
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott [SJ02] | 芋头 | Taro | Tu | So; Sm; St | Improve complexion; Remove toxins | 28 | 41 | 17 |
ARALIACEAE | ||||||||
Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. [SJH16] | 人参 | Ginseng | Ro | T; So | Maintenance; Warmth; Tonic | 23 | 30 | 17 |
ASTERACEAE | ||||||||
Arctium lappa L. [SJ17] | 山瑶 | Burdock | Ro | Fr; So | Immune maintenance & enhancer | 28 | 37 | 20 |
AURICULARIACEAE | ||||||||
Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.) J.Schröt. [SJH03] | 黑木耳 | Black woodear | Fu | So | Improve circulation; Tonic | 35 | 44 | 27 |
BRASSICACEAE | ||||||||
Isatis tinctoria L. | 板蓝根 | Woad root | Ro | So | Maintenance; Immune enhancer | 14 | 0 | 27 |
CARICACEAE | ||||||||
Carica papaya L. [SJ03] | 木瓜 | Papaya | Fr | R | Digestive | 14 | 30 | 0 |
CONVOLVULACEAE | ||||||||
Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. [SJ10] | 空心菜 | Water spinach | St; L | SF; So | Tonic; Cooling | 12 | 26 | 0 |
Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. [SJ09] | 红薯 | Sweet potato | Tu | So | Cold/flu remedy; Remove toxins | 46 | 52 | 40 |
L | So; Fr | Digestion; Remove toxins; Hypertension; Diabetes | 16 | 33 | 0 | |||
CUCURBITACEAE | ||||||||
Cucurbita spp. | 南瓜 | Pumpkin | Fr | So; D | Tonic; Remove toxins | 18 | 22 | 13 |
Momordica charantia L. [SJ24] | 苦瓜 | Bitter melon | Fr | So | Cooling chi properties | 32 | 44 | 20 |
Momordica grosvenorii Swingle [SJH07] | 罗汉果 | Monk fruit | Fr | So; T | Cooling chi properties; Anti-tussive; Expectorant; Sore throat remedy | 32 | 37 | 27 |
FABACEAE | ||||||||
Astragalus onobrychis L. | 黄芪 | Astragalus | Ro | T | Tonic | 23 | 26 | 20 |
Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi [SJ20] | 葛 | Kudzu | L | Fr; So | Tonic | 11 | 15 | 7 |
Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek [SJH08] | 绿豆 | Mung bean | Fr | So | Cold/flu remedy; Remove toxins | 53 | 63 | 43 |
GINKGOACEAE | ||||||||
Ginkgo biloba L. [SJ18] | 银杏 | Ginkgo | Fr | So | Maintenance; Intelligence/heightened mental acuity | 35 | 44 | 27 |
LILIACEAE | ||||||||
Lilium spp. | 百合 | Lily | Bu | So | Maintenance; Immune enhancer | 25 | 26 | 23 |
MALVACEAE | ||||||||
Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench [SJ08] | 羊角豆 | Okra | Fr | R; Sl; Dr | Diabetes (regulates blood sugar) | 16 | 33 | 0 |
NELUMBONACEAE | ||||||||
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. [SJ16] | 莲 | Lotus | Se; Ro | So | Immune enhancer; Tonic | 37 | 44 | 30 |
PEDALIACEAE | ||||||||
Sesamum indicum L. [SJH02] | 黑芝麻 | Black sesame | Se | R | Improve skin complexion; Tonic for the blood | 46 | 52 | 40 |
POACEAE | ||||||||
Bambusa oldhamii Munro [SJ24] | 竹 | Bamboo | St | F;So | Cooling chi properties | 18 | 22 | 13 |
Hordeum vulgare L. [SJH01] | 大麦 | Barley | Se | So | Treat urinary tract infection; Fiber source; Improve digestion/laxative | 30 | 37 | 23 |
RHAMNACEAE | ||||||||
Ziziphus jujuba Mill [SJH10] | 红枣 | Red date | Fr | So | Improve circulation | 53 | 63 | 43 |
ROSACEAE | ||||||||
Crataegus spp. | 楂 | Hawthorn | Fr | R; Ca | Cough remedy; Cholesterol | 32 | 37 | 27 |
Pyrus bretschneideri Rehder [SJ15] | 鸭梨 | Ya Li pear | Fr | So/Rs | Cough remedy | 28 | 30 | 27 |
RUTACEAE | ||||||||
Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck [SJ25] | 柠檬 | Lemon | Fr | J | Antibacterial; Antioxidant | 12 | 15 | 10 |
Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck [SJH09] | 橘子 | Orange | Pe | T | Cough remedy | 18 | 26 | 10 |
SOLANACEAE | ||||||||
Lycium chinense Mill. [SJ01] | 枸杞 | Goji | Le; Be | So | Source of Vitamin A; Good for eyes and complexion | 46 | 59 | 33 |
Solanum lycopersicum L. [SJ12] | 西红柿 | Tomato | Fr | R; So; SF; St | Immune enhancer; Male system | 26 | 33 | 20 |
THEACEAE | ||||||||
Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze [SJH05] | 绿茶 | Green tea | Le | T | Cooling chi properties | 33 | 44 | 23 |
TREMELLACEAE | ||||||||
Tremella fuciformis Berk. [SJH20] | 英耳 | White wood ear | Fu | So | Cooling chi properties | 40 | 48 | 33 |
ZINGIBERACEAE | ||||||||
Zingiber officinale Roscoe [SJ14] | 姜 | Ginger | Tu | So | Febrifuge | 61 | 70 | 53 |