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Apricot
Prunus armeniaca, XING
The apricot, zing, is also called
xing guo (apricot fruit). It is a deciduous tree growing to a height of 4-10
meters. The fruit is round or egg-shaped with a diameter of 30-40mm. It
ripens in the autumn. The ripe fruit is yellow, with a red blush, and
covered with fine hairs.
The flesh is sweet and there is a stone in the centre. In the centre of the
stone is a kernel, of which there are two sorts, a sweet one and bitter one.
The fruit with a sweet kernel is called sweet apricot, and the fruit with a
bitter kernel is called bitter apricot.
The fruit flavor is sweet-acid, its nature neither hot nor cold. It can
moisten the - lungs, relieve asthma, promote secretion of saliva and quench
thirst.
The bitter apricot kernel has a bitter, pungent flavor. Its nature is warm
and it contains poison. It can ease a cough, sooth asthma and moisten the
intestines.
The sweet apricot kernel has a bitter-sweet flavor. Its nature is warm. It
can moisten the intestines, ease coughing, and invigorate vital energy.
The fruit flesh contains carbohydrate, protein, vitamins B1, B2, C, carotene,
nicotinic acid, calcium, phosphorous, iron, citric acid, malic acid,
volatile oils, etc.
The bitter apricot kernel contains amygdalin, fatty oil, enzyme, oil,
protein, amino acids, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. DRY THROAT, WITH THIRST. Take 2-3 pieces of dry or fresh fruit and eat,
both in the morning and in the evening.
2. DYSENTERY, BACILLARY; ENTERITIS; HOT FLUSHES; TUBERCULOSIS FEVER; HECTIC
FEVER; COUGH. Take half or one (Chinese) soup spoon of green apricot tonic twice a day.
3. WEAKNESS; INTOLERANCE TO COLD;
LACK OF STRENGTH WITH CHRONIC COUGH. Take 5-10 sweet apricot kernels,
discard the skins and chew. Do this daily before breakfast until the effect
can be seen.
4. CONSTIPATION ASSOCIATED WITH OLD AGE OR AFTER GIVING BIRTH. Take 15 grams
of sweet apricot kernel and discard the skin, 30 grams of rice and 30 grams
of sugar, plus a little water. Grind together into a smooth liquid then
steam till cooked. Eat this in the morning and again in the evening.
5. COUGH ASSOCIATED WITH A DRY FEELING IN THE LUNGS. Take 6 grams of bitter
apricot kernel and grind into a powder. Take also one or two peeled and
cored pears. Place the kernels inside the pears and steam in a sealed
container for half an hour, then eat. Alternatively take 3 dried apricots,
including the stones, and crush them. Steam in water and serve both in the
morning and again in the evening.
6. COUGH ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FEELING IN THE LUNGS; LACK OF PHLEGM; PHLEGM
THIN AND FROTHY. Take 9 grams of bitter apricot kernel, 6 grams of fresh
ginger and 2 candied Chinese dates. Steam in water and serve
twice daily, in the morning and again in the evening.
PREPARATIONS
l. DRIED APRICOT. Take not fully ripe fruit, sprinkle with salt and dry them
in the sun. No further preparation is needed.
2. BITTER AND SWEET APRICOT
KERNELS. Collect the fruit stones, break them open and obtain the
kernels. Classify them as being either bitter or sweet and dry them in the
sun. The sweet kernels contain no poison so they can be
eaten without first boiling. They are usually classified as either sweet or
bitter by simply tasting with the tip of the tongue.
3. GREEN APRICOT TONIC. Take partly ripe fresh fruit, wash in water and
discard the stones. Peel the fruit, mash and squeeze to a pulp. Simmer this
(the Chinese use a pottery cooking vessel) until it reduces to a thick
paste.
WARNING
1. Large quantities of fresh apricots should not be eaten as they can affect
the spleen and stomach. Do not eat the kernels if suffering from a cough
associated with a deficiency of yin, or if suffering from diarrhoea or
half-congealed stools.
2. Bitter apricot kernels contain a poison, hydrocyanic acid, and should be
boiled before being eaten. Sweet kernels contain no poison, so they can be
eaten without boiling. Taste the kernel with the tip of the tongue.
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