Sword Jackbean Seed

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu.

Dried seed is flat kidney-shaped or flat elliptical, 2.5~3.5cm long, 1~2cm wide, 0.5~2cm thick. Externally pale red or reddish-purple lustrous. Edges have grayish-black linear hilum, 1.5~2cm long, 2mm wide, with remnants of white membranous funicle; one indented spotty micropyle nears the hilum end, dark chalaza on the other end, raised raphe between hilum and chalaza. Seed coat is leathery, inner surface is brownish-green and lustrous; 2 cotyledons, yellowish-white, oily. faint odor; bland taste, with a bean-like flavor when chewed.

Superior medicinal material is large, full, pale red.

Sweet; warm.

Warms the center, downbears qi. Promotes intestines and stomach, stops vomiting, supplements kidney and primordial qi.

‘Black eyebrows’: This refers to the grayish-black eyebrow-like hilum of dao dou, which is 2cm in length and has three white striped lines.