Bitter Almonds – Ku Xing Ren

Bitter almond (attached: sweet almond)
[Medicinal use] This product is the seed kernel of apricot, wild apricot, etc. of the Rosaceae family.
[Nature and flavor and meridians] Sweet, bitter, warm. Slightly toxic. Enters the lung and large intestine meridians.
[Effects] Relieve cough and resolve phlegm, moisten the intestines and relieve constipation.
[Clinical application] 1. Used for cough and asthma.
Bitter almonds can relieve cough and relieve cough, so they can be used for cough, asthma and other symptoms. They are often used in combination with ephedra, licorice, or fritillaria, and peucedanum.
2. Used for dry intestines and constipation.
This product is moist and oily, so it also has the function of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation. When used, it can be used in combination with intestinal moisturizing drugs such as hemp seeds and trichosanthes seeds.
[Prescription name] Bitter almond, light almond (remove the seed coat and crush it for use)
[General dosage and usage] One to three coins, decocted and taken.
[Attached medicine] Sweet almond: also known as Badan almond and Badda almond. Nature and flavor are sweet and flat. Functions: moisten the lungs and relieve cough, used for chronic cough caused by lung deficiency. The general dosage is one to three coins, decocted and taken orally.
[Comments] 1. Almonds can lower qi and relieve cough, and are mainly used for cough, shortness of breath, and shortness of breath. They can be used regardless of wind-cold or wind-heat. If it is wind-cold cough and asthma, it can be used with ephedra, licorice, etc.; if it is wind-heat cough, it can be used with mulberry leaves, elephant shells, etc.
2. Bitter almonds and sweet almonds have different functions. In clinical application, it is generally believed that the difference between them is: bitter almonds are bitter and purgative, and are good at treating asthma and cough; sweet almonds are more moisturizing and are mostly used for long-term cough due to lung deficiency.
[Example of prescription] Xingsu Powder “Wenre Tiaobian”: almonds, perilla, pinellia, poria, licorice, tangerine peel, peucedanum, platycodon, fructus aurantii, ginger, jujube. Treats exogenous cough with thin sputum.
This product is the dried mature seeds of Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., Prunus sibirica L.., Prunus mandshurica (Vlaxim.) Koehne or Prunus armeniaca L, of the Rosaceae family. The mature fruits are harvested in summer, the pulp and shell are removed, the seeds are taken out and dried.
[Properties]
This product is flat heart-shaped, 1~1.9cm long, 0.8~1.5cm wide, and 0.5~0.8cm thick. The surface is yellow-brown to dark brown, with a sharp end and the other end blunt and round, thick, asymmetrical, with a short linear hilum on one side of the tip, and many dark brown veins at the round end. The seed coat is thin, with 2 cotyledons, milky white, and rich in oil. The smell is bitter.
【Identification】
(1) Surface view of seed coat: Seed coat stone cells are scattered or connected in groups, yellow-brown to brown, polygonal, oblong or shell-shaped, with a diameter of 25-150um, and the outer epidermal cells of the seed coat are light orange-yellow to brown-yellow, often connected to the seed coat stone cells, round or polygonal, with wrinkled walls.
(2) Take 2g of the powder of this product, put it in a Soxhlet extractor, add an appropriate amount of dichloromethane, heat and reflux for 2 hours, discard the dichloromethane solution, evaporate the solvent from the residue, add 30ml of methanol, heat and reflux for 30 minutes, cool, filter, and use the filtrate as the test solution. Take another amygdalin reference substance, add methanol to make a solution containing 2mg per 1ml as the reference substance solution. According to the thin layer chromatography method (General Rule 0502), 3ul of each of the above two solutions are taken and spotted on the same Tridacna G thin layer plate. The lower layer solution of chloroform-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (15:40:22:10) placed at 5~10℃ for 12 hours is used as the developing agent. Develop, take out, and immediately soak the plate with 0.8% phosphomolybdic acid in 15% sulfuric acid ethanol solution, and heat at 105℃ until the spots are clearly colored. In the chromatogram of the test sample, spots of the same color appear at the corresponding position of the chromatogram of the reference sample.
[Inspection]
The water content shall not exceed 7.0% (General Rule 0832 Method 4).
The peroxide value shall not exceed 0.11 (General Rule 2303).
[Content determination]
Determine according to the high performance liquid chromatography method (General Rule 0512). Chromatographic conditions and system suitability test i Octadecylsilane bonded silica gel is used as filler; acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid solution (8:92) is used as mobile phase; detection wavelength is 207nm. The theoretical plate number calculated according to the amygdalin peak should not be less than 7000.
Preparation of reference solution Take an appropriate amount of amygdalin reference, accurately weigh it, add methanol to make a solution containing 40ug per 1ml, and obtain it.
Preparation of test solution Take about 0.25g of this product powder (passed through No. 2 sieve), accurately weigh it, put it in a stoppered conical bottle, accurately add 25ml of methanol, plug it, weigh it, ultrasonically treat it (power 250W, frequency 50KHz) for 30 minutes, let it cool, weigh it again, make up the lost weight with methanol, shake it well, filter it, accurately measure 5ml of the filtrate, put it in a 50ml volumetric bottle, add 50% methanol to dilute it to the scale, shake it well, filter it, and take the filtrate, and obtain it.
Determination method: Accurately aspirate 10~20u of reference solution and test solution respectively, inject into liquid chromatograph, and determine.
This product, calculated as dry product, contains not less than 3.0% amygdalin (C20H27NO11).
Decoction piece
[Processing]
Bitter almonds should be crushed when used.
[Properties] [Identification] [Inspection] [Content determination] Same as medicinal materials.
Candle bitter almonds Take clean bitter almonds and peel them according to the method (General Rule 0213). Crush when used.
[Properties]
This product is flat heart-shaped. The surface is milky white or yellowish white, one end is pointed, the other end is blunt and round, hypertrophic, asymmetrical, and rich in oil. It has a unique aroma and tastes bitter.
[Content determination]
The same medicinal material contains not less than 2.4% amygdalin (C20H27NO11).
[Identification]
[Inspection]
Same as medicinal materials. Stir-fried bitter almonds Take candle bitter almonds and stir-fry them according to the stir-frying method (General Rule 0213) until they turn yellow. Crush them when used.
[Properties]
This product looks like rotten bitter almonds, with a yellow to brownish yellow surface and slight burn spots. It has an aroma and tastes bitter.
[Inspection]
The water content is the same as the medicinal material, not more than 6.0%.
[Content determination]
The same medicinal material, but the content of amygdalin (C20H27NO11) must not be less than 2.4%.
[Identification]
(2)
[Inspection]
(Peroxide value) is the same as the medicinal material.
[Nature and flavor and meridians]
Bitter, slightly warm: slightly toxic. It enters the lung and large intestine meridians.
[Functions and indications]
It can reduce qi, relieve cough and asthma, and moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. It is used for cough and asthma, chest fullness and sputum, and dry intestines and constipation.
[Usage and dosage]
5~10g, add the raw product to the decoction after decoction.
[Note]
Do not take too much internally to avoid poisoning.
[Storage]
Place in a cool and dry place to prevent moth.
Where are bitter almonds mainly produced?
It is mainly produced in Shanxi, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning.
Where are the main medicinal parts of bitter almonds?
Medicinal parts of bitter almonds:
This product is the dried mature seeds of Prunus armeniaca L.var.ansu Maxim., Prunus sibiricaL, Prunusmandshurica(Maxim.)Koehne or Prunus armeniacaL. of the Rosaceae family. The mature fruits are harvested in summer, the pulp and shell are removed, the seeds are taken out, and dried.
Characteristics of the medicinal parts of bitter almonds:
This product is flat heart-shaped, 1~1.9cm long, 0.8~1.5cm wide, and 0.5~0.8cm thick. The surface is yellow-brown to dark brown, with a sharp end and the other end blunt and thick, asymmetrical, with a short linear hilum on one side of the tip, and many dark brown veins at the round end. The seed coat is thin, with 2 cotyledons, milky white, and rich in oil. It has a slight smell and tastes bitter.
How do historical books record bitter almonds?
“Ben Jing”: “It is used to treat cough, reverse breathing, thunder, throat paralysis, lowering of qi, lactation, wounds, cold heart and running pig.
“Yao Xing Ben Cao”: “It is used to treat cough, reverse breathing, shortness of breath, add asparagus cochinchinensis to decoct, moisten the heart and lungs; make soup with yogurt, it is beneficial to moisten the voice.
“Zhenzhu Nang”: “Remove lung heat, treat wind-heat in the upper part of the body, benefit the chest and diaphragm, and moisten the large intestine.
Effects
Bitter almonds have the effects of lowering qi, relieving cough and asthma, and moistening the intestines and relieving constipation.
What are the main effects and clinical applications of bitter almonds?
Bitter almonds are used for cough and asthma, chest fullness and phlegm, and dry intestines and constipation.
Cough and asthma
·Treat cough and asthma caused by wind and cold binding the lungs, and can be used with ephedra and licorice
Treat asthma and cough caused by pathogenic heat blocking the lungs, and can be used with gypsum, ephedra, and licorice.
Treat wind-heat cough, often with mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, etc.
Treat dry heat cough, often with mulberry leaves, Fritillaria, Adenophora, etc.
Treat cough and phlegm blocking the lungs with phlegm and phlegm, often with Platycodon, Tangerine peel, Stemona, etc.
Dry intestines and constipation
Often used with cypress seeds, Prunus mume seeds, etc.
What other effects does bitter almond have?
In my country’s traditional food culture, some Chinese Medicinal materials are often widely consumed as food ingredients by the people, that is, materials that are both food and Chinese medicinal materials according to tradition (i.e. edible medicinal materials). According to the documents issued by the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, bitter almonds can be used as both medicine and food within a limited range of use and dosage.
Common medicinal recipes for bitter almonds are as follows!
Cough and sputum: 1 large crucian carp, 10g bitter almonds, 30g brown sugar. Take the crucian carp, wash it, put it in the pot with the almonds, add appropriate amount of water, and simmer until the fish is cooked. Add brown sugar and boil it until it melts, then take it out of the pot and let it cool. After a meal, eat the meat and drink the soup.
Cough and asthma: 10g bitter almonds, 100g duck pears, 20g rock sugar, remove impurities from the almonds and crush them, wash and chop the duck pears, add appropriate amount of water and cook them, remove the residue and take the juice. Add rock sugar to melt and let it cool, and drink it in several times.
Note: The use of Chinese medicinal materials It should be used according to syndrome differentiation and treatment, and should be used under the guidance of professional Chinese medicine practitioners. It should not be used at will, and it should not be used at will. It is even more forbidden to listen to Chinese medicine prescriptions and advertisements at will.
What are the compound preparations containing bitter almonds?
Sanao Decoction
It can clear the lungs and relieve the symptoms. It is mainly used to treat exogenous wind-cold and lung qi failure. Nasal congestion, heavy voice, inability to speak, cough and chest tightness.
Mahuang Decoction
It can induce sweating and relieve the symptoms, clear the lungs and relieve asthma. It is mainly used to treat exogenous wind-cold symptoms. Chills and fever, headache and body pain, no sweat and wheezing, thin white tongue coating, and floating and tight pulse.
Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction
It can clear the surface and clear the lungs and relieve asthma. It is mainly used to treat exogenous wind evil and evil heat blocking the lungs. The body is hot and does not resolve, coughing and shortness of breath, even nasal flaring, thirst, sweating or no sweating, thin white or yellow tongue coating, and floating and rapid pulse.
Mahuang Xingren Yiyi Gancao Decoction
It can induce sweating and relieve the symptoms, dispel wind and dampness. It is mainly used to treat rheumatism on the surface and dampness turning into heat. All over the body hurts , fever, which is more severe every day.
Sangjuyin
Disperses wind and heat, clears lungs and stops cough. Indications: Wind-heat at the beginning, mild symptoms of superficial heat. Cough, mild fever, slight thirst, and rapid pulse.
Wuren Pills
Moistens the intestines and relieves constipation. Indications: dry intestines due to dry body fluid. Difficult bowel movements, as well as constipation caused by blood deficiency in the elderly and after childbirth, dry tongue with little fluid, and thin and astringent pulse.
Maziren Pills (Piyue Pills)
Moistens the intestines and relieves heat, promotes qi and relieves constipation. Indications: dryness and heat in the stomach and intestines, spleen deficiency Constipation. Dry stool, frequent urination.
Su Xing San
Lightly dispels coolness and dryness, regulates the lungs and resolves phlegm. Indications: exogenous coolness and dryness. Aversion to cold without sweating, slight headache, cough with thin sputum, nasal congestion and dry throat, white fur and stringy pulse.
Sang Xing Tang
Clears and dispels warm dryness, moistens the lungs and relieves cough. Indications: exogenous warmness and dryness. Mild body heat, thirst, dry throat and nose, dry cough without sputum or less and dry sputum, red tongue, thin white and dry fur, floating and rapid pulse and large right pulse.
Almond cough mixture
Resolves phlegm and relieves cough. Used for phlegm blocking the lungs, cough with a lot of sputum; acute and chronic bronchitis with the above symptoms.
Ma Ren Run Chang Wan
Moisturizes the intestines and relieves constipation. Used for gastrointestinal heat accumulation, chest and abdominal distension, and constipation.
Ma Ren Zi Pi Wan
Moisturizes the intestines and relieves constipation, digests food and relieves stagnation. Used for constipation, chest and abdominal distension, tasteless food, irritability, and red tongue with little fluid caused by gastrointestinal heat accumulation and intestinal dryness and fluid damage. Pediatric Stemona Cough Syrup
Clears the lungs, relieves coughs, and resolves phlegm. It is used for coughs and sudden coughs caused by phlegm-heat in the lungs in children, with symptoms of cough, excessive phlegm, yellow and sticky phlegm, difficulty in coughing, or persistent phlegm and thick phlegm; whooping cough with the above symptoms.
Modern research progress on bitter almonds
This product has multiple pharmacological effects such as antitussive, antiasthmatic, laxative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, insecticidal, anti-cancer, and anti-mutation.
Usage method
Bitter almonds have the effects of lowering qi, relieving cough and relieving asthma, and moistening the intestines and laxative. It can be taken with more decoction, and can also be used to cook porridge, make cakes, and stew soup. But no matter which method is used, it needs to be taken according to the doctor’s instructions.
How to use bitter almonds correctly?
When bitter almond decoction is taken orally, the usual dosage is 5~10g.
When used externally, take an appropriate amount of bitter almonds and vinegar decoction, apply it to the affected area, and treat tinea pedis.
Through different processing methods, Chinese medicinal materials such as bitter almonds, fried bitter almonds, fried bitter almonds and bitter almond cream can be produced. Different processing methods have different effects, but the method of use is the same. Please follow the doctor’s advice for specific use.
Bitter almonds are generally used in decoctions, decoctions, and can also be made into powders or pills. However, the use of Chinese medicinal materials must be treated according to syndrome differentiation and should be used under the guidance of professional Chinese medicine practitioners. They should not be used at will, and should not be used at will, let alone listen to Chinese medicine prescriptions and advertisements.
Note:
· Bitter almonds need to be crushed when they are added to the decoction; in addition, raw products should be added to the decoction later. Almond cream needs to be wrapped and decocted when it is added to the decoction.
Bitter almonds are poisonous and should not be taken for a long time or in excess. .
· People with phlegm and cough, spleen deficiency and slippery intestines should not eat.
Common Chinese medicine compatibility is as follows:
Bitter almonds with perilla: Bitter almonds are good at promoting lung and descending lung; perilla can disperse external evil and promote lung qi. The combination of the two medicines has the functions of dispersing external evil, promoting lung function and relieving cough, and can treat cold and dryness attacking the lungs, and headache, cough and thin sputum caused by the failure of lung function to promote and descend.
How to prepare bitter almonds?
Bitter almonds: Take the original medicinal materials, remove impurities, residual hard shells and moldy ones, and remove ash. Crush them when using
Roasted bitter almonds: Take clean bitter almonds, blanch them in boiling water until the outer skin swells slightly, take them out, soak them in cold water, take them out, rub open the seed coat, dry them in the sun, and winnow the seed coat to take the kernel. Crush them when using.
Stir-fried bitter almonds: Take roasted bitter almonds, put them in a frying container, heat them over a low heat, fry until the surface turns yellow, take them out and let them cool. Crush them when using.
Bitter almond cream: Take roasted bitter almonds, crush them into mud, follow the degreasing and cream making method, use a press to cold press to remove oil, or wrap them with coarse straw paper and repeatedly press until the oil is exhausted, grind them finely, and sieve them.
What drugs should be used with bitter almonds with special attention?
Do not use with drugs such as Astragalus, Scutellaria, and Pueraria.
The combined use of Chinese medicine and Chinese and Western medicine requires syndrome differentiation and clinical individualized treatment. If you are using other drugs, please consult a doctor before taking the medicine, and inform the doctor of all your diagnosed diseases and treatment plans you are receiving.
Instructions for use
Bitter almonds are slightly toxic, so the dosage should not be too large, and infants should be careful when taking them.
What precautions should be taken when using bitter almonds?
·People with phlegm and cough, spleen deficiency and slippery intestines should not eat them.
Do not eat with millet.
Do not use with drugs such as Astragalus, Scutellaria, and Pueraria. .
Do not eat with chestnuts, which will cause stomachache. .
·Eating with pig lungs is not conducive to protein absorption.
·This product has a slight smell and a bitter taste. It is better to have uniform, full, complete and bitter particles. Use it raw, or peel it according to the method, or stir-fry it, and crush it when used.
How to identify and use bitter almonds?
Sweet almonds and bitter almonds
Bitter almonds are the dried mature seeds of the Rosaceae plants Prunus armeniaca L., Siberian apricot, and Northeastern apricot. The seeds are flat heart-shaped, with a yellow-brown to dark brown surface.-The tip is pointed, the other end is blunt and round, thick, asymmetrical, with a short linear hilum on one side of the tip, and the round end has many dark brown veins upward. The seed coat is thin and oily. The smell is slight and the taste is bitter. It has the effects of lowering qi, relieving cough and asthma, and moistening the intestines and relieving constipation. It is used for cough and asthma, chest fullness and phlegm, dry intestines and constipation.
Sweet almonds are the dried, mature and sweet seeds of the Rosaceae plant Prunus armeniaca L. and its cultivated varieties. The nature and flavor are sweet and flat: it belongs to the lung and large intestine meridians. The function is to moisten the lungs and relieve cough, moisten the intestines and relieve constipation. It is suitable for cough due to deficiency and fatigue, and dry intestines and constipation. Decoction, 5~10g.
Medication tips
The most frequently asked questions by patients
Are bitter almonds poisonous?
Almonds are slightly poisonous and should not be taken in excess.
In high doses, mild cases may cause dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal pain, burning sensation in the upper abdomen, increased blood pressure, and faster breathing; in severe cases, breathing slows down and becomes shallow, coma occurs, and there may be rigidity, paroxysmal spasms, dilated pupils, decreased blood pressure, and finally respiratory or circulatory failure.Die from exhaustion.
The efficacy and function of fried bitter almonds
Bitter almonds are bitter in nature and taste, slightly warm and slightly poisonous. Returns to the lung and large intestine meridians. It has the functions of lowering qi, relieving cough and asthma, and moisturizing the intestines and laxative.
The raw material is slightly warm in nature and moist in texture. It is good at moistening the lungs, relieving coughs, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. It is mostly used for new illnesses such as wheezing and coughing (often due to exogenous cough and wheezing), intestinal dryness and constipation.
Storing bitter almonds can destroy enzymes and preserve glycosides; peeling them facilitates the dissolution of effective substances and improves the efficacy. Its function is the same as that of raw products.
Fried bitter almonds are warm in nature, can dispel cold in the lungs, and can remove minor toxins. It is often used for cough and asthma due to cold lung, long-term asthma and lung deficiency: it is also effective for dryness of the intestines and constipation.
The moisturizing effect of bitter almond cream is significantly weakened, there is no worry about smoothing the intestines, and it has a strong ability to relieve lung qi. It is used for patients with asthma and cough due to spleen deficiency and loose stools.