Almond

(compendium)

[synonyms] badanren (yinshanzheng), Bada almond (Bencao tongxuan), Bada almond (Yaoyao Fenji).

[source] it is the dried seeds of almond, a Rosaceae plant.

[plant morphology] Badan apricot (compendium) is also known as piantao, Podan tree (Youyang Zazu), pianwalnut, BANTAO, huluma (compendium), Jingxing.

Deciduous trees, up to 8 m high. Bark gray, branchlets smooth. Leaves ovate lanceolate to lanceolate, middle wider, 7-12 cm long, apex long pointed, base broadly cuneate or suborbicular, margin minutely serrate, glabrous; petiole 2.5 cm long, glandular. Each flower is 1-2, pink or nearly white, 3-4.5 cm in diameter; nearly sessile; sepals oblong, margin villous. Drupe elliptic, smooth: 3-6 cm long, apex slightly pointed, easy to crack; nucleus smooth and concave. The flowering period is from March to April. The fruit period is from May to June.

It is distributed in Western Asia and Mediterranean region, and cultivated in Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, etc.

The seeds of this plant are sweet almond and bitter almond.

[collection] the fruit is harvested after ripening, the flesh and shell are removed, the kernel is taken and dried in the sun.

[medicinal material] this product is divided into sweet almond and bitter almond. In ancient times, sweet almonds were mostly used. At present, bitter almond is mostly used as medicine.

① Sweet almond

It is the dry seed of sweet almond. It is ovoid, flat, about 2-3cm long, 10-16mm wide and 8mm thick. The seed coat is thin, reddish brown, with powdery debris. One side is sharp, the other side is round. The top has a linear umbilical point, and the base has a chalazal point. From the chalazal point, many vascular bundles are distributed to the tip, forming dark furrows. The embryo is straight, almost white, and consists of flat convex cotyledons and the inner hypocotyl and radicle. The latter is located at the pointed end. No odor, sweet taste, developed into emulsion, no odor.

② Bitter almond

It is the dried seed of bitter almond, similar to sweet almond, but smaller and irregular, usually 2 cm long, 12 mm wide and 8 mm thick. It tastes bitter and has special odor.

The above two kinds of medicinal materials are produced in Xinjiang, Shaanxi and other places.

[processing] pick up the hard shell impurities, put them in boiling water, take them out, immerse them in cold water, remove the seed coat, dry them in the sun, and shake them clean.

Sweet and smooth.

① "Yinshan Zhengzheng": "it tastes sweet and nontoxic. "

② "Gangmu": "Gan, pingwen, non-toxic. "

Re entering the lung meridian. "

[function indications] moisten the lung, relieve cough, remove phlegm and lower Qi. It can cure deficiency, cough and depression.

① "Yin Shan Zheng Zheng" says: "cough, lower Qi, eliminate depression. "

② Bencao tongxuan: "moisten the intestines and remove phlegm. "

③ New materia medica: "relieving depression and promoting fluid production. "

④ "Suixiju diet spectrum": "Bufei, Runzao, Yangwei, Huatan. "

[usage and dosage] oral: decoction, 1.5 ~ 3 yuan.

[taboo] 1. From the new materia medica: "do not take it if you have wet phlegm. "

② "Suixiju diet spectrum": "cold dampness and phlegm, spleen deficiency and smooth intestines are taboo. "