White Dayflower (Commelina communis var. alba) commonly grows wild in moist areas. Its young shoots are often picked and used as boiled vegetables or in soups. In addition to being a food, it has long been used as a medicinal herb.

According to Dr. Huỳnh Tấn Vũ, White Dayflower is also known as white spiderwort, white wandering jew, or white Commelina. In traditional medicine, the entire plant is harvested year-round and used either fresh or dried.

In Eastern medicine, White Dayflower has a mild sweet taste and a slightly cooling nature. It is known for its heat-clearing, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and swelling-reducing properties. The whole plant is commonly used as a herbal remedy.

The herb can be used fresh or dried to help treat colds, respiratory infections, sore throats, acute tonsillitis, urinary tract infections, edema, genitourinary infections, acute appendicitis, and dysentery.

When applied externally, it may help treat skin abscesses, neutralize toxins from snake, centipede, and scorpion bites, and reduce painful swelling in the knees and joints by crushing the fresh plant and applying it directly to the affected area.

Traditional Remedies Using White Dayflower

Sore Throat and Swollen Tonsils

Use 30 g of fresh White Dayflower and boil it for drinking, or crush 90–120 g of fresh herb and extract the juice to drink regularly.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

Boil 30 g of White Dayflower with 30 g each of Achyranthes aspera and Plantago major.

Rheumatism, Arthritis, and Cardiac Edema

Cook 40 g of chopped White Dayflower with 40 g of Adzuki bean and consume both the solids and the broth.

Upper Respiratory Infections

Boil 30 g of White Dayflower with 30 g each of Taraxacum officinale and Morus alba and drink the decoction.

Snake Bites

Wash 16 g of White Dayflower, chew it and swallow the juice, then apply the remaining pulp to the bite area once or twice daily.

Mumps

Boil 60 g of fresh White Dayflower and drink the liquid throughout the day.

Vomiting Blood

Crush 60–90 g of fresh White Dayflower and drink the extracted juice.

Supporting High Blood Pressure Management

Boil 60–90 g of fresh White Dayflower with 12 g of broad bean flowers in 800 ml of water until reduced to 300 ml, then drink as tea throughout the day for 10–15 days.

Dysentery

Boil 30 g of fresh White Dayflower (or 10 g dried) in 700 ml of water until 150 ml remains, divided into 2–3 doses daily for five consecutive days.

Jaundice and Hepatitis

Cook 120 g of fresh White Dayflower with 60 g of lean pork and consume both the broth and the solids.

Difficulty Urinating

Crush 30 g each of fresh White Dayflower and plantain, extract the juice, add a small amount of honey, and drink on an empty stomach for five days.

Painful Boils and Abscesses

Wash and crush fresh White Dayflower, mix with a little warm rice wine, apply to the affected area, and secure with a bandage for two hours. Replace once daily.

Important Note

Dr. Vũ advises that although White Dayflower offers many potential health benefits, people with weak digestion or a tendency toward cold digestive conditions should avoid using it.