EDIBLE WEED : PART 6

PEGAGAN

Pegagan (Centella asiatica),  in Indonesia  this plant commonly known as rendeng, panegowang or antanan.
This plant, is a small, herbaceous, and is native to wetlands in Asia.
It is used as a medicinal herb.
It is also known as the Asiatic pennywort or Indian pennywort.
Pegagan grows in tropical swampy areas.
The stems are slender, creeping stolons, green to reddish-green in color, connecting plants to each other. 
The rootstock consists of rhizomes, growing vertically down. 
They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs.
 

Pegagan grows along ditches and in low, wet areas. 
Sometimes it grows between the stone on the pathway.

In Indonesia the leaves are used for traditional salad; 'sayur urab' or steamed with 'sambal' (ground chilli sauce).
This leaf is used for preparing a drink or can be eaten in raw form in salads.

Pegagan is promoted for its health benefit.
It is widely used as a blood purifier as well as for treating high blood pressure, for memory enhancement and promoting longevity. 
Pegagan is well  known as one of the main herbs for revitalizing the nerves and brain cells. 
This plant also used to treat urination disorder, kidney infection, skin irritation and also acne problem.
Eastern healers relied on pegagan to treat emotional disorders, such as depression, this plant has relaxing effect.

Sometimes I make a herbal tea from this plant.
I collect the leaves, and then dried.
I want to get more benefit from this weed.
Have you ever seen this weed on your garden?