Nativity of the water spinach is traced back to South East Asia and India. In the present day, it is largely cultivated and consumed in various parts of the Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Islands and South America. Ample water is needed for proper development of its plant. Moist soils and temperature conditions of around 75 to 85 F are optimal conditions for best growth of the water spinach. This vegetable was declared A Noxious Weed in the United States because of the rapid growth and expansion of the water spinach in low land areas, swamps and rivers. This particularly attributes to the rapid growth of the vegetable, which needs negligible care as opposed to the other growth requirements by similar vegetables. It can grow from the seeds within a time frame of 4 to 6 weeks.

Cooking of the vegetable
The water spinach finds extensive use in a number of local cuisines all over the globe. Stir frying the leaves of this vegetable with a number of spices is a common practice in South East Asian households. They can also be cooked with spicy sauces to bring an enhancement in their flavor. Raw consumption of the water spinach is also seen in the form of salad, or alternately you can stir fry them to add into curries and other similar dishes. In numerous cuisines all over the world, the common method of cooking this vegetable is with any combination of sauces, spices and onion garlic.

While you can also add them to noodles and pastas; it can also be used for garnishing purposes in salads and other dishes. Sauté the leaves in light oil and you can use them in cooking of any meat, stew, fish or other vegetables. Crunchy stems and the limp leaves are characteristic of the water spinach plant. Leaves of this vegetable are characterized for their mildly sweet flavor and oily surface. It is always recommended to use the water spinach leaves in fresh form, since once picked they wilt quite rapidly. Additionally it is advised to cook the stems for longer compared with the leaves.

Other common method of preparation that is used for make the water spinach fit for human consumption is to completely mash the leaves and make a standalone dish out of them. They can also be used for garnishing on soups. An extract from the water spinach can also be prepared by adding a little sugar and hot water to its washed leaves; afterwards brew, stain and cool to use it for its medicinal value.

Some of the health benefits associated with the water spinach is listed as follows:
Proficient as an anti toxin
The water spinach stands out as an anti toxin; it is a great natural way of removing the harmful toxins from your body which if allowed persisting become the reason of a number of health impairments. Eating this vegetable ensures the proper functioning of the metabolism in the body to excavate the destructive toxins from the body.

Anti inflammatory characteristics
The anti inflammatory characteristics of the water spinach are a subject of important medical study. The vegetable has been identified to be especially of assistance in treating disorders related to the working of the intestine and the stomach.

Curing constipation conditions
Like many other greens, the water spinach is also practical for curing chronic constipation conditions. Not only it restores to health the stomach disorders that become cause of constipation, but also enhances the bowel movement to prevent such conditions from occurring.

Use as a sedative
A predominantly lesser known advantage of the vegetable is seen in its use as a sedative. It is consumed in raw form for its cooling and soothing effects. The same stands true for its use as a sleep inducer because of its ability to relax the nerve cells.

Benefits for menstruation
The vegetable has been confirmed to be useful in instances of slump in the uterine lining. The medical problem is for the most part associated with females undergoing the reproductive cycle. Hence it must be used in regular diet for making conditions like menstruation well.

Possessing diuretic properties
The greens of the water spinach are exclusively acknowledged for their diuretic properties. They aid in the proper functioning ability of the bowel system and are known to relieve urinary disorders. It is also used to elevate the rate of urination in certain patients.

Additional health benefits
The medical property of being helpful of stopping excessive bleeding and aiding in blood clotting has also been attributed to the water spinach; juice prepared from the vegetable is used in case of nose bleeding. Moreover, it has also been established to be functional for people suffering from the disease known as hemorrhoid. It has also been found valuable in curing headaches, toothache, dandruff, gum boil, eczema and centipede bite.