Water Shield from Xianghu Lake, Xiaoshan

Water Shield from Xianghu Lake, Xiaoshan

　　Water shield, also known as water sunflower, is a perennial aquatic herbaceous plant of the Nymphaeaceae family. It grows wild in most marshy ponds south of the Yangtze River, with some small-scale cultivation as well. Its leaves are oval-shaped, floating on the water surface, lush and emerald green. The undersides of the leaves and stems are coated with a gelatinous, agar-like mucilage that gives them a smooth, non-greasy texture and a delicate fragrance. The edible parts are the tender new shoots and coiled leaves covered with the gelatinous coating. Traditionally, they are used to make soups and broths. Water shield is rich in nutrients and also valued for its medicinal properties, including relieving vomiting and diarrhea, reducing inflammation, and detoxifying the body. The renowned Ming Dynasty pharmacologist Li Shizhen wrote in his *Compendium of Materia Medica* that water shield can “alleviate thirst and heat-induced numbness, nourish deficiencies in the large and small intestines, treat heat-induced abscesses, strengthen the digestive system, calm the lower abdomen, promote diuresis, counteract toxins, and boost vitality.”