Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda · Unani
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), of the Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae) family. Quick-growing annual rosette of soft succulent leaves running to seed in heat; native range: ancient Persia, whence it spread east to China (as the 'Persian herb') and west with the Arab conquests. Globally recognized as palankya in Sanskrit, palak in Hindi, bo cai (菠菜) in Chinese, asfanakh (إسفاناخ) in Arabic, and spinach, palak in English. The part used is leaf (whole herb). Tender dark-green leaves, cool and juicy, faintly earthy and mineral, with a mild oxalic tang that furs the teeth.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
SPINACH
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Spinach
- Scientific name
- Spinacia oleracea L.
- Family
- Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae)
Form
- Part used
- leaf (whole herb)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet
- Ayurveda
- dominant: sweet (madhura) · then: astringent (kashaya)
- Unani
- sweet · bland
Temperature
- TCM
- cool
- Ayurveda
- cooling (sheeta)
- Unani
- cold & moist (1st degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Stomach · Large Intestine · Small Intestine
- Unani
- stomach · liver · intestines · lungs
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- nourishes the blood and yin, moistens dryness, cools and clears heat, and moves the intestines; benefits the eyes
- Ayurveda
- bhedana (laxative), pittahara, raktaprasadana (cools the blood), balya in moderation; heavy and vata-aggravating
- Unani
- mulaiyin (laxative), murattib (moistening), musakkin (soothing), munaffis (loosens chest phlegm)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- weak cold digestion and loose stool, high vata; oxalate stones and gouty states
- Toxicity
- rich in oxalates — in excess it binds calcium and iron and may aggravate stone formation
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