-- Acupuncture -- -- Moxibustion -- Shiatsu Massage -- Esthetics -- ChiropracticApricot Seed
|
Botanical name |
Prunus armeniaca |
| Pin yin name | Ku Xing Ren | |
| Pin yin description | (Xing is the popular fruit apricot; ren is the seed or kernel; ku means bitter, and refers to the strong bitter taste of the seed) | |
| Other common names | Apricot Kernel | |
| Part used | Seed (fruits are collected in summer; the flesh is removed and the seed shells are stripped off) |
|
| Taste | Bitter | |
| Nature | Slightly cold | |
| Traditional Chinese uses | Stop cough and calm wheezing, moisten the intestines | |
| Traditional Chinese applications | All kinds of lung distress whether hot or cold in nature; constipation due to dry intestines | |
| Possible unwanted effects | None noted; however, large doses can be toxic due to the presence of amygdalin, which is partially broken down in the intestines to yield cyanide (in the form of hydrocyanic acid) | |
| Herb drug interactions | None | |
| TCM and other contraindications | Diarrhoea; not suited for treatment of babies due to the amygdalin content | |
| For more information about Chinese herbal remedies, please feel free to contact us. | ||
