WK 4 : Fruit Flashcards
Channels and Functions
Pear - Li
LU: moisten the LU, dissolves phlegm
ST:
UB: promo urino, clear UB heat
also: generates body fluids, reduces fever
indications
Pear - Li
dry skin;
phlegm heat causing cough;
moisten the LU (especially in the autumn);
very good for UTI;
Yin Deficiency - dry mouth, throat, nose;
contraindications
Pear - Li
ST Yang Deficiency - pear is too cold, chronic diarrhea, phlegm cold (asthma wheezing) don’t eat too much in general
What is true of Pear Skin and most fruit skins?
the skin is even higher in function than the fruit - but wash bc of pesticides (this is true of all fruit)
Taste and Temperature
Orange - Cheng
sweet and sour
and cold
Channel and Functions
Orange - Cheng
ST:
UB: promo urino
promoting body fluids
also: reduces thirst
Indications
Orange - Cheng
clear ST heat;
UTI;
hangover;
Contraindications
Orange - Cheng
ST Cold and phlegm accumulation
can cause an accumulation of phlegm bc it is so cold
Taste and Temperature
Tangerine - Ju Zi (herb- Chen Pi)
Sweet and sour
Neutral (not damaging - better to eat than orange)
Channel and Function
Tangerine - Ju Zi
LU: moisten the LU, dissolve the Phlegm
ST: promo digestion, restore the appetite, send down counterflow qi, nourish ST Yin, harmonize the ST
also; promo body fluids
Indications
Tangerine - Ju Zi
vomiting, nausea, belching, cough (esp w sputum),
prepared pill for morning sickness and car sickness - put one under the tongue, has gan cao and other herbs
Contraindications
Tangerine - Ju Zi
very sweet - careful with diabetes, weakness of the ST
Taste and Temperature
Grapefruit - Yu Zi
sweet and sour, sl pungent
very cold
Channels and Functions
Grapefruit - Yu Zi
LU:
ST: send down counterflow qi, restore appetite (aid digestion)
also: promo body fluid, relieve thirst
Indications
Grapefruit - Yu Zi
big thirst, dry mouth, dry throat, from yin def, hangover, nausea, vomiting, phlegm heat cough
Contraindications
Grapefruit - Yu Zi
SP/ST yang def - will cause phlegm in the body - only good for losing weigh if there is ST Heat. KD Yang Qi Def - body cold be careful with grapefruit. Chronic Diarrhea.
Taste and Temperature
Persimmon
sweet and sl pungent (unripe can numb tongue)
very cold
Channel and Function
Persimmon
LU: moisten LU, dissolve phlegm
ST:
LI: moisten intestines
also: promote body fluids
Indications
Persimmon
cough esp dry cough or LU heat cough, nourish ST yin, clear ST heat, dry skin/thirst/dry mouth
Contraindications
Persimmon
Persimmon can be dangerous; can damage ST from cold, SP Yang Qi def and chronic diarrhea or KD yang def - don’t eat.
never combine crab (very cold seafood) with persimmon - too cold, ancient chinese tale.
Taste and Temperature
Loquat - Pi Ba
sweet and sl sour
cool
Channel and Function
Loquat - Pi Ba
LU: moisten the LU, Release the Cough (esp phlegm heat cough)
ST: clear ST heat, Nourish ST Yin, send down counterflow qi
UB:
also: promo body fluids (moisten skin)
Indications
Loquat - Pi Ba
dry skin, dry cough (phlemg heat cough), dry throat, thirst, dry nose (nose bleeds), UTI, morning sickness (won’t hurt fetus)
Contraindications
Loquat - Pi Ba
ST cold, ST yin def
Taste and Temperature
Apple - Ping Gou
sweet, sour
cool
Channels and Functions
Apple - Ping Gou
SP/ST: harmonize the MJ, tonify SP Fx
cooked: better to harmonize ST, tonify the SP (mix w cinnamon - apple congee)
also: promo body fluids, reduce fever, moisten dryness
Indications
Apple - Ping Gou
hangover;
release restlessness;
relieve thirst; clear ST heat; restores the appetite (cooked); chronic diarrhea (cooked);
Skin is more nutritious;
Contraindications
Apple - Ping Gou
patients w ST Yang def, cook the apple
Taste and Temperature
Banana - Xia Jiao
sweet, sl pungent
very cold
Channels and Functions
Banana - Xia Jiao
ST: clear ST heat
SP:
LI:
also: promo body fluids, nourish the Yin, moisten dryness
Indications
Banana - Xia Jiao
great thirst, dry throat, dry mouth, ST heat, constipation
(controversy - western med banana causes constipation - however, this is really an unripe banana - in this country we eat unripe bananas a lot). Dry Stool, hemorrhoids (ST or INT heat)
Contraindications
Banana - Xia Jiao
SP Yang Qi def, ST Yang Qi Def, chronic diarrhea (or eat an unripe banana)
Taste and Temperature
Litchi (Lychee) - Li Zi
sweet, sl sour
very very warm
Channel and Function
Litchi - Li Zi
SP: tonify the SP
ST: harmonize the ST
LV: nourish the blood
Also: promo body fluids
dried fruit has different function - can put in congee - harmonize MJ, tonify SP Fx and nourish LV blood (does not promo fluids)
Indications
Litchi - Li Zi
relieve thirst, aid SP yang def, restore appetite (cooked), nourishes the HT (even though doesn’t go to HT, raw or cooked), good for restlessness, nourish the blood (cooked). Used post chemo.
Contraindications
Litchi - Li Zi
overeat can cause nosebleed from the heat
Taste and Temperature
Chestnut - Di Li
(a fruit for Chinese people)
sweet and cold
grow in the muck, wetland
Channels and Functions
Chestnut - Di Li
ST: release food stagnation
LU:
LV: clear heat toxicity, clear LV heat (when raw only), promo vision
also: promo body fluids
Indications
Chestnut - Di Li
thirst (damage from ST heat), dry mouth, phlegm heat cough (esp the juice), too much heat causing bleeding (anal fissures and hemorrhoids), restore the appetite, digestion aid, eat raw - clear eye vision (watery vision from too much alcohol), good for UTI (esp raw juice)
Contraindications
Chestnut - Di Li
SP/ST yang def - might be too cold even cooked
use starch to thicken soups etc.
Taste and temperature
Watermelon - Xi Gua
sweet and cold
Channels and Functions
Watermelon - Xi Gua
ST:
HT: clears HT heat
also: clears summer heat, promo urino, release toxicity
Indications
Watermelon - Xi Gua
release Summer heat;
dryness caused by fever;
UTI;
sore throat;
insomnia/restlessness/irritability/palpitations from HT heat;
watermelon frost - good for canker sore, toothache;
Contraindications
Watermelon - Xi Gua
chronic diarrhea from SP Yang def, loose stool
Taste and Temperature
Hawthrone - Shan Zha
(fruit for Chinese People
Sour, Sweet
warm
Channels and Functions
Hawthorn - Shan Zhu
SP:
ST: promo digestion (esp meat), aid ST Fx,
LV: promo blood circulation and release blood stasis
Also: expels parasites
Indications
Hawthorn - Shan Zha
food stagnation, elderly poor circulation, reduce cholesterol and aid metabolism, back pain/stiff joints from poor circulation, cold hand/feet from blood circulation, parasites
Contraindications
Hawthorn - Shan Zha
don’t give to kids, or give small dosage (for food stag, eg), shan zha candy is not for kids - can damage the membrane of the LI and ST
Taste and Temperature
Pear - Li
Sweet and Cold
