Chinese Medicine Half Monthly Talk丨Pine Nuts

Interesting stories

Su Shi wrote in his poem: "The copper furnace burns cypress seeds, and the stone tripod cooks yam." Su Zhe wrote in his poem: "Why do you work so hard to plant cypress seeds in the southern stream?"

These two brothers were praised as "not only brothers, but also virtuous friends". They had such a common love for cypress seeds. It was probably because cypress seeds were useful that the ancients praised them more.

Baizi, also known as Baishi, is now called Baiziren. Ancient people ate Baiziren very early, probably for the purpose of satisfying hunger. However, it was found that it has many benefits, and even entered myths and legends.

Chisongzi was a deity, also known as Chisongzi, who was said to be the rainmaker for Shennong. He could burn himself in fire and rise and fall with wind and rain. The text in Yiwen Leiju describes how he benefited greatly from eating cypress fruit: "According to the Biographies of Immortals, Chisongzi ate cypress fruit, his teeth fell out and grew again, and he could walk as fast as a horse."

Ancient myths obviously exaggerated the practical health care and health preservation effects of traditional Chinese medicine, but the medicinal value of cypress seeds does exist. "Shennong's Herbal Classic" officially included "cypress seeds" and listed them as top-grade products, marking the beginning of the use of cypress seeds in herbal classics. Today, cypress seeds continue to play their due medical and health care functions.

According to the theory of Chinese medicine, cypress seed is sweet and neutral in nature, and can nourish the heart and calm the mind, moisten dryness and relieve constipation. Famous prescriptions include cypress seed nourishing heart pill, cypress seed pill, and five-kernel pill. Among them, five-kernel pill can treat constipation caused by old age, long-term illness, and depletion of body fluid and blood. When it comes to the creation and spread of five-kernel pill, there is also a heartwarming story.

During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, there was a famous monk named Jihong, also known as Danliao. He was sent to a temple to become a monk when he was young because of his poor family. He was intelligent and studious, and under the guidance of a famous teacher, he was proficient in the "Five Sciences" and was called a "study tyrant". Therefore, he was awarded the title of "teacher" and was allowed to go out alone to engage in Buddhist and medical activities. Jihong traveled to Liuzhou, Xiping, Lianzhou, Wuyang, Fengzhou and other places in Lingnan. In the first year of Xianchun in the Southern Song Dynasty (1265), he crossed Dayuling Mountains and traveled to Fengcheng, Linchuan in Jiangxi and the coastal areas of Zhejiang.

During his travels, Ji Hong witnessed the tragic scene of widespread malaria, insect poisoning, severe lack of medical care and medicine in Lingnan, and eight out of ten deaths. With compassion in his heart, he practiced medicine and applied medicine to treat and prevent diseases for the masses. He had superb medical skills and a solid theoretical foundation. He made careful diagnoses and used medicines prudently according to different conditions such as people, places, diseases, and time, and was very effective, which made him deeply loved by the people. In order to achieve the purpose of "helping people in times of emergency" in medicine, combined with his personal experience, Ji Hong wrote "Danliao Jiyan Secret Prescriptions" in his later years, referred to as "Danliao Prescriptions", which included Wuren Pills made with cypress seeds.

Wuren Pills were reprinted in Wei Yilin's "Shiyi Dexiao Fang" in the Yuan Dynasty and Jin Limeng's "Yifang Leiju" in the 15th century. Wuren Pills are composed of peach kernels, bitter almonds, pine nuts, cypress seeds, prunes, and tangerine peels, and are named after the five kinds of kernel medicines used. The combination of nuts rich in oil in one recipe has the effect of lubricating the intestines. The whole recipe can moisturize and lubricate the intestines, and is good at treating constipation caused by lack of body fluid and dry intestines. It is indeed a peaceful and good recipe for relieving the pain of constipation in the elderly.

· Source of medicinal materials ·

The dried mature kernels of Platycladus orientalis, a plant of the Cupressaceae family. The mature seeds are harvested in autumn and winter, dried in the sun, the seed coat is removed, and the kernels are collected.

· Nature and flavor ·

Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Enters the heart, kidney and large intestine meridians.

· Efficacy and indications·

Nourishes the heart and soothes the mind, moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movements, and stops sweating.

It is suitable for insomnia, palpitations, dry intestines and constipation, and night sweats caused by yin deficiency and blood deficiency.

· Usage and Dosage·

Oral administration: decoction, 3-10g. Or make into pills or powder.

· Diet therapy recommendation ·

Pineapple Seed Porridge

Ingredients: 100 grams of rice, 12 grams of pine nuts, and appropriate amount of honey.

Preparation: Grind the clean pine nuts and put them into a pot together with the washed rice, add water, boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until it becomes thick porridge, add honey to taste and eat. It can be taken once or twice a day.

The seeds of cypress are rich in oil, which has the effect of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, calming the mind and soothing the nerves. This porridge is suitable for middle-aged and elderly people with long-term constipation, insomnia and forgetfulness, and has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect.

Note: For the elderly and frail people, honey can also be replaced with walnut meat, with a dosage of about 10 grams.

· Kind tips·

Use with caution if you have loose stools or excessive phlegm.

Yan Xiting of the Qing Dynasty warned in his book Depei Materia Medica: "Excessive phlegm, floating lung qi, loose stools, and weak stomach with vomiting are all prohibited."

Author: Ding Zhaoping, editor of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Review expert: Xu Yamei, chief physician of Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital