Apricot

Apricot

(questioning materia medica)

[synonym] white apricot, white cabbage, white amaranth (Fujian folk herbal medicine), shore lettuce (herbal recommendation).

[source] it is the whole plant of armeniacaceae.

[plant morphology] apricot

Herbs annual, all fleshy, glabrous. The stem is sparsely branched, the lower part is recumbent, as long as 60 cm, and is tendril like after growing. Leaves alternate, triangular ovate or rhomboid ovate, 3-6 cm long, obtuse, entire, with silver powder on tender leaves. 2 flowers are axillary, yellow, pedicel short; calyx tube bell shaped, lobes 4, broadly ovate, yellow; without petals; stamens 9-16, filaments and anthers are yellow; ovary inferior, short obovate, 3-8-locular, style and ovary chambers are the same number, yellow, stigma apex is papillary. Nutlike drupe, rhombic, with 4-5 angular protrusions of persistent calyx, containing several seeds. The flowering period is from September to October.

Wild or cultivated. Distributed in Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Yunnan and other places.

[collection] harvest in summer and autumn and dry in the sun.

[chemical composition] the whole plant is rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A and various vitamin B. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol were found in the phospholipids. It also contains an antibiotic substance, amygdalin, which has antibacterial effect on yeasts.

[pharmacological action] twigs are rich in saponins, but the saponins are not toxic. After being cooked, the leaves are nontoxic and can be used as vegetables. It's thought to have an anti scurvy effect.

[nature and taste] Fujian folk herbal medicine: "Gan Wei Xin, Ping. "

Functions and indications: clearing away heat and toxin, dispelling wind and detumescence. It is used to treat enteritis, septicemia, sores, redness and swelling, wind heat and red eyes.

① Fujian folk herbal medicine: "dispelling wind and heat, detumescence and detoxification. "

② "Treatment of cancer, enteritis, septicaemia" in Chinese medicine plant Atlas. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 1.5-3 Liang. External use: tamping.

[prescription selection] ① for gastric cancer, esophageal cancer and cervical cancer: three taels of apricot, four taels of water chestnut (fresh grass or shelled water chestnut), two taels of job's tears, four taels of Cassia obtusifolia. Take it by frying. (materia medica recommendation)

② Treatment of eye red swelling: clean the fresh leaves of white apricot, prick the pores with silver needles, add a little milk, stew for half an hour, apply to the eyes, change three or four times a day. (Fujian folk herbal medicine)

③ Treatment of sore swelling: fresh white apricot leaves a grip. Wash and mash with a small amount of cold rice salt, paste on the affected area, change twice a day. It can also treat redness and swelling after bleeding. (Fujian folk herbal medicine)