With the rise of traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine ointments have become increasingly popular. Common lung nourishing and cough relieving ointments include autumn pear paste and loquat paste. Both have good effects in relieving cough and phlegm, but what are the differences between them?
Differences in Ingredients
Autumn Pear Paste: Also known as snow pear paste, its main ingredient is selected autumn pears, or duck pears or snowflake pears, supplemented with other Chinese herbal medicines that relieve cough, nourish the lungs, and eliminate phlegm, such as raw rehmannia, fat sea, ophiopogon, fritillary bulb, and honey.
Loquat Paste: Loquat paste is also known as loquat leaf paste. Its main ingredient is old loquat leaves, and some people may use fresh loquat fruits to make loquat paste. It is then supplemented with Chinese herbal medicines such as ophiopogon, trichosanthes fruit, lotus seeds, and red dates, which nourish yin and moisturize the lungs.
Differences in Medicinal Properties
Autumn Pear Paste: Pear itself has a cooling nature, combined with other heat-clearing herbal medicines, so the medicinal properties of autumn pear paste lean towards coldness. It is not suitable for people with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, wind-cold colds, or loose stools.
Loquat Paste: The medicinal properties of loquat paste are neutral with a slight cooling effect, but compared to autumn pear paste, the medicinal properties are more moderate. Most people with different constitutions can consume it, but it is still advisable for those with cold cough or wind-cold colds to consume it in moderation.
Differences in Efficacy
Autumn Pear Paste: Autumn pear paste has the efficacy of nourishing the lungs, relieving cough, and moistening the throat. It is suitable for coughing and wheezing due to lung yin deficiency, thick and sticky phlegm, chest fullness and stuffiness, dry mouth and throat, and irritability and hoarseness. It is especially effective for long-term cough due to lung heat and yin deficiency.
Loquat Paste: Loquat contains bitter almond glycosides, which can nourish the lungs, relieve cough, and eliminate phlegm. It is more suitable for treating various types of coughs. In addition, loquat paste also has the functions of promoting digestion, relieving thirst, and alleviating heatstroke.
Which is Better, Loquat Paste or Autumn Pear Paste?
Both have their own advantages.
Loquat paste and autumn pear paste are both common ointments for nourishing the lungs and relieving cough. Because the efficacy of the two differs, it is not appropriate to blindly say which one is better. In terms of cough relief, loquat paste is better than autumn pear paste, as it can be used for various cough symptoms. Autumn pear paste, on the other hand, is more focused on lung nourishment and is more suitable for people with long-term cough due to lung deficiency or frequent smoking.
Can Autumn Pear Paste be Consumed Long-term?
It is generally not recommended to consume it long-term.
Although autumn pear paste does not have obvious toxic side effects, it contains a large amount of Chinese herbal ingredients, and its medicinal properties are cool. Long-term consumption of autumn pear paste may damage the body's yang qi or have adverse effects on spleen and stomach health. Therefore, it is generally recommended to stop consuming autumn pear paste once the symptoms improve.
