Bitter Tongzi is the seed or fruit of the leguminous plant Thick-Fruit Chicken Blood Vine. It has the effects of detoxification, pain relief, digestion, and insecticide. Let's take a closer look at Bitter Tongzi.
【Identification of Bitter Tongzi】
The seeds are flat and slightly kidney-shaped, attached to both ends of the pod. One side is round and the other side is flat. If the seed is in the middle of the pod, both sides are flat. It is about 4cm long and 3cm thick.
The surface is reddish-brown to blackish-brown, shiny, or with a grayish-white film. The hilum is located in the middle of the waist depression.
There are two cotyledons, thick and horny, easy to split longitudinally. There are irregular protrusions around the hilum, causing the cotyledons to split longitudinally and unevenly.
It has a slight odor, a mild taste, and a subsequent tingling sensation. It is considered good if the skin is reddish-brown, large, and free of insect damage.
【Medicinal Value of Bitter Tongzi】
1. Treat children's malnutrition: Take 5 parts of Bitter Tongzi fruit (calcined and stored), steam with chicken liver and consume or grind and take with water.
2. Treat hand and foot pain: Take 2 liang of Bitter Tongzi, decoct with water and consume.
3. Treat joint pain: Take 2 liang of fresh Bitter Tongzi, 2 liang of fresh Maple Pear, 1 liang each of mountain pepper, star anise maple, melia fruit, fiveleaf gynostemma, and lycopodium, 5 qian of ox knee, 2 qian of gastrodia, and 1 pig's foot as an adjuvant. Stew with water and consume in two servings.
4. Treat excessive sweating due to physical weakness: Take 3 liang of fresh Bitter Tongzi, decoct with water and mix with 2 eggs to consume.
【Precautions for Consuming Bitter Tongzi】
Due to the high toxicity of Bitter Tongzi, it is mostly used externally. Oral administration should be cautious.
Symptoms of poisoning: vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, dry mucous membranes, rapid breathing, confusion, initial excitement of the nervous system followed by paralysis.
Rescue methods: Early gastric lavage, administration of lubricating protectants, and fluid replacement therapy should be considered for symptomatic treatment.
However, in Yunnan Simao, 2-3 qian of crushed Bitter Tongzi root juice was used to treat acute gastroenteritis with satisfactory results. It can be tried under strict observation if conditions permit.
