Introduction of Ku Xin Ren:Semen Armeniacae Amarum or Bitter Apricot Seed.
✵The article gives records of the herb Bitter Apricot Seed, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source four plant species, ①.Prunus armeniaca L., ②.Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., ③.Prunus sibirica L., ④.Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these four plants, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these four plants, the features of the herb Bitter Apricot Seed, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Semen Armeniacae Amarum(Bitter Apricot Seed).
Pin Yin Name: Kǔ Xìnɡ Rén.
English Name: Bitter Apricot Seed.
Latin Name: Semen Armeniacae Amarum.
Property and flavor: slight warm, bitter, mild toxicity.
Brief introduction: The herb Semen Armeniacae Amarum is the dried ripe seed or kernel of Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., Prunus sibirica L., Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne or Prunus armeniaca L., used to relieve cough and dyspnea with profuse expectoration, and also to relieve constipation. The herb is commonly known as Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Bitter Apricot Seed, Kǔ Xìnɡ Rén.
Botanical source: The herb Semen Armeniacae Amarum (Bitter Apricot Seed) is the dried ripe seed or kernel of the (1). Prunus armeniaca L., or (2). Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., or (3). Prunus sibirica L., or (4). Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne., they are plants of the Prunus genus, the Rosaceae family (rose family) of the Rosales order. These four commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Prunus armeniaca L.
Botanical description: Prunus armeniaca L is also known as Armeniaca vulgaris Lam., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Prunus armeniaca, Almond Tree or Xing Shu, deciduous small tree, the tree grows up to 4~10 meters tall; round crown, oblate or oblong; bark is dark reddish dark brown, vertically split; simple leaves alternate; leaf blades are ovoid or broad-ovate, 5~9 cm long, 4~8 cm wide.
Flowers bloom before leaves in spring, flowers are solitary and grow on branch end, densely, slightly similar to raceme; flowers are subsessile (nearly sessile), the base of the calyx is tubular, the out surface is pubescent, the upper part is 5-lobed; 5 flower petals, white or light pink, round to broad obovate; stamens are numerous, grow inserted on the edge of hypanthium (calyx tube); the pistil has single carpel, grow inserted on the base of hypanthium (calyx tube).
Drupes (drupe fruits) are round, rarely obovate, and over 2.5 cm in diameter. 1 seed, cordate obovate, light red. Its flowering period is from March to April, and the fruiting period is from June to July.
Growth characteristics: The tree is cultivated in low mountain or hilly country. It grows in the wild in the Ili Prefecture of Xinjiang, China.
Prunus armeniaca L has a strong adaptability, tolerant of drought, cold, aridity, saline, or alkaline. The tree can grow normally at a high temperature up to 43.9 °C (Celsius, or 111.02 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer, and can pass winter safely at a low temperature of -40 °C (Celsius, or -40 degrees Fahrenheit). It can be planted on a flatland or slope, and its requirement in the soil is not strict.
Characters of herbs: The seeds are flat and cordate (heart-shaped), the apex is sharp, the base is blunt round, and thick, and the left and right sides are slightly asymmetric, 1.2~1.7 cm long, 1~1.3 cm wide, and 4~6 mm thick. The surface is brown to dark brown, there are thin and dense granular protrusions. The apex has deep color linear hilum on one side, there is an elliptical chalaza on the base, and there are many dark brown concave vascular bundle veins spread from the chalaza, forming vertical irregular dimpled grain, covering the seed coat (testa). The seed coat is thin, and cotyledons are pulpose and thick, white, slight odor, grind with water and produces an aroma of benzaldehyde, it tastes bitter. The herb of a better grade has big full grains, white kernel, not broken.
The fruit is collected from June to July when the fruit is maturing, remove the fruit pulp, wash clean, dry in the sun, crack and break the seed kernel, take out the seed, dry in the air, and mothproof.
Pharmacological actions: ①.slightly inhibit the respiratory center; ②.inhibitory effect on Ascaris, hookworm, pinworm, typhoid, and paratyphoid, lubricating and relaxing the bowels; ③.weak anticancer effect; ④.enhance immunity; ⑤.over dosage will cause poisoning.
Medicinal efficacy: Downbear Qi (sending down abnormally ascending), relieving cough and asthma, relaxing bowel, indicated for the treatment of cough and asthma, fullness in the chest with much phlegm, blood deficiency and exhaustion of body fluid, dryness of the intestine and constipation.
Administration of Semen Armeniacae Amarum(Kǔ Xìnɡ Rén):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Semen Armeniacae Amarum(Kǔ Xìnɡ Rén)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:4.5~9 grams; ②.3~10 grams, water decoction, raw herb decoct later. Internal administration should not be over dosage, so as to avoid poisoning.
Precautions and Adverse Reactions: should not be used overdose internally, to avoid poisoning.
(2).Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim.
Botanical description: Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim is also known as Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.var.ansu (Maxim.) Yü et Lu., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Bitter Almond, Montain Almond or Shan Xing, shrubs or small trees, the tree grows up to 2~5 meters tall; bark is dark gray; branchlets are glabrous, sparsely pubescent when young, grayish brown or reddish brown. Leaf blades are ovate or suborbicular, 5~10 cm long, 4~7 cm wide, apex is long acuminate to tip, the base is rounded to subcordate, leaf blade margin is obtusely serrate, both surfaces are glabrous, veins submerged below intersected pubescence; petioles are 2~3.5 cm long, glabrous, with or without small glands.
Flowers are solitary, 1.5~2 cm in diameter, and bloom before leaves; pedicels are 1~2 mm long; the calyx is purple, fistuliform (tubelike), the base is minutely pubescent or glabrous; sepals are oblong-elliptic, the apex is pointed, reflexed after flowering; petals are suborbicular or obovate, white or pink; stamens are nearly as long as petals; the ovary is pubescent.
Fruits is an oblate spheroid, 1.5~2.5 cm in diameter, yellow or orange-red, sometimes reddish, pubescent; fruit pulp is thin and dry, cracking at maturity, tastes sour, inedible, cracking along abdominal lines at maturity; the kernel is spheroid, easy to separate from the pulp, both sides are flat, the top is round, base sides are deflective, asymmetry, the surface is relatively smooth, ventral surface is wide and sharp, it has a bitter taste. Its flowering period is from March to April, and the fruiting period is from June to July.
Growth characteristics: Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim. mainly grows in the northern area of China, in wild or is cultivated, it is also cultivated in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Characters of herbs: The seed of Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim is similar to the seed of Prunus armeniaca L. The herb of a better grade has big full grains, white kernel, and is not broken.
(3).Prunus sibirica L.
Botanical description: Prunus sibirica L is also known as Armeniaca sibirica (L.) Lam., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Prunus sibirica or Siberian Almond or Xi Bo Li Ya Xing, a shrub or small tree, deciduous, the shrub grows up to 2~5 meters high. Leaves are alternate, oval, or orbicular (subrotund), have finely blunt serrated edges, 3~10 cm long, 2.5~7 cm wide.
Flowers are solitary, 1.5~2 cm in diameter; Sepals are oblong elliptical, the apex is pointed; flower petals are orbicular or obovate, white or pink.
Drupes (drupe fruits) are oblate, 1.5~2.5 cm in diameter, slightly flattened on both sides, the pulp is thin and dry, cracking at maturity, tastes sour and puckery, inedible. The kernel is easily separated from fruit pulp, and the base is asymmetric on one side, smooth. Its flowering period is from March to April, and its fruiting period is from June to July.
Growth characteristics: Prunus sibirica grows on dry sunny mountain slopes, hills and grasslands, in areas at altitudes of 700~ 2,000 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northern and west-north areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The seed of Prunus sibirica is slightly flat conical, 1~1.2 cm long, about 1 cm wide, and about 6 mm thick. The seed coat is yellowish-brown. The seed kernel tastes bitter. The herb of a better grade has big full grains, white kernel, and is not broken.
(4).Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne.
Botanical description: Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne is also known as Armeniaca mandshurica (Maxim.) Skv., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Prunus mandshurica, trees, the tree grows up to 5~15 meters high; young branches are glabrous. The leaf blades are elliptical or oval, 6~12 cm long, and 3~8 cm wide.
Flowers are pink or white; stamens are numerous; the ovary is densely covered with pilose.
Drupes (drupe fruits) are subsphaeroidal or wide elliptic, 13~18 mm long, 11~18 mm wide, coarse, the edge is obtuse. Its flowering period is from April to May, and its fruiting period is in July.
Growth characteristics: Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne grows in open, sunny mountain bush or shaw (holt or miscellaneous wood forest), in areas at altitudes of 400~1,000 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northern area of China.
Characters of herbs: The seed of Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne is nearly conical but not flat, 8~11 mm long, 8~9 mm wide, and about 6 mm thick. Seed kernel tastes bitter, rarely sweet. The herb of a better grade has big full grains, white kernel, and is not broken.
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1.Introduction of Ku Xin Ren:Semen Armeniacae Amarum or Bitter Apricot Seed.
✵The article gives records of the herb Bitter Apricot Seed, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source four plant species, ①.Prunus armeniaca L., ②.Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., ③.Prunus sibirica L., ④.Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these four plants, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these four plants, the features of the herb Bitter Apricot Seed, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Kǔ Xìnɡ Rén.
Botanical description: Prunus armeniaca L is also known as Armeniaca vulgaris Lam., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Prunus armeniaca, Almond Tree or Xing Shu, deciduous small tree, the tree grows up to 4~10 meters tall; round crown, oblate or oblong; bark is dark reddish dark brown, vertically split; simple leaves alternate; leaf blades are ovoid or broad-ovate, 5~9 cm long, 4~8 cm wide.
Botanical description: Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim is also known as Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.var.ansu (Maxim.) Yü et Lu., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Bitter Almond, Montain Almond or Shan Xing, shrubs or small trees, the tree grows up to 2~5 meters tall; bark is dark gray; branchlets are glabrous, sparsely pubescent when young, grayish brown or reddish brown. Leaf blades are ovate or suborbicular, 5~10 cm long, 4~7 cm wide, apex is long acuminate to tip, the base is rounded to subcordate, leaf blade margin is obtusely serrate, both surfaces are glabrous, veins submerged below intersected pubescence; petioles are 2~3.5 cm long, glabrous, with or without small glands.
Botanical description: Prunus sibirica L is also known as Armeniaca sibirica (L.) Lam., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Prunus sibirica or Siberian Almond or Xi Bo Li Ya Xing, a shrub or small tree, deciduous, the shrub grows up to 2~5 meters high. Leaves are alternate, oval, or orbicular (subrotund), have finely blunt serrated edges, 3~10 cm long, 2.5~7 cm wide.
Botanical description: Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne is also known as Armeniaca mandshurica (Maxim.) Skv., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Prunus mandshurica, trees, the tree grows up to 5~15 meters high; young branches are glabrous. The leaf blades are elliptical or oval, 6~12 cm long, and 3~8 cm wide.
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