Malabar Spinach flowers are used as a garnish atop salads and curries. They are rarely cooked, as they can have an unappealing slimy texture. They impart a delicious crunch to a dish. In Thailand, they are added to green curries alongside other garnishes like shredded basil. They are used in Asian traditional medicines as an antidote to poisons, and to ease the pain and discomfort of labour.