Chinese chives, also known as garlic chives, mountain chives, flat-leaf chives, "yang-boosting herb," "evergreen chives," or "lazy man's vegetable," are modernly hailed as the "*" among vegetables. Their tender leaves, delicate flower stalks, flowers, and seeds are consumed.
Chinese chives offer high nutritional value. Per 100 grams of edible portion, they contain 2–2.85 grams of protein,0.2–0.5g fat, 2.4–6g carbohydrates, 0.6–3.2g fiber, and abundant vitamins. Additionally, leeks contain volatile allyl sulfide, which imparts their pungent flavor and stimulates appetite. Beyond culinary use, leeks possess significant medicinal value. Their roots have a pungent taste, enter the liver meridian, warm the middle burner, promote qi circulation, and disperse stasis;The leaves are sweet, pungent, and salty in taste, warm in nature, entering the stomach, liver, and kidney meridians. They warm the middle burner, promote qi circulation, disperse stasis, tonify the liver and kidneys, warm the lower back and knees, and strengthen yang while securing essence. Chinese chives invigorate blood circulation, disperse stasis, regulate qi, and reverse counterflow. They warm the kidneys and strengthen yang. Chinese chive juice inhibits Shigella, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.The Compendium of Materia Medica states: "Leek seeds nourish the liver and life gate, treating frequent urination and enuresis." Folk medicine commonly uses leeks to treat physical weakness, tuberculosis-induced night sweats, hiccups and nausea, postpartum blood fainting in women, vomiting of clear fluid, swelling and pain from falls or cuts, neurodermatitis and allergic dermatitis, and neonatal scleroderma.
One bunch of leeks with roots, washed, pounded, and juiced to yield about 60g. Drink with warm water to treat acute gastroenteritis.
Grind leek seeds into powder. Take 10g twice daily with hot water to treat impotence and seminal emission.
Extract juice from 100 grams of leek roots, warm it, and drink to treat amenorrhea. For severe cases, take three consecutive doses.
Finely chop 60 grams of leeks and 30 grams of castor bean pulp (shelled). Pound into a paste, mix with hot rice, and apply to affected areas to treat paronychia.
Extract juice from one cup of leek leaves or roots. Mix with warm water and a small amount of wine, then drink to treat chronic constipation.
Decoct leek roots and use the liquid to wash affected joints for joint soreness.
Dry leeks until charred, grind into fine powder, mix with lard, and apply to stubborn ringworm.
Pound leeks into a paste and apply to bruises, swellings, or sprains for pain relief.
Pound leek leaves into a paste and apply externally to treat rice field dermatitis.
Burn leek seeds to produce smoke for fumigating toothaches.
Combine 30g each of leeks and raw garlic, pound into a paste, warm thoroughly, then vigorously rub onto affected areas once daily for two to three consecutive days to treat psoriasis.
Long-boil leek seeds in vinegar, dry thoroughly, grind into powder, mix with honey into pills the size of a walnut. Take 30 pills each time with wine on an empty stomach to treat leukorrhea.
Grind 10g of leek seeds into powder, mix with flour to make cakes, and eat in two portions to treat childhood enuresis.