Introduction of Wu Mei:Smoked Plum or Fructus Mume.
✵The article gives records of the herb Smoked Plum, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Armeniaca mume Sieb., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Smoked Plum, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Fructus Mume(Smoked Plum).
Pin Yin Name: Wū Méi.
English Name: Smoked Plum, Dark Plum Fruit, Dark Plum.
Latin Name: Fructus Mume.
Property and flavor: neutral in nature, tastes sour, puckery.
Brief introduction: The Herb Fructus Mume is the dried nearly ripe fruit of Prunus Mume (Sieb.) Sieb.et Zucc., used as an anti-diarrheic, antitussive, antidiptic and anthelmintic agent for treating chronic diarrhea, persistent cough, morbid thirst, and ascariasis. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Mume, Smoked Plum, Dark Plum, Wū Méi.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Smoked Plum (Fructus Mume, Wu Mei) as the unripe fruit of the Rosaceae family plant (1). Armeniaca mume Sieb. (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.). It is a plant of the Armeniaca Mill. Genus, the Rosaceae family (rose family) of the Rosales order. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Armeniaca mume Sieb.
Botanical description: The plant, Armeniaca mume Sieb is also known as Prunus mume Sieb.et Zucc., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Chinese Plum or Méi. A deciduous tree, the tree grows up to 10 meters high. The tree bark is taupe brown (grayish brown) or light green, many-branched, branchlets are thin and long, and the front end is acanthous. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 1.5 cm long, pubescent; stipules (peraphyllum) are caducous; leaf blades are elliptic-ovate, ovate to oblong-shaped, 4~9 cm long, wide 2.4~4 cm, flowering before leaves in spring, has fragrance, 1–3 flowers grow in a tuft and in leaf axils of biennial lateral branches.
Peduncles are short, usually, the calyx is reddish-brown, but the calyx of some varieties is green or greenish-purple; 5 flower petals, white or faint red (pale red), about 1.5 cm in diameter, broadly obovate; many stamens.
Fruits are subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 2-3 cm in diameter, yellow or greenish-white, pubescent; stones (nuts) are elliptic, the front end has small protruding tips, the ventral surface and dorsal ribs have grooves, the surface has faveolate holes. Its flowering period is in winter and spring, and the fruiting period is from May to June.
Ecological environment: The tree grows in open forests, streamsides, forested slopes along trails, and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1,700–3,100 meters above sea level, and it is also cultivated throughout China. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the south of the Yangtze River Basin, Zhujiang River area, and the west-north areas of China. This species is native to the south of China around the Yangtze River and was later introduced to other areas of East Asia.
Growth characteristics: Armeniaca mume is adaptable and resistant to cold. It prefers a warm and moist climate and needs sufficient sunshine. The temperature of the flowering period has a great influence on the yield, and the fruition rate is significantly affected if the temperature decreases to -5 to 6 °C (Celsius, or 23–42.8 degrees Fahrenheit) or is above 20 °C (Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit). The areas with an average annual temperature between 16 and 23 °C (Celsius, or 60.8–73.4 degrees Fahrenheit) and an average annual rainfall above 1,000 mm are the most suitable areas for cultivation. Its soil requirements are not strict, it is better to choose a field with a deep soil layer, loose and fertile, sandy loam with good drainage for cultivation. It is afraid of waterlogging, and resistant to drought, low-lying damp land is not suitable for planting.
Characters of herbs: The drupes (drupe fruits) are near-spherical or oblate spheres, 1.5–3 cm or 2–3 cm in diameter. The surface is jet black (very dark black) to brownish-black, wizened, and uneven, trichomes are visible with a magnifying glass, and a round carpopodium (stalk mark) is visible on the base. The pulp is soft or slightly hard, the stone (nut) is firm and hard, elliptical, and brown, and there are pits on the surface, containing one oval (egg-shaped) and pale yellow seed. The herb has a slight odor or parched sour odor, it tastes extremely sour and puckery. The herb of a better grade has big grains, and thick fruit pulp, is soft and smooth, and tastes extremely sour.
Pharmacological actions: ①.exciting and stimulating the backward of roundworm, has the effect of killing intestinal worm, and obviously inhibits the activity of roundworm. ②.inhibitory effect of pathogenic microorganisms: in vitro experiments show that the decoction of Fructus Mume has an inhibitory effect on Bacillus dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus typhi, Bacillus paratyphosus, Bacillus pertussis, Diplococcus intracellularis, tubercle bacillus, and other pathogenic bacteria, its antibacterial effect is related to the citric acid and malic acid contained in the herb. ③.inhibition of fungi(fungistasis): the herb has an inhibition effect on some pathogenic fungi such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum, etc. ④.choleretic effect; ⑤.immune and anti-cancer effect; ⑥.other effects: calcium antagonist effect.
Medicinal efficacy: Astringe the lung, relieve a cough, astringent intestines, relieve diarrhea, hemostasis (stanch bleeding), constringency and promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid, prompting the secretion of saliva, relieving colic caused by ascaris, expelling parasite. It is indicated for chronic cough of lung deficiency, chronic cough, chronic malaria, chronic diarrhea, protracted dysentery, dysentery, deficient heat and polydipsia(heat of deficiency, excessive thirst), deficient heat and wasting thirst (heat of deficiency, consumptive thirst), hemafecia (hematochezia, passing blood in stool), hematuria (passing blood in urine), metrorrhagia (flooding), ascaris syncope abdominal pain (Ascaris syncope abdominal pain and vomiting), emesia (vomit, throw up), ancylostomiasis (hookworm disease), psoriasis (lepra alphos, serpedo, scaly tetter), pterygium (a triangular mass of mucous membrane growing from the inner corner of the eye), etc.
Administration of Fructus Mume (Wū Méi):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Fructus Mume (Wū Méi)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 6~12 grams; ②.Internally: water decoction, 0.8~1.5 qian (about 2.4~4.5 grams);or prepare to pill,powder. Externally:calcined the herb,prepare to finely ground herb powder, sprinkle apply or apply stick; ③.Internally:water decoction, 0.8~1.5 qian (about 2.4~4.5 grams);or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:calcined the herb, prepare to finely ground herb powder, sprinkle apply or apply stick.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions:the herb Fructus Mune should be used cautiously in conditions with overmuch hydrochloric acid in gastric juice. Take much will hurt the teeth, bones, hurt the spleen and stomach, lead to fever. Should avoid using the herb in conditions toothache.
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1.Introduction of Wu Mei:Smoked Plum or Fructus Mume.
✵The article gives records of the herb Smoked Plum, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Armeniaca mume Sieb., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Smoked Plum, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Wū Méi.
Botanical description: The plant, Armeniaca mume Sieb is also known as Prunus mume Sieb.et Zucc., it is a plant of the Rosaceae family (rose family) and Prunus genus, it is commonly known as Chinese Plum or Méi. A deciduous tree, the tree grows up to 10 meters high. The tree bark is taupe brown (grayish brown) or light green, many-branched, branchlets are thin and long, and the front end is acanthous. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 1.5 cm long, pubescent; stipules (peraphyllum) are caducous; leaf blades are elliptic-ovate, ovate to oblong-shaped, 4~9 cm long, wide 2.4~4 cm, flowering before leaves in spring, has fragrance, 1–3 flowers grow in a tuft and in leaf axils of biennial lateral branches.
Peduncles are short, usually, the calyx is reddish-brown, but the calyx of some varieties is green or greenish-purple; 5 flower petals, white or faint red (pale red), about 1.5 cm in diameter, broadly obovate; many stamens.
Ecological environment: The tree grows in open forests, streamsides, forested slopes along trails, and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1,700–3,100 meters above sea level, and it is also cultivated throughout China. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the south of the Yangtze River Basin, Zhujiang River area, and the west-north areas of China. This species is native to the south of China around the Yangtze River and was later introduced to other areas of East Asia.
Characters of herbs: The drupes (drupe fruits) are near-spherical or oblate spheres, 1.5–3 cm or 2–3 cm in diameter. The surface is jet black (very dark black) to brownish-black, wizened, and uneven, trichomes are visible with a magnifying glass, and a round carpopodium (stalk mark) is visible on the base. The pulp is soft or slightly hard, the stone (nut) is firm and hard, elliptical, and brown, and there are pits on the surface, containing one oval (egg-shaped) and pale yellow seed. The herb has a slight odor or parched sour odor, it tastes extremely sour and puckery. The herb of a better grade has big grains, and thick fruit pulp, is soft and smooth, and tastes extremely sour.
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