Modern pharmacological experiments show that β -sitosterol and ergosterol contained in water chestnut can resist the degradation and proliferation of cancer cells. Especially as a dietotherapy method for patients with esophageal cancer, breast cancer and uterine cancer, water chestnut has the function of adjuvant therapy. Eleocharis tuberosa can invigorate qi and spleen, tonify middle energizer and invigorate qi, prolong life, eliminate diseases and strengthen body, so it is said in Qiu Lai that eating Eleocharis tuberosa is beneficial to health. But eating water chestnuts raw will lead to Jiang Ye's disease.

The scientific name of ginger worm is Fasciola brucei, and Chinese medicine calls it red worm. Its cercaria is adsorbed on the surface of aquatic plants such as water chestnut and becomes cercaria. Once swallowed, under the action of digestive tract and bile, cercaria becomes cercaria again, absorbs nutrients in the upper part of duodenum or jejunum, and occasionally parasitizes pylorus, large intestine and even biliary tract, causing punctate bleeding and mucosal edema, resulting in ulcers or abscesses. This kind of patients, especially children, will have different degrees of digestive dysfunction, diarrhea and constipation alternately. Most patients show symptoms of malnutrition, such as emaciation, edema and anemia. For children, it can also lead to developmental disorders and mental retardation. The key to prevent ginger leaf worm infection is not to eat water chestnut raw.