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Thorny Elaeagnus
Elaeagnus pungens Thunb., HU TUI
ZI
The thorny elaeagnus, hu tui zi
(foreign weak seed) is also called tian bang chu (sweet club) and yang nai
zi (sheep milk seed). It is an evergreen thorny shrub reaching a height of 4
meters. The leaf is green on the upper surface, silver-white on the back and
covered with brown scales.
The fruit is oval, 15 mm long. The skin is flexible and the surface smooth,
slippery and red in color. The flavor is sweet-acid. In the centre of the
fruit is a hard stone. The fruit ripens in the summer, its nature is neither
hot nor cold.
The fruit can help digestion, ease dysentery and stop coughing. It contains
carbohydrate, organic acid, tannin, volatile oils, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. INDIGESTION. Take 30 grams of fresh fruit, discard the stone and eat.
Wait for 4 hours and again eat another 30 grams.
2. ENTERITIS; DYSENTERY AND DIARRHOEA. Take 60 grams of fresh fruit,
including the stones, and crush. Pour boiling water over the fruit and eat.
Do this daily, 3 times a day.
3. BURNING FEELING IN THE LUNGS; ASTHMA COUGH. Take 60 grams of fresh fruit
or 30 grams of dried fruit and add 30 grams of sugar. Add water, steam and
mash. Eat once a day.
4. BITES FROM POISONOUS INSECTS; POISONOUS BEE STINGS. Take an appropriate
amount of fresh fruit and crush, then spread on the affected place.
5. VARIOUS SKIN COMPLAINTS SUCH AS BOILS AND SCABIES, ETC. Take 250 grams of
partly ripe fruit, cover with water and simmer. Use the liquid to wash the
affected place.
6. SPRAINED BACK AND WAIST. Take 30 grams of thorny elaeagnus wine both in
the morning and in the evening. At the same time rub a little onto the
affected place.
PREPARATIONS
THORNY ELAEAGNUS WINE. Take 500 grams of dried fruit and 1000 grams of
rice wine*. Soak together for 10 days,
stirring the mixture once or twice a day. It is then ready for use.
(* Japanese sake can be used. Ed.)
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