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Small Mango
Mangifera silvatica Roxb., BIAN
TAO
The small mango, bian tao, (flat
peach) is also called pian tao (slanting peach) and xiao mang guo (small
mango). An evergreen tree, its height can reach 20 meters.
The fruit is egg shaped and slightly flattened, looking somewhat like a
small mango, 50-60 mm long. It ripens in the summer. The fruit skin is
smooth, shiny and flexible, in color it is ash-grey or light green. The
fruit contains a single large stone.
When ripe the flavor of the fruit is sweet or sour-sweet and fragrant. Its
nature is cool. It can help regulate the flow of vital energy, invigorate
the spleen and help stop coughing.
The flavor of the stone is bitter and astringent, its nature neither warm
nor cool. It can also help regulate the flow of vital energy and help stop
pain.
The fruit contains many kinds of vitamins, organic acid, glucoside and
volatile oils, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. INDIGESTION, BITTER TASTE IN THE MOUTH WITH BAD BREATH. Take two pieces
of fruit, discard the stone but retain the skin and eat the fruit and skin.
Do this twice a day.
2. COUGHING WITH EXCESS PHLEGM. Take 3 pieces of fresh fruit. Use a knife to
cut up the fruit, including the skin, and add 30 grams of sugar. Add water
and steam
in a sealed container, then mash and eat. Do this in the morning and in the
evening.
3. NETTLE RASH; URTICARIA; SKIN ITCH; RUBELLA; ECZEMA; DERMATITIS. Take 3
pieces of fruit, including the skin and stones, crush to a pulp, cover with
water and simmer till cooked. Wash the affected place several times a day
with the liquid.
4. HERNIA OF THE SMALL INTESTINE WITH PAIN. Take 2 stones of the fruit plus
15 grams of the stones of the Chinese wampi (clausena lansium).
Crush together and simmer in a liquid made of half wine and water*. Make
this up and drink it each evening.
(* In China it is common to use yellow rice wine or millet wine, called shaoxing wine. Japanese sake can be substituted. Ed.)
WARNING
Care must be
taken with this treatment. Use it only in moderation.
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