HomeTraditional Chinese Medicine HerbsAnsu Apricot Seed

Ansu Apricot Seed

Name

Ansu Apricot Seed

Latin Pharmaceutical Name

Armeniacae Semen Amarum

Chinese Name

苦杏仁

Category

Fruits and seeds

Ansu Apricot SeedMore Info

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shandong.

Macroscopic Features

Ku xing ren: Flat heart shape, 1~1.9cm long, 0.8~1.5cm wide, 0.5~0.8cm thick. Externally yellowish-brown to dark brown, one end is pointed; another end is blunt round, fat, asymmetrical right and left sides. Pointed end has short linear hilum on one side, chalaza on the round end has numerous dark brown veins. Seed coat is thin, 2 cotyledons, milky-white, oily. faint odor; bitter taste. Tian xing ren: dried seed, flat heart shaped, 1.6~2.1cm long, 1.2~1.6cm wide, pointed apex, round base, symmetrical sides, obvious hilum, seed coat is thicker than that of bitter xing ren; pale yellowish-brown, numerous veins came out from chalaza forming longitudinal indented lines. Fractured surface is white. Cotyledon side often has gap. faint odor; slightly sweet taste.

Quality Requirements

Superior ku xing ren consists of consistent kernels, full, intact, with bitter taste. Tian xing ren has consistent large kernels, full, fat, without oil diffusion.

Properties

Ku xing ren: tastes bitter, slightly warm. Tian xing ren: tastes sweet, neutral.

Functions

Downbears qi, stops cough, calms panting, moistens intestines, frees stools. Apply to coughing and dyspnea, excessive phlegm due to chest distention, hemopenia due to consumption of fluid, constipation induced by dryness of the intestine.

Technical Terms

'Bulging belly’: ku xing ren has a flat heart-shape or a peach shape, with a slightly pointed tip. Its base is asymmetrical on the right and left sides, and the center is obviously enlarged, similar to a bulging belly that sticks out.

Origin

The dried mature seed of Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu Masim., Prunus sibirica L., Prunus mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne or Prunus armeniaca L.(Rosaceae).

Ansu Apricot SeedHerbs in the formula

Ephedra Decoction

Action：Induces sweating to release the exterior, diffuses the lung to calm labored breathing.

Indication：Ma Huang Tang is indicated for an externally contracted wind-cold exterior-excess pattern. The symptoms are aversion to cold, headache, generalized body pain, absence of sweating, and labored breathing. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is superficial and tight.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Licorice and Gypsum Decoction

Action：Acrid-cool to scatter the exterior, clear heat, and calm labored breathing.

Indication：This formula is indicated for patterns of externally contracted wind causing pathogenic heat to obstruct the lung. Signs and symptoms include continuous fever, cough with rapid qi counterflow or even flaring of nostrils, thirst, presence or absence of sweat, a thin white or yellowish tongue coating, and a superficial and rapid pulse.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Cannabis Fruit Pill (Spleen Confinement Pill)

Action：Moistens the intestines, drains heat, and moves qi to promote defecation.

Indication：Ma Zi Ren Wan is indicated for spleen confinement constipation due to dryness-heat in the stomach and intestines. The symptoms are dry stool, frequent urination, a red tongue body, a dry slightly yellow tongue coating, and a rapid pulse.

View Details Purgative formulas

Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lung Decoction

Action：Relieves dryness and moistens the lung, nourishes yin and boosts qi.

Indication：Qing zao jiu fei tang is indicated for the pattern of warm-dryness damaging the lung, complicated by damage to both qi and yin. The symptoms are fever, headache, coughing with no sputum, labored breathing, dryness of the nose and throat, vexation, thirst, chest fullness and hypochondriac pain. The tongue body is dry with scanty tongue coating, and the pulse is deficient, big, and rapid.

View Details Dryness-moistening formulas

Qi-Clearing and Phlegm-Transforming Pill

Action：Clears heat and dissolves phlegm, regulates qi, and relieves cough.

Indication：Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan is indicated for patients with cough caused by phlegm-heat. The symptoms include coughing and panting, expectoration of sticky, yellow sputum, obstruction of the chest and diaphragm, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, and restlessness and agitation in severe cases. The tongue is red with a greasy and yellow coating and the pulse is slippery and rapid.

View Details Phlegm-expelling formulas

Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage

Action：Dissipates wind and clears heat, ventilates the lung, and stops coughing.

Indication：Sang Ju Yin is indicated for the initial stage of a wind-warmth pattern. Coughing is the major symptom along with a low-grade fever, slight thirst, and a superficial rapid pulse.

View Details Exterior-releasing formulas

Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction

Action：Clears and diffuses warm-dryness, moistens the lung and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Sang Xing Tang is indicated for the pattern of externally-contracted warm-dryness. The symptoms are mild fever, thirst, dry throat and nasal cavities, dry cough without sputum, or with scanty, and sticky sputum. The tongue body is red with a thin, white and dry coating. The pulse is floating and rapid and is large on the right side.

View Details Dryness-moistening formulas

Arrest Wheezing Decoction

Action：Diffuses the lung and directs qi downward, clears heat, and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Ding Chuan Tang is indicated for wheezing and panting due to phlegm-heat accumulation in the lung. The symptoms are wheezing and panting, cough, phlegm with heavy breathing, thick yellow phlegm, and slight aversion to wind. The tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is slippery and rapid.

View Details Qi-regulating formulas

Apricot Kernel and Perilla Powder

Action：Relieves cool-dryness by light diffusion, regulates lung function, and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Xing Su San is indicated for patterns of externally-contracted cool-dryness. The symptoms are aversion to cold, mild headache, coughing with scanty sputum, stuffy nose, and a dry throat. The tongue coating is white, and the pulse is wiry.

View Details Dryness-moistening formulas

Three Kernels Decoction

Action：Disperses and diffuses qi movement, clears and removes damp-heat.

Indication：San Ren Tang is indicated for the pattern of more dampness than heat in the early stage of damp-warmth and summerheat-warmth with dampness. The symptoms are headache, aversion to cold, heavy body, general pain, fatigue, a light yellow complexion, chest distress without hunger, afternoon fever, and no thirst. The tongue coating is white and the pulse is wiry, thin, and soggy.

View Details Dampclearing formulas