Peach branch is recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica. It refers to the young branches of the Rosaceae plant, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, or Prunus davidiana (Carr.) Franch. It is harvested in summer, cut into sections, and dried; or used immediately after cutting.
[Processing Method] Take the original herb, remove impurities, wash and moisten it, cut into sections, and let it dry.
[Appearance of the herbal pieces] They are cylindrical segments with a reddish-brown surface, relatively smooth, and with small white dot-like pores. The cross-section is yellowish-white, with the woody part occupying most of it, and a white medulla in the center. It has a slight odor, and a mild bitter and astringent taste.
[Processing Effect] Peach branches have a bitter and slightly cold nature. They have the functions of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, detoxifying, and killing insects. This herb is commonly used for abdominal pain, rheumatic joint pain, back pain, bruises, and skin diseases. Processing it makes the herb cleaner and facilitates the extraction of its components.
