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Apricot Plum
Prunus simonii Carr., XING LI
The apricot plum, zing li, is
also called zi xue li (hen's blood plum) and hong li (red plum). It is a
deciduous tree growing to a height of 3-5 meters. The fruit is ball shaped
with a diameter of 30-55 mm, the skin is smooth and light purple-red with
irregular areas of deep purple. There is a comparatively deep seam down the
fruit.
It ripens in the autumn. The fruit flesh is red-brown or yellow, the flavor
rather acid and astringent. Inside is a single hard stone. Its nature is
neither hot nor cold.
The fruit can benefit the spleen, regulate menstrual functions, is
astringent, and can help stop bleeding. It contains carbohydrate, organic
acid, vitamin C, tannin, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. INDIGESTION; DIARRHOEA. Take one piece of fresh, dried or pickled fruit,
discard the stone and eat. Do this again after 4 hours.
2.EXESSIVE MENSTRUATION , METRORRHAGIA. Take 2-3 pieces of pickled fruit,
add water, steam and serve. Do this 3 times a day. Alternatively drink 30-60
grams of rice vinegar in which apricot plums have been soaked.
3. BLEEDING FROM EXTERNAL WOUNDS. Take 1-2 pieces of fresh or salted plum,
discard the stone and crush. Apply this to the affected parts.
4. VARIOUS KINDS OF SKIN AILMENTS, TINEA, RINGWORM, ETC. Take 5-10 pieces of
fresh or pickled plum, crush, add water and simmer. Use the liquid to wash
the affected parts 3-4 times daily.
PREPARATIONS
SALTED AND PICKLED PLUMS. Cover the plums with table salt to produce salted
plums or soak them in vinegar to produce pickled plums.
WARNING
Do not eat this fruit if suffering from constipation due to sthenia-syndrome.
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