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Red Bayberry
Myrica rubra, YANG MEI
The red bayberry, yang met
(poplar plum) is also called shut yang met (water poplar plum) and zhu hong
(bead red). An evergreen tree, it can reach a height of 12 meters. The fruit
is round, with a diameter of 10-15mm. It ripens in the summer.
The flesh appears to be formed from a large number of small capsules
clustered together. When immature the fruit is green, when ripe it turns
deep red or pink. It contains abundant juice, and the flavor is sweet or
acid-sweet. Inside the fruit is a round, hard stone.
The nature of the fruit is neither warm nor cold and it contains no poison.
It can generate saliva, quench thirst, help digestion, help stop vomiting
and benefit the urine (diuresis). It contains glucose, fructose, citric
acid, malic acid, many vitamins, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. MOUTH AND TONGUE HOT AND DRY; LOW FEVER WITH EXCESSIVE THIRST. Take 30-60
grams of fresh fruit, wash clean and eat. Do this both in the morning and in
the evening.
2. BLEEDING GUMS; GINGIVITIS; VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY. Take 30-60 grams of half
ripe fresh fruit, wash clean and eat. Do this both in the morning and in the
evening.
3. URINE, DIFFICULTY OR PAIN WHEN URINATING; DYSURIA. Take 60-90 grams of
fresh fruit, crush and add 1 cup of cool boiled water. Strain to obtain the
juice and drink. Do this 3 times a day.
4. PREVENTION OF HEAT STROKE. Take 30 grams of fresh fruit, steam in water
and serve. Eat before and after the hottest part of the day.
5. INDIGESTION; ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS LEADING TO VOMITING AND DYSENTERY.
Take 30-60 grams of bayberry wine and drink daily, 3 times a
day.
6. EXHAUSTION LEADING TO DIZZINESS; PAINFUL JOINTS AND MUSCLES. Take 30-60
grams of bayberry wine, drink both in the morning and again in
the evening.
7. GUMS, INFLAMED, RED, SWOLLEN AND PAINFUL. Roast the fruit stones to
charcoal, grind this to a powder and spread on the affected
part.
PREPARATION
BAYBERRY WINE. Take ripe fresh fruit and squeeze through clean cotton gauze
to obtain the juice. Add equal parts of rice wine* and mix. This is bayberry
wine. (Japanese sake can be used. Ed.)
PREPARING CHARCOAL FROM FRUIT STONES.
One way of doing this is to place the stones in a small tin with a lid and
bury this in the live coals of a fire. The lack of oxygen in the tin will
prevent the stones from catching alight, and in time they will be turned
into charcoal.
This same method, using grape vine twigs or similar, is used to produce
artist's drawing charcoal. (Ed.)
WARNING
If suffering from 'blood-heat' or inflammation of the liver do not eat too
much of this fruit. It is said that too much fruit may cause one to break
out in sores and become susceptible to disease, and that it may also damage
the teeth and sinews.
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