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Ceylon Hill Cherry
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, HILL
GOOSEBERRY,
DOWNY MYRTLE, TAO JIN JIANG
The Ceylon hill cherry, Tao jin
niang, is also known as gang ren (hill harvest) and ren zi (harvest seed).
It is an evergreen shrub growing to a height of 1-2 meters. The fruit is
oval, with a diameter of 12 mm, and ripens in the summer.
The ripe fruit is dull purple in colour and the flower calyx frequently
remains on the end. The outer flesh is purple-red in color with a lot of
juice and its flavor is sweet and a little astringent. The flesh in the
centre of the fruit is pale yellow enclosing small seeds.
The fruit's nature is neither hot nor cold. Its virtue is that it can
nourish the blood, strengthen the spleen and calm the foetus. The fruit
contains carbohydrate, ketone, glucoside, phenol, amino acids, organic
acids, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. ANEMIA WITH COLD LIPS, PALE FACE, COLD HANDS AND FEET, BOUTS OF
DIZZINESS. Take 30 grams of dry fruit, 15 grams of longan pulp and 30 grams
of brown sugar. Cover with water and simmer till cooked. Take this once or
twice a day.
Another treatment is to drink 30 grams of dou ren wine every evening.
2. WEAKNESS AFTER ILLNESS. Take 30 grams of dried fruit and 30 grams of lean
pork and 2 pieces of red date (see page 49). Add water and steam till
cooked. Eat this once a day.
3. GASTRIC OR DUODENAL ULCER. Take 60 grams of dried fruit, add water and
steam till cooked then strain to obtain the liquid. Drink one or two cups of
this every day on awakening, after the midday siesta and before going to
bed. Do this for 20 days.
4. ACUTE OR CHRONIC GASTROENTERITIS; DYSENTERY. Take 90 grams of fresh fruit
or 60 grams of dry fruit, add water and steam till cooked. Serve this three
times a day.
5. DIARRHOEA IN CHILDREN. Take 30 grams of dry fruit and stir-fry till
almost scorched and black. Cover with water and simmer till cooked. Serve
this three times a day.
6. SEMINAL EMISSION; RINGING IN THE EARS; DIZZINESS; INSOMNIA. Take 60 grams
of dry druit, one egg, 30 grams of brown sugar and an appropriate measure of
rice wine*. Cover with water and simmer
till cooked. Take the full amount at night before going to sleep. (*
Japanese sake can be used. Ed.)
7. EXHAUSTION THROUGH OVERWORK; INTERNAL DAMAGE; FEELING OF WEAKNESS AND
ACHING ALL OVER; NO STRENGTH IN THE JOINTS. Drink 30 grams of dou ren wine
(see below) every day in the early morning and in the evening.
PREPARATION
DOU REN WINE (Bean Harvest Wine). Take 500 grams of dried fruit and soak it
in 1,000 grams of rice wine* for 10
days. During this time shake or stir it at least once a day. At the end of
10 days the wine is ready to use.
(* Japanese sake can be used. Ed.)
WARNING
Do not eat this fruit if suffering from constipation.
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