Peach Seed
Naming
Tao Ren (Semen Persicae)——Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)
Origin
The dry ripe seed of deciduous tree Prunus persica (L.) Batsch or P. davidiana (Carr. ) Franch. of family Rosaceae.
Location
Everywhere in China.
Harvest
Collected when the fruit ripened.
The actual smell and taste
Light smell and lightly bitter taste.
Best quality
Full, even and complete.
Processing
Unprocessed, blanched or stir-baked.
Property
Bitter, sweet, neutral, lightly toxic; heart, liver, lung and large intestine meridians entered.
Actions
Activate blood and resolve stasis, moisten intestine and relax bowel, stop cough and relieve dyspnea.
Indications
A. Syndrome of blood stasis
This herb excels at entering blood system of heart and liver meridians. It is practically used widely. It is indicated for many kinds of syndromes of blood stasis through combinations. It is reinforced in combination with Hong Hua and combined with blood-activating and nourishing and menstruation-regulating herbs for treatment of amenorrhea due to blood stasis and dysmenorrhea. For instance, it is combined with Hong Hua, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong and Chi Shao, etc. in Tao Hong Si Wu Tang from Yi Zong Jin Iian. For postpartum abdominal stagnant pain, it is also combined with stasis-dispelling and generation-promoting herbs, and meridian-warming analgesics. For instance it is combined with Pao Jiang and Chuan Xiong, etc. in Sheng Hua Tang from Fu Qing Zhu Nu Ke. It is combined with blood-activating and mass-eliminating herbs such as Gui Zhi, Dan Pi and Chi Shao in Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan from Jin Kui Yao Lue. It is also indicated for traumatic injuries, congestion, swelling and pain with blood-activating and collateral-dredging analgesics. For instance it is combined with Dang Gui, Hong Hua and Da Huang, etc. in Fu Yuan Huo Xue Tang from Yi Xue Fa Ming.
B. lung abscess and intestine abscess
This herb expels abscess by dispelling stasis. When it is combined with heat-clearing and toxicity-relieving herbs, and abscess-curing and pus-expelling herbs, it is indicated for lung and intestine abscess caused by heat accumulation and blood stasis. For instance it is combined with Wei Jing and Dong Gua Ren, etc. in Wei Jing Tang from Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang (Invaluable Prescription for Emergencies). For intestine abscess, it is combined with Da Huang and Mu Dan Pi, etc. in Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang from Jin Kui Yao Lue.
C. Constipation due to dry intestine
This herb is sweet and moist for full of oil, so it is slick in nature and can moisten and relax bowel. It is indicated for constipation and dry stool due to old age, weak body, blood deficiency and fluid consumption by moistening intestine and relaxing bowel and usually combined with blood-nourishing and intestine-moistening herbs such as Dang Gui, Huo Ma Ren, Gua Lou Ren and He Shou Wu, etc.
D. Cough and dyspnea
This herb is bitter in flavor. It descends lung qi with the actions of stopping sough and relieving dyspnea. When it is combined with antitussives and antasthmatics such as Xing Ren and Su Zi, its action is enhanced in treating cough and dyspnea.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 5~10 g, smashed and wrapped when made into frost-like powder.
Cautions
Prohibited for pregnant women. Use with cautions for loose stool. Not overuse because of its toxicity.