Aka: Prickly Amaranth, 刺苋

A. spinosus kills breast (including triple-negative), cervical, liver, and colon cancer cells.
Silver nanoparticles synthesized from A. spinosus extract (AS-AgNPs) show enhanced anticancer activity.

speeds up wound closure, regenerates skin layers, prevents wound infection, and reduces swelling around the wound. useful for cuts, burns, surgical wounds, infected wounds, and ulcers.

A. spinosus leaf juice and decoction neutralize the toxic enzymes in snake venom (the metalloproteinases that cause tissue death and bleeding from pit viper and cobra bites).

A. spinosus stops internal bleeding. useful for heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), nosebleeds, bleeding hemorrhoids, bleeding ulcers, and post-surgical bleeding. works through vitamin K1 (activates clotting factors), tannins (constrict blood vessels), and astringent action on mucous membranes.
do not stack with prescription blood thinners (warfarin, heparin, apixaban) because A. spinosus opposes their action.

kills bacteria (Staph aureus, E. coli, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Klebsiella), fungi (Candida, ringworm fungi, Aspergillus), and the tuberculosis bacteria. good for skin infections, wound infections, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections.

kills intestinal parasitic worms: roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. the saponins paralyze and kill the worms.

A. spinosus and amaranth seed oil treat eczema, burns, boils, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory skin conditions. amaranth seed oil contains squalene that deeply penetrates skin (matches human sebum), moisturizes, protects against UV damage, and is a sustainable alternative to shark-derived squalene in cosmetics.

Amaranthus species accumulate cadmium, lead, chromium, and other heavy metals from contaminated soil. used in phytoremediation for soil cleanup.

raw leaves contain oxalates that can interfere with calcium absorption and contribute to kidney stones. Cooking reduces oxalate content.

A. hypochondriacus and A. caudatus are the better grain species. better for nutrition as a pseudocereal staple, high squalene seed oil, amd has a complete protein profile.