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Persimmon
Diosypros dumetorum W.W.Sm., SHI
The persimmon, shi, is also
called shi guo (persimmon fruit) and shi zi (persimmon). It is a deciduous
tree growing to a height of 6-9 meters. The fruit is round with a diameter
of 60-80 mm. The top of the fruit is slightly concave, the calyx is brown.
The skin is smooth and slippery with a wax-like surface. It is yellow-red,
often with a light covering of a white frosting. It ripens in the summer and
autumn.
The fruit flesh is yellow or orange, the flavor sweet. Partly ripe fruit
are astringent. The seed has a flat kidney shape. The nature of the fruit is
neither hot nor cold and it has no poison. The fruit can quench thirst,
moisten the lungs and benefit the spleen.
The calyx of the fruit has an astringent flavor, its nature neither hot nor
cold. It can help control excess energy and stop hiccups.
The fruit contains sucrose, glucose, fructose, mannose, fruit gum, etc. The
unripe fruit contains a lot of tannin. The fresh fruit also contains a
considerable amount of iodine. The calyx of the fruit contains triterpenes,
beta-sitosterol, trifolium glucoside, triadenum glucoside, syringic acid,
betulaceae resin acid, tannins, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. STOMACH, HOT AND PAINFUL. Take 1 fresh fruit, discard the skin and eat.
Do this twice a day.
2. ASTHMA COUGH ASSOCIATED WITH OLD AGE; COUGH WITH THICK PHLEGM. Take 2
pieces of persimmon cake and 30 grams of candied honey. Add
water,
steam in a sealed container, mash
and eat. Do this in the morning and in the evening.
3. CHRONIC ENTERITIS; DIARRHOEA; DYSENTERY. Take 2 pieces of persimmon cake
2 slices of dried orange or tangerine skin and 60 grams of
glutinous rice. Boil together into a gruel and eat. Do this for 3 days.
4. DIARRHOEA IN SMALL CHILDREN. Take I piece of persimmon cake
and some rice and water and grind to a paste. Steam till cooked and serve.
Do this 3 times a day for 2-3 days.
5. HAEMORRHOIDS, SORE AND BLEEDING. Take 1-2 pieces of persimmon cake, add water, steam and mash then eat. Do this twice a day.
6. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE; GOITRE. Take 1-2 pieces of partly ripe fruit and
squeeze to obtain the juice. Add some warm boiled water and serve. Do this
once a day.
7. BLOOD IN THE URINE, BUT NO PAIN WHEN URINATING. Take 2 pieces of
persimmon cake and add to some rice gruel. Eat this first thing
in the morning for 5 successive days.
8. SUPPURATIVE INFECTIONS OF THE LUNGS GIVING RISE TO COUGHING; PAIN IN
CHEST; SHORTNESS OF BREATH DUE TO THICK SPUTUM. Take 2-3 pieces of persimmon
cake, including the calyx, add water, boil, mash and serve. Do this both in
the morning and in the evening.
9. HICCUPS THAT WILL NOT STOP. Take 9 grams of the calyx of the fruit and 3
grams of fresh ginger, add water, steam for some time and serve.
Alternatively take 3 grams of the calyx, stir-fry till fragrant and
crush. Add to some rice wine* and drink.
(* Japanese sake can be used. Ed.)
10. ULCERS IN THE MOUTH; THROAT PAIN; DRY THROAT WITH COUGH. Take 3-9 grams
of the frosting on the outside of the fruit, put it in powdered form into
water and bring to the boil. Several times a day take a mouthful of the
liquid and hold it in the mouth for some time and gargle.
PREPARATION
1. Gather the ripe fruit and soak in lime water for a number of days (put
some quicklime in water, when it dissolves the lime water is ready for use,
or put hydrated lime in water and dissolve it). Take out the fruit and dry
in the air till the surface is no longer moist. Before using peel and
discard the skin. Use the fruit within 7 - 10 days.
2. PERSIMMON CAKE. When the outer skin begins to change to yellow pick the
fruit, peel and discard the skin. Place the fruit in the sun to dry, and
frequently apply pressure to each piece of fruit so as to gradually flatten
it. Continue drying in the sun after the fruit has been flattened until the
white frosting on the surface becomes prominent. This is the form known as
persimmon cake.
3. CALYX. Take the calyx of the fruit and dry in the sun. In this form it is
used in traditional medicine.
4. PERSIMMON FROSTING. Scrape the white frosting from the persimmon cake. In
this form, it is used in traditional medicine.
WARNING
If suffering from deficiency of spleen-yang, cough due to flu or if
suffering from dropsy or malaria do not eat persimmon.
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