As one of commonly used Chinese herbs, morning glory flower seeds are also known as Qian Niu Zi in mandarin. It is a key medicine traditionally used to get rid of edema, sputum, and stasis. Besides, it is great for reducing bloating too. Based on the coating colors, medicinally this herb is classified into 3 varieties – black (Hei Chou), white (Bai Chou), and black and white (Er Chou). In addition, morning glory seed based herbal remedies were also reported to be used in the treatment of a variety of other diseases, such as scrofula, Liver Cirrhosis, pinworm, Epilepsy, and so on.

Morning glories are native to American continent. But today there are more than 1,000 morning glory varieties distributed all over the world. However, medicinally it mainly refers to the dried mature seeds from Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy or Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt. They are members in the family Convolvulaceae. Therefore, other names of this herb include Semen Pharbitidis, Pharbitis Seed, Pharbitis nil seed, Hei Chou, Bai Chou, Er Chou, and so on. It grows in most of the regions in China and is usually collected in late autumn when the fruits are ripe but the husk doesn't crack yet. Used as a drug it still needs to be dried in the sun and used smashed in the raw or fried form.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MORNING GLORY FLOWER SEEDS 
Morning glory flowers are with good ornamental value thanks to their beautiful colors. The darker flowers, like purplish red, are generally with black seeds; the lighter flowers, like white and pink, are usually with white seeds. However, it is necessary to point out that seed colors have nothing to do with the species.

When it comes to physicians who are good at exerting morning glories seeds, Li Shizhen, the famous pharmacologist in Ming Dynasty, will be the best of the best. He is familiar with not only drug properties but also principles of medical science. And clinical practice told him that this herb could go to qiphase, unblock Triple Burner, arrive at life-gate, and enter essence tunnel. More than that, he also realized that it could be an amazing medicine for wind or stagnated qi induced constipation. Thus, it can be seen that this is a good purgative medicine.

Morning Glory Flower Seeds

MORNING GLORY FLOWER SEEDS RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES 
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia says that it is bitter in flavor and cold and toxic in nature. It goes to meridians of lung, kidney, and large intestine. Principal functions are to increase the flow of urine, relax the bowels, dissolve phlegm and drain retained fluid, and kill parasites and remove retention. Basic indications and uses include swelling caused by fluid retention, retention of urine, constipation, accumulation of phlegm and retained fluid, cough and wheezing caused by reversed flow of qi, abdominal pain due to a parasitic infection, roundworm, and tapeworm. Recommended morning glory seeds dosage is from 3 to 6 grams.

1. Yu Gong San from Ru Men Shi Qin (Confucians' Duties to Serve Their Parents). It is used together with Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel Seed) or Mu Xiang (Costus) to treat retained fluid induced turgidity.

2. Zhou Che Wan from Jing Yue Quan Shu (Jingyue's Collected Writings). It is combined with Gan Sui (Euphorbia Kansui), Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flower), Jing Da Ji (Euphorbia pekinensis), Da Huang (Rhubarb), etc. to cure Edema, abdominal fullness and hardness, Constipation, retention of urine, and deep rapid powerful pulse.

3. Niu Huang Duo Ming San from Bao Ying Ji (Prescription Book for saving Babies). It is formulated with Rhubarb and Bing Lang (betel nut) to heal stagnated lung qi, cough and asthma caused by phlegm or retained fluid, and facial edema.