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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Blood-Nourishing Hematopoietic, Intestinal Lubricating & Blood-Cooling Sovereign (补血养血 / 清热明目通利二便润肠通便凉血解毒治血虚萎黄便秘产后虚热肠风便血 — 传统南洋第一补血红苋菜 / 贫血与便秘食疗圣品 / 妇产补血润肠药膳药王)

    三色苋 / 雁来红 / 苋菜 / 红苋菜 / 老少年 / 锦红苋 — Amaranthus tricolor L. (syn. Amaranthus gangeticus, Amaranthus mangostanus)

    Pinyin: Sānsèxiàn / Yànláihóng / Xiàncài / Hóngxiàncài · Malay: Bayam Merah / Bayam Pasir Merah / Bayam Sayur / Bayam Raja / Red Spinach · Family: Amaranthaceae (苋科 / 苋属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold (微寒 / 甘凉滑利)

    Flavor

    Sweet, bland, cooling, pleasantly crisp and mucilaginous (甘、淡、微寒、滑利)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Large Intestine (大肠), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃)

    Traditional Edict

    Chinese Spinach / Red Amaranth (Bayam Merah / San Se Xian / Hong Xian Cai). Vibrant ruby-purple foliage producing deep red broth. Queen of Blood-Building & Bowel-Lubricating Vegetables: rapidly corrects iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy/postpartum, clears liver red eyes, lubricates constipation.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Do not overcook (flash-cook 3-5 min to preserve heat-labile betalains and vitamin C). Exceptional nutritional, gestational, pediatric, and geriatric safety profile. Highly recommended in pregnancy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Iron-deficiency nutritional anemia in pregnancy and postpartum convalescence (stimulating hemoglobin and erythrocyte synthesis via bioavailable Non-Heme Iron, Folate, and Betalains), and chronic dry constipation.

    Quality Markers

    Betacyanins (Amaranthine >= 1.50%, Total Betalains >= 2.80%), Bioavailable Iron >= 18-35 mg/100g dry wt & Folate (HPLC/AAS)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. High organic non-heme iron and folate stimulate bone marrow erythropoiesis. 2. Betalain antioxidants scavenge vascular free radicals. 3. Soluble mucilaginous pectins lubricate colonic transit.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN BAYAM MERAH CONFINEMENT BLOOD-TONIC SOUP: 200 g fresh tender red amaranth simmered in anchovy or chicken broth with goji berries (10 g) and 3 slices fresh ginger for 5 min; consumed warm with meals 3-4x weekly. Constipation clearing: 250 g steamed greens.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Postpartum Blood-Rejuvenating Soup with Lycium barbarum (Goji) and red dates. 2. Lubricating Intestinal Dryness Clear Broth with Sesamum indicum (Hei Zhi Ma).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only