Seasons are changing, and the number of patients with colds and coughs is increasing. Many people consider coughing to be a minor issue and do not take it seriously. However, it is important not to underestimate these minor illnesses as they can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to treat coughs promptly. However, Western medicine can be very harmful to the body. That's why many people now choose to use Chinese herbal medicine for treatment, such as drinking water infused with wood lotus fruit to treat coughs.
Image of wood lotus fruit
[Using Wood Lotus Fruit Infused Water to Treat Coughs]
Everyone knows that although Chinese herbal medicine has excellent therapeutic effects, some people do not know how to use it correctly, resulting in the loss of all the medicinal benefits. So let me tell you how to use wood lotus fruit to treat coughs.
Wood lotus fruit is a rounded or blunt conical fruit that resembles a pine cone. It has a hard woody texture and is not easy to peel. It is about 4cm long and 3-4cm in diameter. The surface is brown with wart-like protrusions, and the base usually has a short reddish-brown stalk about 5mm in diameter, covered with yellow round spots left by fallen stamens.
Most of the fruits are cracked, with a brown inner surface. Unopened wood lotus fruits have a raised longitudinal ridge on the back and yellow-brown sides with 4-6 ridges. When peeled, it contains 1-4 seeds. It has a fragrant smell and a spicy taste. Its main edible value is for medicinal use and cannot be eaten fresh. It is a remarkable Chinese herbal medicine variety.
Wood lotus fruit can be directly steeped in water, but the temperature must be high. If you have a cough, take about four or five qian (a traditional Chinese unit of weight, equivalent to 3.75 grams) of wood lotus fruit and steep it in tea. However, if you have a severe cough, you can boil it and drink the water directly.
For patients with severe coughs, it is recommended to boil wood lotus fruit, about five qian each time. It can also be used as an ingredient for soup, providing stronger health benefits in terms of diet and nourishment.
[The Efficacy and Functions of Wood Lotus Fruit]
1. Expelling wind and dampness:
Wood lotus fruit contains compounds such as daochongcaosu and bergamot lactone, which have anti-rheumatic effects and can be used to treat rheumatism.
2. Clearing heat and reducing swelling:
Wood lotus fruit contains various organic acids, daochongcaosu, coumarin, and dandelion saponin ester, which have the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, and reducing swelling. It can be used to treat abscesses, sores, boils, and injuries.
Image of wood lotus fruit
3. Tonifying the kidneys and consolidating essence:
Wood lotus fruit contains a large amount of acidic substances, which have astringent properties and can be used to treat conditions such as spermatorrhea and impotence caused by kidney deficiency.
4. Anti-cancer:
The ethanolic extract of wood lotus fruit can isolate compounds such as inositol, coumarin, beta-sitosterol, dandelion saponin ester, and beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid ethyl ester, which have anti-tumor and anti-cancer effects.
[Proper Use of Wood Lotus Fruit]
1. For spermatorrhea, grind fried wood lotus fruit and white morning glory into powder, take two qian each time, and mix with rice soup to consume.
2. For kidney cysts, burn wood lotus fruit to ashes, grind into powder, and take two qian with wine. Another method is to grind wood lotus fruit and caraway seeds into powder, take two qian each time, and take on an empty stomach with wine.
3. For bloody stools, grind burned wood lotus fruit and fried Fructus Aurantii Immaturus into powder, take two qian each time, and consume with sophora flower wine. Another method is to burn wood lotus fruit and palm bark to ashes, add powdered Japanese apricot (without core) and baked Chinese skullcap root in equal amounts, take two qian each time, and boil with a bowl of water.
4. For prolapse of the rectum, finely chop wood lotus fruit with skin and seeds, stir-fry, and grind into powder. Mix with powdered poria and powdered pig bladder, take two qian each time, and consume with rice soup. This formula is called "Xiao Yang Dan" and can also be used to treat nocturnal emissions.
5. For early-stage abscesses, take 49 wood lotus fruits, remove the hairs, grind into fine powder, mix with wine, and consume when warm. It has the same effect as honeysuckle grass.
6. For blocked lactation, take two wood lotus fruits and one pig's front trotter, boil until soft, and consume the broth. It can promote lactation within a day.
7. For hematuria, take a handful of wood lotus leaves and one part fried licorice, decoct lightly daily.
8. For vitiligo, scabies, etc., apply wood lotus vine juice topically.
