1. Alias
Mountain almond, almond, apricot kernel, apricot seed, wood drop seed, apricot plum kernel.
2. Plant morphology
Deciduous tree, up to 10 meters tall, with a round crown and dark gray bark. The single leaves are alternate, and the leaves are broadly ovate or nearly circular. The tips are short pointed, the bases are circular or nearly heart-shaped, and the edges have blunt serrations and long stalks. The flower is solitary at the top, with leaves opening first and few stems; The drupe is heart-shaped and oval in shape, with shallow grooves on the sides, yellow white or yellow red in color, and does not crack when mature; The fruit core is flattened and round, nearly smooth, with a keel shaped ridge in the middle of the abdominal seam, and flat ridges or shallow grooves on both sides. The flowering period is from March to April, and the fruiting period is from April to June.
3. Origin distribution
Born on mountain slopes and hilly areas, able to withstand thin soil. Distributed in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and other places.
4. Harvesting and processing
Harvest mature fruits in summer, remove the flesh and core-shell, take out the seeds, and dry them in the sun.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Flat heart-shaped, measuring 1-1.9 centimeters in length, 0.8-1.5 centimeters in width, and 0.5-0.8 centimeters in thickness. The surface is yellow brown to dark brown, with one end pointed and the other end blunt and round, thick, and asymmetrical on both sides. There is a short line shaped navel on one side of the tip, and there are many brown veins upward at the junction of the round end. Thin seed coat, 2 cotyledons, milky white, rich in oil. Odorless, bitter taste.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Slightly warm in nature, bitter in taste. Return to the lung meridian and colon meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Reduce Qi, relieve cough and asthma, moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. It belongs to the subcategory of cough suppressants and asthma relievers under the category of phlegm resolving cough suppressants.
8. Clinical application
Dosage: 4.5-9 grams, decoct in water and take orally. The raw product should be added to the decoction before serving; Or into pills or powder. Almonds should be crushed when used, and almond cream should be wrapped in cloth when added with decoction. For external use: appropriate amount, massage and apply. Used to treat cough, asthma, chest fullness, excessive phlegm, blood deficiency, fluid stagnation, intestinal dryness, and constipation.
9. Pharmacological research
Liver protection; Cough and asthma relief; Moisturize the intestines and promote bowel movements; Anti-tumor; Anti inflammatory and anti-cancer; Anti mutation; Kill roundworms. Toxicity: Bitter almond glycoside is hydrolyzed by intestinal microorganisms to produce a large amount of hydrogen cyanide, which can be lethal.
10. Chemical composition
Containing components such as amygdalin, fatty oil, amygdalinase, amygdalinase, cherry leaf enzyme, estrone, alpha estradiol, sterols, amygdalinase, cholesterol, etc.
11. Usage taboos
Individuals with Yin deficiency cough and loose stools are prohibited from taking it, and infants should take it with caution. Oral administration should not be excessive to avoid poisoning. When the dosage is high, mild cases may experience dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal pain, burning sensation in the upper abdomen, elevated blood pressure, and accelerated breathing; In severe cases, the breathing slows down significantly and superficially, leading to coma and possible rigidity, paroxysmal spasms, dilated pupils, decreased blood pressure, and ultimately death due to respiratory or circulatory failure.
12. Compatibility prescription
① To treat intestinal gas pain and death: 30g bitter almonds and fennel each, 15g scallion white (roasted). At the end, mix with alcohol and chew walnut meat before swallowing. (Hygiene Easy Recipe)
② To treat shortness of breath: 15 grams each of peach kernels and bitter almonds (with double kernel skin removed and stir fried). Second taste, fine grinding, a little water mixed noodles, and pills as big as wutong. Take ten pills each time, add ginger and honey soup, with a slight benefit. (St. Francis' Chronicles, Double Pill)
③ Treatment of asthma, edema and astringent urination: 30 grams of bitter almonds, peeled and pointed, boiled and grinded, cooked Congee with rice, and eaten hollow. (Food and Medicine Heart Mirror)
④ Treating hemoptysis: Grind forty bitter almonds finely, stir fry them with yellow wax until they turn yellow, add 3 grams of indigo naturalis, knead them into cakes, and at the same time, break open one persimmon and place the cake in it. Wrap it in wet paper and simmer. Research, water suit. (Introduction to Medicine - Holy Cake)
⑤ To treat chronic cough in children: 45 grams of bitter almonds (peeled, roasted), 30 grams of Poria cocos, 15 grams of purple star mushroom and soapberry antler (peeled, string, core, honey roasted yellow). At the end, add 1.5 grams of raw honey and soak in mint soup before taking. ("Renzhai Children's Formula" Almond Cream)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.