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Peanut
Arachis hypogaiea, HUA SHENG REN
The peanut kernel, hua sheng ren
(flower live kernel) is also called hua sheng (flower live), hua sheng mi
(flower live rice) and luo hua sheng (drop down flower live). It is annual
herbaceous plant with oval fruit enclosed in a stiff leather-like shell. The
shell has a grooved surface, is 10-50mm long and contains 1-4 seeds.
The seeds are oval with a slightly pointed end, the outside covered with a
dusty red-brown skin (called the jacket). The kernel is in two segments and
is a whitish colour, and of an oily nature. It has a fragrant smell and a
delicate sweet flavor. Its nature is neither hot nor cold.
Peanuts nourish the lungs and ease the stomach. They contain oil, protein,
amino acids, vitamin B1, panothenic acid, starch, alkaloids, etc. The shell
contains glucoside with benefits the cardiovascular system.
APPLICATIONS
1. CONSTIPATION. Take 30 grams of peanut kernels (fresh or cooked) and eat
them in one sitting. Do this daily as long as the condition persists.
2. DRY FEELING IN THE LUNGS WITH A DRY COUGH; COUGH, WITH A LOT OF PHLEGM;
WHOOPING COUGH. Take 50 grams of peanut kernels, add water and boil, then
mash. Drink the water and eat the residue. Do this daily, in the morning and
in the evening.
3. LACK OF MILK FOR BREAST FEEDING; CONSTIPATION BEFORE CHILDBIRTH. Take
60-90 grams of peanut kernels and a pig's front trotter (or 250 grams of
part fat and part lean pork). Add water and boil till tender. Serve this
once a day for 5 days.
4. ABDOMINAL PAIN DUE TO PARASITIC INFESTATION; INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION DUE
TO ROUNDWORMS. Take 90 grams of peanut oil and 60-90 grams of leaves of the
sweet potato or Chinese chives. Boil together till cooked and flavour with
table salt. Eat this amount in one sitting, and the same amount 4 hours
later.
5. HAEMOPHILIA; BLEEDING FROM INTERNAL ORGANS; BLEEDING AFTER AN OPERATION.
Take 15-30 grams of the thin red skin that surrounds the kernel and grind it
to a fine dust. Mix it with boiled water and drink, do this 3 times a day.
6. FROSTBITE. Take an appropriate measure of peanut skin chilblain ointment
and spread on the affected place. Use a gauze dressing. Change the dressing
daily for 3 days.
PREPARATIONS
PEANUT SKIN CHILBLAIN OINTMENT. Take an appropriate amount of peanut skins
(the thin red skins that surround the kernels, not the shells) and stir-fry
till yellow. Grind to a fine powder and blend with rice vinegar into an
ointment. A little camphor can be added to the ointment, first dissolve it
in wine and then blend it in.
NOTES
Peanut kernels readily grow mould. One type of mould causes liver cancer.
For this reason do not eat any peanuts that show signs of mould.
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