Clever Pest Control Tricks for Plants: Common Foods Can Do the Job
Gardeners often run into pest problems when growing plants, and some pests are even very hard to get rid of. Here, the editor introduces some fairly common foods to rid your plants of pests; this method is both simple and made with easy-to-find materials.
Gardeners often run into pest problems when growing plants, and some pests are even very hard to get rid of. Here, the editor introduces some fairly common foods to rid your plants of pests; this method is both simple and made with easy-to-find materials.
Cineraria
1. Baking soda solution and powdery mildew:A baking soda solution at a concentration of 0.1 percent can prevent and control powdery mildew on flowers such as roses, chrysanthemums, Impatiens, cotton rose, and cineraria, with a control rate of over 80 percent. For general prevention, spray once every other week and spray once more as a follow-up, and it can basically be cured.
2. Vinegar and scale insects:Camellias are prone to scale insects, and the surface of scale insects is a waxy layer that ordinary pesticides cannot penetrate. However, newly hatched larvae have no wax just after emerging, so wiping the camellia leaves and stems with a cotton ball dipped in vinegar can kill them. Spraying flowers with a solution of edible vinegar can also effectively control black spot on rhododendrons and powdery mildew on roses, and it also has a certain preventive and curative effect on some mold diseases and leaf spot diseases of flowers.
3. Chili peppers and aphids:Take 1 liang of dried red chili peppers, add about 2 jin of clean water, boil in a pot for 20 minutes, let cool, and then water the flowers. The chili water can prevent and control pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and red spider mites. Note that water that is too spicy may affect plants, and the concentration should be lower for herbaceous plants.
4. Peach leaves and inchworms:Take 1 jin of peach leaves, add 6 jin of water, boil for 30 minutes, and water the flowers; this can prevent and control aphids and inchworms. Drying peach leaves in the sun, grinding them into powder, and burying the powder directly in the potting soil can also control underground pests such as mole crickets.
5. Garlic and red spider mites:Soak 1 jin of garlic in a small amount of water, mash out the juice, add water to dilute 10 times, and it can prevent and control aphids, red spider mites, scale insects, and the like. If garlic juice is poured into the pot, it can also prevent and control the harm caused by some nematodes, earthworms, and so on in potted flowers.
Using Common Foods to Rid Plants of Pests
China Landscape Website, July 27 news: Baking soda solution and powdery mildew: A baking soda solution at a concentration of 0.1 percent can prevent and control powdery mildew on flowers such as roses, chrysanthemums, Impatiens, cotton rose, and cineraria, with a control rate of over 80 percent. For general prevention, spray once every other week and spray once more as a follow-up, and it can basically be cured.
Vinegar and scale insects: Camellias are prone to scale insects, and the surface of scale insects is a waxy layer that ordinary pesticides cannot penetrate. However, newly hatched larvae have no wax just after emerging, so wiping the camellia leaves and stems with a cotton ball dipped in vinegar can kill them. Spraying flowers with a solution of edible vinegar can also effectively control black spot on rhododendrons and powdery mildew on roses, and it also has a certain preventive and curative effect on some mold diseases and leaf spot diseases of flowers.
Chili peppers and aphids: Take 1 liang of dried red chili peppers, add about 2 jin of clean water, boil in a pot for 20 minutes, let cool, and then water the flowers. The chili water can prevent and control pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and red spider mites. Note that water that is too spicy may affect plants, and the concentration should be lower for herbaceous plants.
Peach leaves and inchworms: Take 1 jin of peach leaves, add 6 jin of water, boil for 30 minutes, and water the flowers; this can prevent and control aphids and inchworms. Drying peach leaves in the sun, grinding them into powder, and burying the powder directly in the potting soil can also control underground pests such as mole crickets.
Garlic and red spider mites: Soak 1 jin of garlic in a small amount of water, mash out the juice, add water to dilute 10 times, and it can prevent and control aphids, red spider mites, scale insects, and the like. If garlic juice is poured into the pot, it can also prevent and control the harm caused by some nematodes, earthworms, and so on in potted flowers.
Pomegranate Punica granatum Linn Pomegranate Illustrated Guide: How to Grow Pomegranate / How to Propagate Pomegranate
Pomegranate ProfilePomegranate Punica granatum Linn
Pomegranate Cultivation Methods and Precautions Pomegranate Introduction
Pomegranate: (scientific name: Punica granatum), also known as Anshi pomegranate and sea pomegranate, belongs to the family Lythraceae, genus Punica. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree. It has needle-like branches, and the leaves are oblong-obovate or oblong-elliptic, hairless. The flowering period is May to June, and the flowers are mostly vermilion, with some yellow and white. The berry is nearly spherical, and the fruit ripening period is September to October. The outer seed coat is fleshy, semi-transparent, and juicy; the inner seed coat is leathery. It is native to Iran and its surrounding areas. Its nature and flavor are sweet, sour and astringent, and warm; it has effects such as killing insects, astringing, relieving diarrhea, and stopping dysentery. Pomegranate fruit is rich in nutrients, and its vitamin C content is 1 to 2 times higher than that of apples and pears. It was introduced from the Western Regions in the Western Han Dynasty. The city flower of Xi'an is the pomegranate flower.
[Source] The fruit of the Lythraceae plant pomegranate, Punica granatum.
[Aliases] Anshi pomegranate, Jinying, Shanliye, Thai pomegranate.
[Nature and flavor] Neutral; sweet, sour, astringent.
[Functions] Promotes fluid production and quenches thirst, astrings and stops diarrhea, and helps control diabetes.
[Composition] Red-skinned pomegranate (values in parentheses are for green-skinned pomegranate): edible portion 57% (55%). Per 100 g, it contains energy 268 (255) kJ, water 78.7 (79.5) g, protein 1.3 (1.2) g, fat 0.1 (0.2) g, dietary fiber 4.9 (4.9) g, carbohydrates 14.5 (13.6) g, thiamine 0.05 (0.05) mg, riboflavin 0.03 (0.03) mg; vitamin C 13 (8) mg, vitamin E 3.72 (4.53) mg; potassium 218 (243) mg, sodium 0.8 (1.3) mg, calcium 16 (6) mg, magnesium 16 (15) mg, iron 0.2 (0.2) mg, manganese 0.18 (0.15) mg, zinc 0.19 (0.18) mg, copper 0.17 (0.1) mg, phosphorus 76 (68) mg. Selenium was not detected.
Pomegranate is the fruit of plants in the family Lythraceae. It originated in the Western Regions of China and was introduced to the Central Plains during the Han Dynasty. The pomegranate ripening season falls during the two major festivals of Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, and it is an auspicious and festive gift for relatives and friends. In addition, pomegranate can relieve the symptoms of female menopause.
[Explanation of the name] Li Shizhen said: The pomegranate blooms in May, with three colors: red, yellow, and white. Single-leaf plants bear fruit; multi-leaf plants do not bear fruit, and even if they do, they have no seeds. The fruit has three types: sweet, sour, and bitter.
Pomegranate is a peculiar berry. The outer seed coat is fleshy, semi-transparent, and juicy; the inner seed coat is leathery.
Yang Zuoren's original pomegranate flower, branch, and leaf picture album (20 photos). The pomegranate is a deciduous shrub or small tree, and in the tropics it is an evergreen tree. The crown is clump-shaped and naturally round-headed. The roots are yellowish-brown. It grows vigorously and tends to produce root suckers at the base. The tree height can reach 5-7 m, generally 3-4 m, but dwarf pomegranates are only about 1 m tall or even shorter. The trunk is grayish-brown, with tumor-like protrusions, and the trunk mostly twists to the left. There are many branches within the crown, and young branches are angular and mostly square. The twigs are flexible and not easy to break. Primary branches are alternately opposite on vigorously growing twigs and bear small thorns. The length of the thorns is related to the variety and growth conditions. Vigorous trees have more thorns, and old trees have fewer thorns. Bud color changes with the seasons and can be purple, green, or orange. Leaves are opposite or clustered, long-lanceolate to oblong, or elliptic-lanceolate, 2-8 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, with pointed tips, glossy surfaces, and raised midribs on the underside; they have short petioles. Flowers are bisexual. Depending on whether the ovary is well developed, there are bell-shaped flowers and tubular flowers; the former has a well-developed ovary and is good at fertilization and fruiting, while the latter often withers without setting fruit. Generally, 1 to several flowers are borne at the top of the current year's new shoots and in the leaf axils below the top; the sepals are hard, fleshy, tubular, with 5-7 lobes, connected with the ovary, and persistent. Petals are obovate, equal in number to the sepals and alternating with them, arranged imbricately. Flowers can be single-petaled or double-petaled. Double-petaled varieties often have many petals and are sterile due to petal-like stamens and pistils; petals can number in the dozens. Flowers are mostly red, but there are also white, yellow, pink, and agate colors. Stamens are numerous, and filaments are hairless. The pistil has 1 style, longer than the stamens, with 4-8 carpels, and the ovary is inferior; after maturity it becomes a large, many-chambered, many-seeded berry, with many seeds in each chamber. The outer seed coat is fleshy, bright red, pale red, or white, juicy, sweet with sourness, and is the edible part; the inner seed coat is horny, or in some it degenerates and softens, namely soft-seeded pomegranate. Fruit pomegranates flower from May to June, with pomegranate flowers like fire, and fruit from September to October. Flower pomegranates flower from May to October.
Ecological Habits of Pomegranate
Pomegranate likes light and has a certain cold tolerance, but cold protection should be done in the chilly early spring. It likes moist, fertile calcareous soil, and the flowering period is May to July. Double-petaled flowers are mostly difficult to set fruit and are mainly grown for flower appreciation; single-petaled flowers set fruit easily and are mainly grown for fruit appreciation. The calyx is leathery, and the berry is nearly spherical, maturing in autumn. [1] According to analysis, pomegranate fruit contains 17% carbohydrates, 79% water, and 13-17% sugar, among which vitamin C content is 1-2 times higher than that of apples, while fat and protein contents are relatively low. The fruit is mainly eaten fresh.
Propagation Methods of Pomegranate
Pomegranate is relatively tolerant of poor soil and drought, but fears waterlogging, and needs a great deal of water during the growing season. The main cultivation methods for pomegranate include garden cultivation, fruit tree cultivation, bonsai, and pot cultivation.
Pomegranate is commonly propagated by cuttings, division, and layering.
[Cuttings]: In spring, select biennial branches, or in summer use semi-lignified branches for cuttings; after planting, they root in 15-20 days.
[Division]: In early spring in April when buds begin to swell, dig out vigorous root-sucker seedlings and plant them separately.
[Layering]: It can be done in spring or autumn without scoring. Before buds sprout, press root-sucker branches from the base into the soil; after rooting through summer, cut them from the mother plant, and they can become seedlings in autumn. For open-field cultivation, choose a site with sufficient light and good drainage. During growth, fertilize once a month. It is necessary to frequently remove root-sucker seedlings and prune dead branches, diseased branches, dense branches, and leggy branches to improve ventilation and light penetration. For pot cultivation, plant shallowly, control watering, and keep it dry rather than wet. During the growing period, pinch the tips to control vegetative growth and promote flower bud formation.
Disease and Pest Control of Pomegranate
The main focus should be on the two periods before and after fruit set: pest control in the early stage and disease control in the later stage. From late April to early and mid-May, pomegranate trees are prone to pests such as slug moths, aphids, stink bugs, scale insects, and cotton leafworms. After fruit set, the main diseases include white rot, black pox, and anthracnose.
Control Before Fruit Set
Use 12 ml (1 tube) of 33% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate, dilute 1500 times, and spray on the upper and lower leaf surfaces of pomegranate trees. If aphids still occur after an interval of 3-5 days, use 10 g of 2.5% imidacloprid wettable powder diluted 1500 times and spray the upper and lower leaf surfaces; afterward, spray once every 7-10 days with alternating chemicals, and the effect is excellent. Every year from June to July is the peak season for peach fruit borers on pomegranate trees; if not controlled in time, the harm to pomegranate trees is extremely great. After pomegranate fruits are bored by peach fruit borers, in high temperature and rainy conditions, water enters the boreholes, causing the pomegranates to slowly rot, with a damage rate of over 60%. At this time, use 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate, dilute 800 times, mix with mud, and paste it onto the flower stalk, or spray with dichlorvos or Kung Fu at 2000 times solution. To avoid parasitism and spread by peach fruit borers, the leaves around the pomegranate fruits should be removed.
Spraying decamethrin, fenvalerate, and the like controls slug moths and aphids; methidathion, chlorpyrifos, and the like control scale insects, with good results.
Disease Control
Pomegranate trees should be pruned in time in summer to improve ventilation and light conditions and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. After fruit set, the main diseases include white rot, black pox, and anthracnose. Spraying equal-amount Bordeaux mixture at 200 times solution about every half month can prevent the occurrence of many diseases. When diseases are severe, fungicides such as thiophanate-methyl, mancozeb, and carbendazim can be sprayed.
Note
To control pomegranate tree pests, do not use omethoate or dichlorvos pesticides, because pomegranate trees are sensitive to these pesticides. Do not use methamidophos or monocrotophos during the flowering period; these pesticides easily harm bees, affect pollination, and reduce the fruit-setting rate.
Variety Classification of Pomegranate
Pomegranate is a plant in the family Lythraceae, genus Punica. Only one species is cultivated, namely pomegranate. In addition, on the island of Lektre in the Indian Ocean, a wild species of Punica was once found and named Henktra wild pomegranate, which has no cultivation value. Through long-term artificial cultivation and domestication, pomegranate has produced many variant types, and there are now 6 varieties:
(1) White pomegranate: large flowers, white.
(2) Red pomegranate (double-petaled pomegranate): also called four-petaled pomegranate, with large flowers and large fruits.
(3) Double-petaled pomegranate: flowers white or pink.
(4) Rose pomegranate (four-season pomegranate): dwarf plant, small flowers, small fruits. It blooms many times each year and has a long flowering period, and is mainly ornamental.
(5) Black pomegranate: branches slender and soft, leaves narrow and small, fruits purplish-black, poor in taste, mainly for potted ornamental use.
(6) Variegated-flower pomegranate (agate pomegranate): flowers variegated.
Cultivation Techniques of Pomegranate
Although pomegranate has a long cultivation history in the Hotan area and a wide distribution, and Uyghur farmers have historically had a fine tradition of cultivating pomegranate, pomegranate cultivation is mostly in front of and behind houses or beside trees. However, it had long been neglected by people. With reform and opening up and the rising living standards of the people, the economic value and cultivation value of pomegranate gradually attracted people's attention.
1. Varieties are uneven in quality, and yields are low and unstable, especially with many inferior varieties, directly affecting the yield and quality of pomegranate. While expanding the cultivation area, there still exists disregard for fine varieties, soil conditions, and management measures.
2. Management is extensive and per-unit yield is relatively low. Compared with common fruit trees, the production and management technology level of pomegranate is still lacking, such as inadequate fertilizer and water, and unreasonable pruning or no pruning.
3. Deep-processing technology is not sufficiently perfected.
4. There is still a large gap in the utilization of resources and the breeding of fine varieties.
With the expansion of pomegranate cultivation area and market demand, production must pay close attention to the above problems and other situations that may arise, so that this tree species can produce greater economic benefits.
Cultivation Knowledge
1. Planting: Planting or repotting can be done from after leaf fall in autumn to before bud break the following spring. For ground planting, choose a sunny, wind-sheltered, slightly elevated place, and the soil should be loose, fertile, and well-drained. For pot cultivation, use a growing medium mixed with leaf mold, garden soil, and river sand, and add an appropriate amount of decomposed organic fertilizer. When planting, keep the soil ball, appropriately shorten and prune the aboveground part, water thoroughly after planting, and place it in a shaded place for care; after it sprouts and survives, move it to a ventilated place with sufficient sunlight.
2. Light and temperature: Light and temperature are important conditions affecting flower bud formation. During the growing period, full sun is required, and the more sufficient the light, the more numerous and vivid the flowers. A wind-sheltered, sunny, dry environment is conducive to flower bud formation and flowering. When light is insufficient, it will only grow leaves and not bloom, affecting the ornamental effect. The suitable growth temperature is 15-20°C, and the winter temperature should not be lower than -18°C, otherwise it will suffer cold damage.
3. Watering and fertilizing: Pomegranate is drought-tolerant and likes a dry environment. Watering should follow the principle of "water thoroughly after the soil dries out," keeping the potting soil "dry before wet, and preferably dry rather than wet." During the flowering and fruiting period, do not water too much, and the potting soil should not be too wet; otherwise, branches will grow leggy, leading to flower drop, fruit drop, and fruit cracking. During the rainy season, drain water in time. Ground-planted pomegranates and potted pomegranates should both be given sufficient base fertilizer, then apply 1 application of decomposed organic fertilizer before winter, and then apply 1 application of decomposed organic fertilizer before winter each year. For young trees, apply in a ring-shaped trench 1 m from the tree; for old trees, apply in radial trenches, with a depth of 20 cm. Potted pomegranates should follow the principle of "light fertilizer applied frequently," applying dilute fertilizer water once a week during the vigorous growth period. Apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as a top dressing over the long term to preserve flowers and fruits.
4. Shaping and pruning: Because pomegranate branches are fine, dense, and messy, pruning is needed to achieve a beautiful plant shape. Generally, pomegranate can be trained into a single-trunk round-headed or flat-topped form; it can also be trained into an open clump form; it can also be made into bonsai pomegranate. Use thinning and heading back, and prune dead branches, leggy branches, crossing branches, diseased and weak branches, and dense angular shoots. In summer, pinch in time and thin flowers and fruits to achieve ventilation and light penetration, a graceful plant shape, luxuriant flowers and leaves, and abundant fruits.
Fruit Cracking Control
First, during the early stage of fruit growth from May to July, irrigate multiple times to maintain the most suitable soil moisture, and after irrigation cover with grass or film to preserve moisture, so that the fruit grows at a uniform rate.
Second, during the later stage of fruit growth (the rainy season from August to September), stop irrigation, drain excess water in time, and maintain moderate soil moisture to prevent fruit cracking caused by absorbing too much water.
Third, adopt the measure of bagging young fruits, which can not only prevent pests and diseases but also maintain better humidity inside the fruit bag, allowing the fruit to grow at a uniform rate and preventing rainwater in the rainy season from directly soaking into the fruit, which would cause rapid seed growth and split the peel.
Fourth, harvest ripe fruits in time to prevent the peel from splitting due to excessive water absorption.
Medicinal Dietary or Medicinal Value of Pomegranate
The medical information and health dietary information on Hugarden website is for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. For any health problem, consult professional medical staff, and for the treatment of any disease, follow medical advice.
Ultimate flower-protecting mission: To love yourself, start from reality and follow medical advice. Toward illness, do not be careless, do not delay, and do not give up hope; face it bravely, warm the silent world with love, and care for the flower field in your heart with your heart.
The main nutritional components of pomegranate include carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and so on.
1. Pomegranate Symbolizes Auspiciousness
Pomegranate has a long history in China and is very loved by the Chinese people, because it is beautiful in appearance, sweet and sour in taste, and even more because it symbolizes auspiciousness, representing the beautiful life the Chinese people hope for, one of prosperity and many descendants. Ancient Chinese literati especially loved pomegranate and endowed it with many emotions. The pomegranate flower is as brightly colored as fire, and when the flowering season arrives it is extremely flourishing. Chinese people have always liked red, and pomegranate flowers covering the branches symbolize prosperity, beauty, and a flourishing life, so many Chinese people like to plant one or two pomegranates in their own courtyards to pray that life will flourish like pomegranate flowers.
2. Pomegranate Also Has Medicinal Value
Pomegranate is rich in nutrients and can well supplement the nutritional elements needed by the human body. It has the effects of beautifying the face, resisting aging, and protecting our eyes. In addition, regular consumption of pomegranate also has a strong effect in resisting bacteria and viruses, and has good therapeutic effects on some skin diseases and cancers. Pomegranate can also protect our heart, regulate the heart's normal movement frequency, soften our blood vessels, and have the effects of nourishing blood and qi.
3. Pomegranate Is Rich in Nutrients
Pomegranate fruits are like red gems, and the arils are sweet, sour, delicious, and juicy, with high nutritional value. They are rich in fruit sugars, high-quality protein, easily absorbed fats, and so on, and can supplement the human body's energy and calories without increasing the body's burden. Pomegranate contains abundant vitamins, especially B and C, and trace mineral elements, and can supplement the trace elements and nutrients lacking in the human body. Pomegranate is also rich in various acids, including organic acids and folic acid, which have health benefits for the human body. Not only is the pomegranate fruit rich in nutrients, but its leaves and its fruit seeds are also very valuable.
4. Pomegranate Has Strong Antioxidant Effects, and Juicing It with the Peel Is Even Better
The delicately beautiful red pomegranate has been proven to have strong antioxidant effects. It contains a component called ellagic acid, which can protect cells from pollution and UV rays in the environment, nourish cells, and slow the aging of the body. Studies have shown that ellagic acid is even more "powerful" than the polyphenols contained in red wine and green tea in terms of radiation protection.
Medicinal Value
1. Broad-spectrum antibacterial: Pomegranate peel contains a variety of alkaloids. Antibacterial tests have confirmed that the alcohol extract of pomegranate and the water decoction of the peel have broad-spectrum antibacterial effects, with obvious inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic Streptococcus, Vibrio cholerae, and Shigella dysenteriae, among which the effect on Shigella dysenteriae is the strongest. The water infusion of pomegranate peel also has varying degrees of inhibitory effect on various dermatophytes in test tubes, and the decoction of pomegranate peel can also inhibit influenza virus.
2. Astringent, relieving diarrhea: Pomegranate tastes sour and contains alkaloids, ursolic acid, and so on, and has an obvious astringent effect. It can astringe the intestines and stop bleeding. Combined with its good antibacterial effect, it is a good product for treating dysentery, diarrhea, bloody stool, spermatorrhea, rectal prolapse, and other conditions.
3. Expelling and killing parasites: Pomegranate peel and pomegranate root bark both contain pelletierine, which has a paralyzing effect on human parasites and is an important medicine for expelling and killing parasites, especially with a stronger killing effect on tapeworms. It can be used to treat abdominal pain due to parasitic infestation, scabies, and so on.
4. Stopping bleeding, improving eyesight: Pomegranate flower is sour and astringent in nature and flavor and neutral. If dried in the sun and ground into powder, it has a good hemostatic effect and can also stop red and white leukorrhea. Soaking pomegranate flowers in water to wash the eyes also has an eyesight-improving effect.
5. Pomegranate is warm in nature and sweet, sour, and astringent in taste, and enters the lung, kidney, and large intestine meridians; it has the effects of promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, astringing and consolidating, stopping diarrhea, and stopping bleeding; it mainly treats conditions such as fluid depletion with dry mouth and throat, thirst, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, bloody stool, and abnormal uterine bleeding.
Pomegranate juice contains a variety of amino acids and trace elements, and helps digestion, resists gastric ulcers, softens blood vessels, lowers blood lipids and blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, and has many other functions. It can prevent coronary heart disease and hypertension, and can achieve the effects of strengthening the stomach, refreshing the mind, increasing appetite, and prolonging life. For those who drink excessively, it has a remarkable effect in sobering them up.
Pomegranate can be said to be a treasure in every part; the peel, root, and flowers can all be used as medicine. Its peel contains components such as malic acid, tannins, and alkaloids. Relevant experiments have shown that pomegranate peel has obvious antibacterial and astringent functions, can astringe the intestinal mucosa, and reduce the secretions of the intestinal mucosa, so it can effectively treat diarrhea, dysentery, and other conditions, and has a good inhibitory effect on Shigella dysenteriae and Escherichia coli. In addition, the peel of pomegranate contains alkaline substances and has the effect of expelling parasites; pomegranate flowers have a hemostatic function, and soaking pomegranate flowers in water to wash the eyes also has an eyesight-improving effect. Modern medical research has found that the "pelletierine" contained in pomegranate peel has an inhibitory effect on Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and various dermatophytes. There are many folk proven recipes using pomegranate fruit, peel, and leaves to treat diseases, such as:
[Mouth sores]
① Pomegranate peel, calcined into charcoal and ground into powder, apply inside the mouth, twice a day. A small amount of indigo naturalis may also be added.
② Mash pomegranate arils together with seeds, soak in boiling water, and after it cools, take the water and gargle, several times a day; it can treat mouth and tongue sores and oral ulcers.
[Diarrhea]
① 15 g pomegranate peel, decoct in water, add brown sugar or white sugar, and drink, twice a day, taken before meals.
② 15 g pomegranate peel and 10 g nutmeg (degreased), decoct in water and take.
③ 30 g fresh pomegranate peel, mash into a paste, apply to the navel, fix with adhesive tape, change the dressing once every 24 hours; generally 1-3 applications can cure it. This recipe is also suitable for treating diarrhea in children.
④ 1 fresh pomegranate, crush together with the peel, add a small amount of table salt, decoct in water and take; it can treat chronic diarrhea and chronic dysentery.
[Hemorrhoids] Calcine pomegranate with the peel into charcoal, grind into fine powder, add an appropriate amount of white granulated sugar and mix well, take 5-7 g each time with boiling water, twice a day.
[Bloody stool]
① An appropriate amount of pomegranate peel, stir-fry until dry and grind into powder, take 9 g each time, 3 times a day, taken with boiling water.
② Calcine pomegranate into charcoal while retaining its nature, grind into fine powder, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar and mix well, take 9 g each time, mixed with boiling water, 3 times a day.
[Rectal prolapse]
① 30 g pomegranate peel and 15 g alum, decoct in water and wash the affected area.
② Pomegranate peel and old wall soil, add a little white alum, decoct thickly for fumigation and washing, then add stir-fried and ground gallnut and apply it as a support.
③ 15 g pomegranate peel, decoct in water, first fumigate and then wash.
[Nosebleed]
① Pomegranate flowers or young pomegranate leaves, roll into small balls and insert into the nostrils, multiple times a day.
② 30 g pomegranate peel, decoct in water and take.
[Burns and scalds]
① Red pomegranate flowers, grind into fine powder, mix with sesame oil and apply to the injured area.
② An appropriate amount of pomegranate peel, grind into powder, mix with sesame oil and apply to the affected area.
[Otitis media]
① Place pomegranate flowers on a tile and roast dry, grind into powder, add a little borneol, and blow into the ear. This recipe can treat otitis media with persistent pus.
② 15 g pomegranate rind, roasted dry, plus 1 g borneol, ground together into powder and set aside. For treatment, first clean the pus from the ear with hydrogen peroxide, wipe dry with a sterilized cotton swab, then blow the powder into the ear, once daily or once every other day.
[Psoriasis]
① Fresh pomegranate rind, dipped in alum powder, rubbed on the affected area, 3 times a day.
② Pomegranate rind (roasted to charcoal and ground fine) 1 part, add sesame oil 3 parts, mix into a paste, apply to the affected area. Twice daily; repeated application is effective.
[Leukorrhea in women] Pomegranate rind burned until charred but retaining its nature, ground into fine powder, taken on an empty stomach 3-6 g each time, swallowed with sugar water.
[Vaginal sores] Fresh pomegranate rind 60 g, Japanese honeysuckle stem (Lonicera japonica) 15 g, Coptis chinensis 3 g, decoct in water for a sitz bath, once each morning and evening.
[Uterine prolapse] Pomegranate rind 30 g, Chinese gall (Rhus chinensis) and alum 6 g each, decoct in water for external washing.
[Wind-fire red eyes] Fresh pomegranate leaves 50 g, washed clean, add 500 mL water, decoct down to 250 mL, filter off the dregs, use the liquid to wash or drip into the eyes.
[Tonsillitis] Fresh pomegranate 1-2, take the flesh-bearing seeds and mash them, steep in boiling water and filter, gargle after it cools, several times a day. This formula can also treat laryngitis, mouth sores and stomatitis.
[Traumatic bleeding]
① Pomegranate flowers and bletilla (Bletilla striata) in equal parts, sun-dried or oven-dried, ground into fine powder and mixed evenly, applied externally to the wound, bandaged tightly with gauze.
② Pomegranate rind 500 g, Lindera aggregata and Chinese gall 125 g each. First decoct the pomegranate rind and Chinese gall, after 20 minutes add the Lindera aggregata and decoct for 10 minutes, remove the dregs, soak up the liquid with cotton, sun-dry and set aside. When needed, apply to the wound and bandage over it. Take care not to let the wound touch cold water.
③ Pomegranate flowers, sun-dried and ground into powder, sprinkled on the wound.
④ Pomegranate rind 20 g, longan seeds 10 g, add borneol 0.3 g and mix evenly, apply to the affected area.
[Indigestion]
① Sour pomegranate 1, chew the flesh and seeds thoroughly and swallow.
② Fresh pomegranate rind 15 g, mashed and applied to the Shenque acupoint at the navel, removed after 12 hours, reapplied after a two-hour interval. This formula is suitable for simple indigestion in children and can also serve as auxiliary treatment for diarrhea, abdominal bloating and poor appetite.
③ Pomegranate rind 30 g, 1 dose per day, decocted in water and taken in 2 divided doses, for 3-5 consecutive doses. Reduce the amount for children.
④ Pomegranate rind and eggplant root 30 g each, roasted yellow together and ground into powder, 3 g each time, taken with boiling water, once each morning and evening. Reduce the amount for children. Formulas ③ and ④ are also suitable for treating diarrhea.
[Neurodermatitis]
① Fresh pomegranate rind dipped in alum powder, rubbed onto the affected area, 3-5 times a day.
② Pomegranate rind (roasted to charcoal, ground into fine powder) 1 part, sesame oil 3 parts, mixed into a paste, applied to the affected area, twice daily.
[Expelling roundworms and tapeworms] Pomegranate rind and areca nut in equal parts, ground into fine powder, 10 g each time (reduce for children), taken twice daily for two consecutive days.
[Chronic bronchitis in the elderly] Sour pomegranate, held in the mouth every night, until cured.
Red pomegranate is rich in minerals and has two major antioxidant components -- red pomegranate polyphenols and anthocyanins -- and also contains linoleic acid, vitamin C, B6, E and folic acid. The mineral extracts such as calcium, magnesium and zinc contained in red pomegranate can quickly replenish the moisture lost by the skin, making the skin brighter and softer.
Medicinal value of pomegranate rind
[Drug name]: Pomegranate rind
[Pinyin]: SHILIUPI pomegranate rind
[English name]: Pomegranate Rind
[Source] The fruit rind of the pomegranate, a plant of the family Punicaceae.
[Plant morphology] Pomegranate (Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun), also known as: Chuliu (Guang Ya), Anshiliu (Zhang Hua, Bo Wu Zhi), Danruo (You Yang Za Zu), Jinying (Gang Mu), Jinpang (Qun Fang Pu), Xieliu, Haishiliu, Anxiliu, Xi'anshiliu, Zhongshiliu. Deciduous shrub or tree, 2-5 m tall. Bark bluish gray; young branches nearly round or slightly four-angled, branch tips usually spine-like, hairless; leaves opposite or clustered; leaf blades obovate to oblong, 2.5-6 cm long, 1-1.8 cm wide, apex pointed or slightly concave; base gradually narrowed, entire margin, glossy above, hairless, with a raised midvein below, short-stalked. Flowers 1 to several, borne at the tips of small branches or axillary, pedicels 2-3 mm long; flower diameter about 3 cm; calyx tube bell-shaped, fleshy and thick, red, with 6 lobes, triangular-ovate; petals 6, red, alternating with the sepals, obovate, wrinkled; stamens numerous, inserted at the middle of the calyx tube, anthers spherical, filaments slender and short; pistil 1, ovary inferior or semi-inferior, upper part 6-loculed with parietal placentation, lower part 3-loculed with axial placentation, style round, stigma head-shaped. Berry nearly spherical, rind thick and leathery, yellow when ripe, or tinged with red, with thin internal septa, apex with persistent calyx. Seeds numerous, obovate, with angles. Flowering period May-June. Fruiting period July-August. Grows on sunny slopes or cultivated in gardens. Distributed in most areas of our country.
[Collection] In autumn when the fruit is ripe and the apex splits, pick the fruit, remove the seeds and septal pulp, cut into sections and sun-dry, or dry over a low fire.
[Medicinal material] The dried rind is irregular or semicircular in fragment form, 2-3 mm thick. The outer surface is dark red or brownish red, rough, with small white raised dots; the apex bears the remains of the persistent calyx; the base has the fruit stalk. The inner surface is bright yellow or brownish yellow, with raised reticulate remnants of the fruit base. Texture brittle yet hard, easily broken. Odor faint, taste astringent. Those with thick, solid rind and reddish-brown color are considered best.
[Chemical composition] Contains tannins 10.4-21.3%, wax 0.8%, resin 4.5%, mannitol 1.8%, sugar 2.7%, gum 3.2%, inulin 1.0%, mucilage 0.6%, gallic acid 4.0%, malic acid, pectin and calcium oxalate, isoquercitrin.
[Processing] Remove impurities, remove all remaining inner pulp and seeds, wash clean, cut into pieces, sun-dry.
Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun: "Whenever using pomegranate rind, leaves or root, do not let them touch iron. If using pomegranate shell, regardless of dry or wet, first soak overnight in rice water, strain out at dawn, when the water is like ink, ... only then can it be used."
[Nature and flavor] Sour and astringent, warm, toxic.
① Yao Xing Lun: "Sour in taste, non-toxic."
② Dian Nan Ben Cao: "Cold in nature, sour and astringent in taste."
③ Gang Mu: "Sour and astringent, damp, non-toxic."
④ Guangxi Zhong Yao: "Bitter and astringent in taste, warm in nature, toxic."
[Meridian entry] Enters the large intestine and kidney meridians.
① Lei Gong Pao Zhi Yao Xing Jie: "Enters the large intestine and kidney meridians."
② Ben Cao Cuo Yao: "Enters the hand taiyin and foot shaoyin meridians."
[12][Functions and indications] Astringes the intestines, stops bleeding, expels worms. Treats chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, bloody stool, rectal prolapse, spermatorrhea, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, worm accumulation with abdominal pain, scabies and tinea.
① Bie Lu: "Treats dysentery, stops spermatorrhea."
② Yao Xing Lun: "Treats wind in the sinews and bones, inability to walk with the legs, spasmodic pain when walking. Mainly astringes the intestines, stops red and white dysentery. The juice stops tearing and treats spermatorrhea."
③ Ben Cao Shi Yi: "Mainly treats roundworms. Decoct and take."
④ Dian Nan Ben Cao: "Treats chronic watery diarrhea, roasted with fried sugar and taken; also treats dysentery with pus and blood, and bloody stool from the large intestine." "Decocted with Aristolochia debilis to treat malnutritional worm disease in children."
⑤ Ben Cao Meng Quan: "Treats tooth decay."
⑥ Gang Mu: "Stops diarrhea and dysentery, bloody stool, rectal prolapse, uterine bleeding and leukorrhea."
⑦ Sheng Cao Yao Xing Bei Yao: "Treats tumorous sores, washes hernia pain."
⑧ Ben Cao Qiu Yuan: "Washes spots, scabies and mange."
⑨ Ke Xue De Min Jian Yao Cao: "Expels hookworms and tapeworms."
[Usage and dosage] Internal use: decocted, 0.8-1.5 qian; or in powder form. External use: decocted for fumigation and washing, or ground into powder and mixed for application.
[Cautions] Ben Cao Cong Xin: "It can linger in the diaphragm and form phlegm; if the dysentery accumulation is not fully resolved, taking it too early will instead cause harm."
[Drug combinations]: With sugar, it relaxes urgency and stops diarrhea; with Aristolochia debilis, it resolves malnutrition and expels worms; with Coptis chinensis, it clears heat and dries dampness; with areca nut, it expels roundworms and kills worms.
[Selected formulas] ① To treat chronic dysentery that does not heal: Old pomegranate roasted dry, made into fine powder, taken with rice water, three to four qian. (Pu Ji Fang, Shen Shou San)
② To treat sudden incessant vaginal bleeding during pregnancy with abdominal pain: Anshiliu rind 2 liang, angelica 3 liang, donkey-hide gelatin 2 liang (roasted), prepared mugwort the size of a chicken egg, 2 pieces. The above four ingredients with 9 sheng of water, decocted down to 2 sheng, taken in 3 divided doses. (Chan Jing Fang, Pomegranate Rind Decoction)
③ To treat blood before the stool, causing sallow complexion: Sour pomegranate rind, roasted and ground into powder, 2 qian each dose, taken with a decoction of eggplant branches. (Qian Jin Fang)
④ To treat rectal prolapse: Pomegranate rind, old wall soil, plus a little alum, decocted thickly for fumigation and washing, then add Chinese gall roasted and ground and applied to hold it up. (Yi Chao Lei Bian)
⑤ To treat worm-induced heart pain that is unbearable with frequent vomiting of sour water: Sour pomegranate rind 1 liang (chopped), peach wood charm 2 liang (chopped), lead powder 1 liang, wine 2 ge, areca nut powder 2 qian. The above drugs, with 2 large cups of water, decoct the first two ingredients down to 1 cup, remove the dregs, add the lead powder, areca nut and wine, decoct once more to a boil, take slightly warm, in 3 divided doses. (Sheng Hui Fang, Pomegranate Rind Powder)
⑥ To expel tapeworms and roundworms: Pomegranate rind and areca nut in equal parts, ground into fine powder, 2 qian each dose (reduce for children), twice daily for two consecutive days. (Shandong Zhong Cao Yao Shou Ce)
[Clinical application] ① Treatment of bacillary dysentery: Pomegranate rind made into a 50% or 60% decoction, 10-20 mL each time, taken 3-5 times a day, with 7-10 days as one course of treatment; for chronic bacillary dysentery, one may take it for 2 consecutive weeks, stop for 1 week, then take it for another 2 weeks as one course. Of 50 cases of acute bacillary dysentery treated, after one course 49 cases were cured and 1 improved. After medication, the average time to fever subsidence was 1.3 days, the time for disappearance of abdominal pain and tenesmus was about 4.8 days, the time for stool to return to normal was around 4.6 days, and the time for stool microscopy to return to normal was 5.3 days. Of 4 cases of chronic bacillary dysentery treated, sigmoidoscopy 2 weeks after stopping medication showed the lesions had all disappeared, and stool cultures were negative on more than 3 occasions.
② Treatment of amebic dysentery: 60% pomegranate rind decoction, 20 mL each dose, 3 times a day, taken after meals, with 6 consecutive days as one course. If ineffective, another course may be taken. Of 40 patients followed up for half a year after one course, none had any symptoms, and among them 36 cases had negative stool examinations on 3 consecutive occasions. During medication there was occasionally nausea and tinnitus, which resolved on their own.
③ Treatment of various infectious inflammations: Pomegranate rind made into a 100% decoction, oven-dried and ground into powder and placed in capsules for oral use, 3 times a day, 1-2 capsules each time. A total of 415 cases were treated, including enteritis, biliary tract infection, acute and chronic bronchitis, pulmonary infection, chronic appendicitis, lymphadenitis, multiple boils and traumatic infection: 305 cases cured, 57 basically cured, 36 improved, 17 ineffective.
In addition, pomegranate rind roasted until scorched and ground into powder, sprinkled into the ear, has a certain effect on suppurative otitis media.
Dietary therapy value
1. Suitable for people with dry mouth and tongue, people with diarrhea, and people with tonsillitis;
2. Not suitable for people with constipation, patients with urethritis, people with diabetes, and those with excess heat and food stagnation.
Food incompatibilities
Pomegranate should not be eaten together with tomato, crab, watermelon or potato.
If taken together with potato, one can drink water soaked with Chinese chives to counteract the toxicity.
Dietary therapy effects
Pomegranate is warm in nature, sweet, sour and astringent in taste, and enters the lung, kidney and large intestine meridians;
It has the effects of promoting fluid and quenching thirst, astringing and securing, stopping diarrhea and stopping bleeding;
It mainly treats conditions such as fluid depletion with dry mouth and throat, excessive thirst, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, bloody stool and uterine bleeding.
1. Sour pomegranate 1, calcined to retain its nature and ground into powder, taken all in one day, treats chronic dysentery with slippery intestines; if taken with brown sugar water, it treats bloody stool from intestinal wind.
2. Sour pomegranate rind, calcined to retain its nature and ground into powder, 6 g each dose, treats chronic diarrhea that does not stop; if applied externally inside the mouth, it treats mouth sores and bleeding from various sores in the mouth.
3. Sour pomegranate rind, decocted in water or taken with brown sugar, treats red dysentery, bloody urine and nosebleeds.
4. Sour pomegranate rind 15 to 30 g, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar and decoct in water, treats diarrhea due to spleen deficiency.
5. Sour pomegranate rind 5 g, raw hawthorn 10 g, ground together into fine powder, divided into two doses, taken with brown sugar dissolved in boiling water, treats watery diarrhea.
6. Sour pomegranate rind ground into powder, taken every morning 6 g, swallowed with boiling water, treats chronic diarrhea or bloody stool.
7. Sour pomegranate rind 15 g, fennel 10 g, decocted in water, treats chronic dysentery.
8. Sour pomegranate rind 30 g, decocted in water to make a juice, mixed with Glauber's salt 6 g, taken on an empty stomach, expels roundworms.
9. Pomegranate tree root, remove the outer bark, take the secondary bark 15 g (halved for children), decoct in water and mix with brown sugar, also expels roundworms.
10. Pomegranate rind 30 g, areca nut 120 g, decocted in water, taken on an empty stomach in the morning all at once, and one hour later take mirabilite 15 g or rhubarb 6 g, to expel tapeworms. Pomegranate rind decocted in water, washed cold, treats impetigo.
11. Fresh pomegranate rind dipped in alum powder, rubbed on the affected area, three times a day, treats psoriasis.
12. White pomegranate flowers seven blooms, Prunella vulgaris 10 g, decocted in water, treats lung abscess.
13. White pomegranate flowers 20 g, decocted in water, taken in three divided doses before meals, treats dysentery and rectal prolapse.
14. White pomegranate rind 1, white lotus seedpod 1, decocted in water, treats excessive menstruation.
Ornamental value
The tree form is graceful, the branches and leaves elegant; in early spring the tender leaves sprout green, delicate and charming; in midsummer it blooms profusely like brocade, with vivid colors; in autumn the laden fruits hang down. It may be planted singly or in groups in courtyards, in the corners of pleasure gardens, planted in pairs at the entrances of gateways, or planted in rows along paths, streamsides, slopes and beside buildings; it is also suitable for making various stump bonsai and for cut-flower arrangements for viewing.
Bonsai making
Pomegranate flowers are large and brilliantly colored, with a long flowering period, blooming from around the wheat harvest all the way to October, and the pomegranate fruit is brightly colored. Because it can both be enjoyed for its flowers and provide edible fruit, it is deeply loved by people, and bonsai made from pomegranate are especially favored.
(1) Selection of varieties and flower pots:
If the main purpose is flower viewing, one should choose large-flowered, brightly colored, double-petaled varieties, such as Da Hua Pomegranate; if the main purpose is fruit viewing, one may choose red varieties with beautiful fruit shape, such as Taishan Red Pomegranate, or choose according to personal preference or need. For flower pots, clay and tile pots are best, because they drain and breathe well, which benefits pomegranate growth; their drawback is that they are not very attractive and break easily, while plastic pots, porcelain-glazed pots and the like are attractive in appearance and come in many patterns, but have poorer air and water permeability, so they can be chosen according to circumstances. The size of the pot should be determined by the size of the seedling.
(2) Preparation of growing soil:
The soil for potted pomegranate should be loose and airy, retain fertilizer and water, and be rich in nutrients. It can be mixed evenly with 3 parts garden topsoil, 3 parts leaf mold, 2 parts barnyard manure and 2 parts fine sand, or mixed with horse manure, garden soil and fine sand in a ratio of 1/3 each to make growing soil, piled up and covered tightly with plastic film, sterilized at high temperature for 15-20 days, then sifted and put into pots.
(3) Potting and planting:
Before sprouting in spring, cover the drainage hole of the flower pot with a tile piece, then add soil, filling about 2/3 of the pot, and pile the soil into a mound. Select a seedling with an intact root system, many fibrous roots and a good tree shape, spread the root system out and place it in the pot, continue adding soil, and while adding soil gently lift the seedling upward so that the roots make close contact with the soil. The pot soil should not be too full; keep the root crown level with the soil surface, firm the soil, water thoroughly, and after the water seeps down, cover the surface with dry soil to preserve moisture, place it in a semi-shaded spot, and generally do not water before sprouting so as to favor warming and rooting.
(4) Bonsai shaping and making techniques:
According to differences in material selection and processing methods, bonsai are mainly divided into two major categories: tree-stump bonsai and landscape bonsai. For example, Zaozhuang Yicheng pomegranate bonsai are mainly tree-stump bonsai, taking the pomegranate tree as the main subject, sometimes also using rocks and the like as a foil to make elegant and peculiar pomegranate bonsai, mainly for viewing the various shaped postures of the pomegranate tree as well as the characteristics of the trunk, flowers, fruit and branches and leaves. Through artistic processing such as carving, binding and pulling, twisting of shoots, pruning, pinching, bud removal, bark peeling, wounding and bending, and careful cultivation, growth and development are controlled over the long term, creating the effect of a miniature landscape within a foot of space, a pomegranate bonsai with an aged and antique appearance.
The main forms are the following:
1. Straight-trunk style: the main trunk stands tall and straight, graceful and upright, branching at a height of 20-30 cm, elegant and free.
2. Slanting-trunk style: the main trunk leans to one side, branches and leaves distributed naturally and orderly, the tree shape balanced yet dynamic, more poetic than the upright-trunk form.
3. Curved-trunk style: the main trunk is twisted, the tree shape full of variation, but it should not be bent excessively; if bent too many times, it instead loses its beauty.
4. Prostrate-trunk style: the main part of the trunk lies horizontally on the pot surface, like a tree struck by lightning or blown down by wind, the tree shape aged and strange, full of wild charm.
5. Cliff style: the main trunk twists and droops downward, like a hoary pine or creeping vine growing downward.
6. Withered-trunk style: part of the main trunk is withered and decayed while the branches and leaves remain luxuriant, like a withered tree meeting spring.
7. Double-trunk style: one tree with two trunks, best shaped with one high and one low, one bending down and one facing up, to appear graceful.
8. Combined planting style: two or more pomegranate trees, with diverse varieties, blooming and fruiting, with a distinctive style.
9. Rock-attached style: the pomegranate tree is planted in a crack in the rock, with roots reaching into the pot soil; from a distance it looks like a tree growing on a mountain cliff, antique, natural and vividly picturesque.
(5) Management techniques:
1. Branch and leaf management: when new shoots grow to 10-15 cm, pinch them to control growth and promote flowering; adventitious buds sprouting from the main trunk, main branches and root crown affect the shape and ventilation and should be removed promptly. To dwarf the tree, during the period of vigorous new shoot growth, spray 2-3 times with a 200-fold dilution of 15% paclobutrazol solution, which helps control growth and promote flowering and can also achieve the effect of shrinking a dragon to an inch.
2. Fertilization: Pomegranate likes fertilizer; when planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and during each phenological period of the growing season, apply topdressing many times to supplement the nutrients needed for plant growth. In spring, mainly nitrogen fertilizer; in autumn, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; or use fully decomposed liquid made from bean cake, chicken and duck manure, etc., for irrigation, and during the growing season apply foliar fertilizer 3-5 times, spraying at a concentration of 0.3%-0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, to supplement soil fertilization.
3. Watering: The pomegranate tree is a drought-tolerant tree species; too much water makes the tree prone to excessive vegetative growth. Generally, do not water unless dry, and when watering, water thoroughly. If fertilizing is not done after rain, then watering must be done after fertilizing. During the flowering and fruit-setting periods, maintain appropriate drought to prevent flower and fruit drop.
Rapid rehydration
Because pomegranate contains very rich minerals, and also two major antioxidant components, anthocyanins and red pomegranate polyphenols, and also contains vitamin C, linoleic acid and folic acid, etc., it can quickly replenish moisture for our skin.
First, prepare one pomegranate, one egg white, and one large spoonful of honey. Second, after peeling the pomegranate, take out the arils, then put them into a juicer to extract the juice. After obtaining the pomegranate juice, add the egg white and honey, then stir thoroughly. Finally, after stirring well, soak a facial mask sheet in it; once the mask sheet has fully absorbed the nutrient liquid, you can begin applying it to the face, but be sure to wash the skin clean before applying the mask. It is recommended to gently peel off the mask sheet after 15 minutes, then rinse the facial skin with clean water and care for the skin as usual. Although pomegranate's beauty and skincare effects are very good, it is recommended to do this only 2-3 times a week; doing it too frequently is instead not good for the skin.
Protecting the Eyes
Anthocyanins are, to date, the substances that humans can extract from food that can protect the skin around the eyes, and because pomegranates contain anthocyanins, eating more pomegranates can protect our eyes. However, pomegranates contain very high levels of organic salts, so remember to brush your teeth promptly after eating pomegranates, otherwise the enamel of your teeth may be corroded.
The Distribution Range of the Pomegranate
The pomegranate is native to Iran, Afghanistan and other countries. Today, on the mountains of Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Georgia at altitudes of 300-1000 m, there are still large areas of wild pomegranate forests. In 1983, Chinese scholars investigating fruit tree resources in Tibet, China found that on the barren slopes on both banks of the Chawo River in the Three Rivers basin at altitudes of 1700 - 3000 m, large numbers of wild ancient pomegranate communities are distributed, so some scholars also believe that the Three Rivers basin region is one of the places of origin of the pomegranate. The pomegranate is one of the earliest fruit trees and ornamental flowering trees introduced and cultivated by humans. In China, India and along the Mediterranean coasts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it is cultivated everywhere as a fruit tree, and it is especially abundant in Africa. In the United States it is mainly distributed in California. In Spain, on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, the pomegranate is the national flower, and across its 500,000 sq km of territory, whether on highland mountains, in front of and behind houses in towns and villages, or in the parks and gardens of seaside cities, pomegranate flowers are planted in especially great numbers. The pomegranate is widely distributed in its place of origin, Iran, and in nearby regions, where quite a few excellent varieties have been bred.
After the pomegranate was introduced to China, because its flowers and fruit are beautiful and it is easy to cultivate, it became deeply loved by people. It was listed as the "month flower" of the fifth lunar month, and the fifth month came to be called "Pomegranate Month."
It is cultivated and distributed throughout northern and southern China except in extremely cold regions. The main propagation and cultivation areas include Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places.
Requirements for establishing a pomegranate orchard: deep soil and well-drained sandy loam or loam are suitable, a pH between 4.5--8.2 is acceptable, and its waterlogging tolerance is average. Among these, it is more common in Shaanxi (the Lintong pomegranate of Xi'an, and the city flower of Xi'an is the pomegranate flower), Anhui (the pomegranate of Huaiyuan is the most famous), Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Sichuan, Yunnan and ** and other places. In the Beijing and Tianjin area, it can still be planted in the ground in places with good microclimatic conditions.
North of the isotherm where the average annual extreme minimum temperature is -19°C, pomegranates cannot be planted in the open ground and are generally grown in pots.
The pomegranate is distributed in some regions across the country. Among the edible famous varieties are the Lintong pomegranate of Shaanxi, with a white-skinned sweet pomegranate whose seeds are like snow and jade, very juicy and extremely sweet;
there is the red sour pomegranate, whose seeds are watery red and crystal clear, with a sour taste; there are also the green-shell pomegranate of Mengzi County, Yunnan, the green-skinned pomegranate of Sichuan, the soft-seeded pomegranate of Zaozhuang, Shandong, the Baizi Tang pomegranate of Huaibei, Anhui, the Yanzhihong pomegranate of Guangxi, and others.
The key production areas in China where pomegranates are mainly grown for fruit include Lintong, Qianxian and Sanyuan in Shaanxi Province; Huaiyuan, Xiaoxian, Suixi and Chaoxian in Anhui Province; Zaozhuang in Shandong Province; Suzhou, Nanjing, Xuzhou and Pixian in Jiangsu Province; and Mengzi, Qiaojia, Jianshui and Chenggong in Yunnan Province. ** Yecheng pomegranate has large fruit and excellent quality and is relatively famous; Huali in Sichuan abounds with green-skinned and red-skinned soft-seeded pomegranates, whose seeds can also be chewed and eaten, reducing the trouble of eating pomegranates. Huali pomegranate was already an imperial tribute designated by the emperor during the Tang Dynasty, sent into the palace each year by the King of Nanzhao, and is world-famous.
Even more so, the pomegranate of Huaiyuan, Anhui is the best. As the saying goes: Huaiyuan's pomegranates, Dangshan's pears, Xiaoxian's grapes.
The Cultural Background of the Pomegranate
As a mascot, the pomegranate has been loved by the folk for thousands of years. The peony pomegranate's appearance has added an especially wonderful flower to the gardens of our country and even the world; it can be planted widely in fields and can also be cultivated in parks, homes, hotels, along roadsides and at tourist resorts to beautify the environment. Its development prospects are extremely broad.
Pomegranate culture is expressed in many aspects:
Pomegranate calligraphy and painting, pomegranate bellybands, pomegranate mooncake molds, pomegranate seal carving, pomegranate paper-cutting, pomegranate hair embroidery, pomegranate photography, pomegranate sachets, pomegranate carpets, pomegranate dough figurines, pomegranate trays, and even pomegranate neckties. In ancient times, boiled red pomegranate juice was used as a beverage, food coloring and dye. Famous pomegranate varieties include: the "rock sugar pomegranate," the big red egg of Lintong, the "crystal pomegranate" of Huaiyuan, the "copper-skin pomegranate" of Qiaojia and Huali, the "gem pomegranate" of Xichang, the "soft-core pomegranate" of Yixian, and the "seedless pomegranate" of Tongshan.
Origin of the Name
The pomegranate is native to the Persia (present-day Iran) area and was introduced to China in the 2nd century BC. "In what year did the State of Anshi, across ten thousand li, present pomegranate flowers as tribute. Far away by the source of the river, relying on the Han envoy's raft." According to Jin Dynasty Zhang Hua's Bowuzhi: "When Zhang Qian of the Han was sent on a mission to the Western Regions, he obtained pomegranate seeds from the State of Anshi in Tulin and brought them back, hence the name Anshi pomegranate."
Historical Anecdotes of the Pomegranate
The pomegranate, also known as Anshi pomegranate. In ancient times it was called Danruo, Wodan, Tulin, Ruoliu. It is a woody plant of the pomegranate family. The fruit is round and spherical, red, yellow or green. The rind is leathery. The fruit is large with many seeds, and the seeds are white, yellow or red. It is native to Iran, Afghanistan and other places. On a crown unearthed in Iraq dating back more than 4000 years, there are exquisite pomegranate patterns, which shows that its cultivation history is long and well-established. In the Han Dynasty, the pomegranate was introduced to China via the Silk Road and was first planted in the Shanglin Garden and the Lishan Hot Spring area. In the Western Jin Dynasty, rhapsodies on the pomegranate flourished greatly. Pan Yue: "The pomegranate is a wondrous tree under heaven, a famous fruit of the Nine Provinces." In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, pomegranate poems and the pomegranate skirt appeared. Since ancient times the pomegranate has been a mascot, symbolizing "many sons and much blessing." In the Tang Dynasty, the etiquette of giving pomegranates at weddings was popular, and the myth and legend of the "Pomegranate Fairy" began. In the Song Dynasty, the "pomegranate fertility cult" was popular, and pomegranate couplets and riddles began to flourish. In the Jin and Yuan dynasties, "pomegranate songs" were popular. Courtyard-planted pomegranates and potted pomegranates began to spread widely. People of the Song Dynasty also used the number of seeds inside the pomegranate when the fruit splits open to divine and predict the number of candidates who would pass the imperial examinations, and over time the phrase "pomegranate fruit passes the examination" spread, implying success in the imperial examination. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, because the Mid-Autumn Festival was exactly the pomegranate market season, there arose the folk custom of "on the fifteenth of the eighth month the moon is round, pomegranates and mooncakes are offered to the immortals." Over more than 2000 years, the pomegranate has continuously moved southward and eastward, taking root, blooming and bearing fruit in various places. Modern pomegranate culture has become increasingly developed, and Lintong has earned the elegant title of "Pomegranate City."
Cultural Connotations
Perhaps because the pomegranate is a product of the union of China and foreign lands, there are especially many poems and lyrics by famous writers of past dynasties chanting the pomegranate, forming a uniquely distinctive pomegranate culture. The pomegranate has many beautiful names: Wodan, Anshi pomegranate, Ruoliu, Danruo, Jinying, Jinpang, Tulin, Tianjiang and others. Dan means red; pomegranate flowers come in colors such as bright red, peach red, orange yellow, pink and white, with fiery red being the most common, so the color it leaves people with is fiery red. The fifth lunar month is the season when pomegranate flowers bloom most brilliantly, and thus the fifth month is also elegantly called "Pomegranate Month." The flower god of the pomegranate flower in the fifth month is the legendary Tang Dynasty bestower of blessings and guardian of the home, Zhong Kui; the pomegranate flower has also been designated the "Xi'an City Flower" by Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, the hometown of Zhong Kui and the hometown of Liu Hai. As for the folk paintings of Zhong Kui, a bright red pomegranate flower is tucked beside his ear, further expressing that the fiery-tempered Zhong Kui serves as the fiery pomegranate flower god; although this is a poetic imagination of ancient people, it is also most fitting. In the Ming Dynasty theory of "host and guest" in flower arranging, the pomegranate flower is always listed as one of the flower hosts, called the flower alliance leader, accompanied by gardenia, hollyhock, baby chrysanthemum, dianthus, crape myrtle and others, and these flowers are called flower guest ministers or flower attendants, and are even compared to concubines and maidservants, which shows how highly the ancients esteemed the pomegranate.
The pomegranate is also closely connected with China's clothing culture. This may be because some people say the pomegranate flower resembles the hem of a dancing girl's skirt. In Emperor Yuan of Liang's "Wuqi Qu" there is the lyric "lotus as the sash, pomegranate skirt," and the allusion of the "pomegranate skirt" originates from this. Ancient women, when wearing skirts, mostly favored pomegranate red, and at that time the dye for red skirts was mainly extracted from pomegranate flowers, so people also called red skirts "pomegranate skirts." Over time, "pomegranate skirt" became a byword for young women in ancient times, and when people describe a man conquered by a woman's beauty, they say he "bows down beneath the pomegranate skirt."
Introduction to Lintong Pomegranate
The pomegranate is a major specialty of Shaanxi. It gathers the finest qualities of pomegranates from across the country and has always been renowned for its bright color, large fruit with thin skin, abundant juice and sweet taste, soft and delicious seeds, plump seeds with little residue, and excellent quality. The Lintong pomegranate ranks first among the five famous pomegranates of the country, is listed as a treasure among fruits, has always been a tribute of feudal emperors, is renowned throughout the Nine Provinces, and is famous overseas.
The Lintong pomegranate is rich in nutrients, with a sugar content as high as 11%-14%, fruit acid 0.4%-1.0%, water content 79%, protein and fat each 0.6%, and a vitamin C content 2-3 times that of apples and pears, with its phosphorus content especially outstanding, reaching 145 mg per hundred grams, ranking among the top among fruits. It also contains carbohydrates, iron, calcium and other minerals. Its seeds taste sweet and delicious, containing 36%-61% juice.
The Lintong pomegranate is also a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used by farming families and can treat many diseases. The rind, flowers, leaves and roots of the pomegranate can all be used as medicine. Its nature and flavor are sweet, sour, warm and astringent, non-toxic, and it contains various alkaloids, tannins and others. The Mingyi Bielu says: it can "treat dysentery and stop seminal leakage." The Luoshi Huiyue Yijing says: "Pomegranate rind, sour and astringent in nature, has the effect of stopping discharge, stopping diarrhea and dysentery, stopping bloody stool, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, prolapse of the anus, and seminal leakage." The Bencao Gangmu says it can "ward off hunger, quench thirst, and sober one from drunkenness." Its fruit is rich in pomegranate extract, warm and astringent in nature, both moistening dryness and astringing, and is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension and coronary heart disease. Its rind contains pomegranate alkaloid, methyl pomegranate alkaloid, isopomegranate alkaloid, methylisopomegranate alkaloid, pseudopomegranate alkaloid and other alkaloids, with a total content of 1.8%. It can treat tonsillitis, stomatitis, enteritis, biliary tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic appendicitis, wound infection, chronic cough due to deficiency cold, bloody stool and metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, intestinal tapeworm and other conditions. Pomegranate seeds also have a certain curative effect on tapeworm, fasciolopsis, hookworm, roundworm and toothache. Its flowers can treat hematemesis, nosebleed and chronic ear discharge from otitis media and other conditions. The root also has the effect of expelling tapeworm. The leaves can treat eye diseases. However, the pomegranate injures lung qi, and eating too much is not beneficial.
Lintong Pomegranate Culture
The outstanding Lishan of Lintong has not only left the Chinese nation extremely rich and precious cultural relics of the Qin and Tang dynasties, but has also cultivated the colorful flowers of Chinese pomegranate culture. The emergence, development and maturity of Chinese pomegranate culture embody the meaning of "gathering famous flowers from abroad and bearing abundant fruit at home," display the love and yearning of generations of Shaanxi people for beautiful and auspicious things, and inspire the people of Lintong's longing for and pursuit of modern cultural life.
The authentic pomegranate of China is in Lintong, and Lintong is the birthplace of Chinese pomegranate culture. When Premier Zhou Enlai accompanied foreign guests to visit the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, seeing that nothing grew on the mountain because the mercury content exceeded the standard, he asked why pomegranates were not planted, and so pomegranates flourished greatly; the 18 pomegranate trees in front of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall were transplanted from Lintong by the elders of Shaanxi.
Zhang Qian obtained pomegranate seeds and brought them into the interior via the Silk Road, first planting them in the Shanglin Garden of Chang'an, then the imperial capital, and the Lishan Hot Spring Palace. According to the recollections of Yu Yuan, the Shanglin official of the Han, the Shanglin Garden at that time had as many as three thousand rare flowers and unusual plants, among which were "ten Anshi pomegranate trees." Because it won the favor of Emperor Wu of Han, he later ordered people to plant pomegranates at the Lishan Hot Spring Palace.
Folk Legends
There is also a marvelous legend about the origin of the Lintong pomegranate. It is said that when Nüwa smelted stones to mend the sky, she lost a red gemstone at the foot of Lishan. One year, the prince of the State of Anshi (An refers to present-day Bukhara, Shi refers to Tashkent) went hunting and in the mountain forest saw a golden-winged bird about to freeze to death. He hurriedly carried it back to the palace, feeding it and treating its illness. After the golden-winged bird was saved, in order to repay the prince's life-saving grace, it traveled ten thousand li to carry that red gemstone at the foot of Lishan to the imperial garden of the State of Anshi, and before long a wondrous tree with red flowers and luxuriant leaves grew. The king of Anshi then bestowed on it the name "Anshi pomegranate."
In 119 BC Zhang Qian was sent on a mission to the Western Regions and came to the State of Anshi. At that time, the State of Anshi was suffering a severe drought; the land was barren for a thousand li, the crops were withered and yellow, and even the pomegranate trees in the imperial garden were barely alive. So Zhang Qian told them the Han Dynasty's experience in building water conservancy, saving a batch of crops and also saving this pomegranate tree. That year the pomegranate flowers bloomed especially red and the fruit grew especially large. When Zhang Qian returned to his country, the king of Anshi gave him many gold, silver and jewels, all of which he declined, accepting only some pomegranate seeds and bringing them back as souvenirs. From then on, the pomegranate transformed from the "red gemstone" of Lishan began to settle and multiply in the Shanglin Garden of Chang'an and at the foot of Lishan, becoming today's Lintong pomegranate.
Natural Factors
The reason the pomegranates planted at the same time in the Shanglin Garden and the Lishan Hot Spring Palace could multiply in Lintong for so long is: the area at the northern foot of Lishan has "red silt soil" mixed with gravel and loess, with good permeability and abundant light resources, and distinct cold and warm, dry and wet seasons throughout the year; the air has little dust content and good light visibility. All of these suit the pomegranate's characteristics of favoring warmth and light, resisting drought, and tolerating poor soil. "Natural selection, survival of the fittest," so the pomegranates of Lishan, over two thousand years, have bloomed ever more red, becoming one of China's ten famous flowers; their fruit has grown ever larger, with some single fruits reaching more than 1 jin; and their propagation has become ever broader, having spread to many regions across the country. Pomegranates from elsewhere, whether in sweetness, size or external beauty, cannot compare with the Lishan pomegranate.
Huaiyuan Pomegranate
The Huaiyuan pomegranate is produced in Huaiyuan County, Bengbu. The ancients once praised it as having "seeds white and crystal clear like crystal, fruit as large as a bowl, skin yellow with a translucent red, grains exquisite as corn, bright and clean as pearls, flesh plump and core fine, juice abundant and taste sweet," and "one seed in the mouth, sweet as if containing honey." The Huaiyuan pomegranate is one of China's five famous precious pomegranate varieties, and the Huaiyuan jade-seed pomegranate ranks first, having been sent to the imperial court as tribute as early as the Ming and Qing dynasties. With its unique quality, the Huaiyuan pomegranate sells well in major and medium cities across the country and is also exported to Europe and Asia. The Huaiyuan pomegranate is bright in color, with orange-red rind, alternating yellow and white, dotted with red blush, and with a fresh green luster, like carved jade and congealed fat, a remarkable sight. The Huaiyuan pomegranate includes the world-famous jade-seed and agate-seed, the large and beautiful Dabengzi, Erbengzi and Qingpi, and the red and pleasing Pifen, Honghulu, Meirenjiao and others.
The Flower Language of the Pomegranate
[The Story of the Pomegranate] The pomegranate was originally called Anshi pomegranate. According to historical records, around the 2nd century AD, the pomegranate was produced in the Western Regions that were then under the Han Dynasty - the State of An and the State of Shi (present-day Bukhara and Tashkent in Uzbekistan). It was only when Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty was sent on a mission to the Western Regions that it was introduced into the interior. There is also a beautiful tale behind this.
After Zhang Qian arrived in the State of Anshi in the Western Regions, in front of the house where he stayed there was a tree in full glorious bloom, its color as brilliant as fire. Zhang Qian liked it very much and often stood beside it to admire it, and later learned from inquiries that it was a pomegranate tree. Later a drought came, and the pomegranate's flowers and leaves withered day by day. Zhang Qian carried water from time to time to irrigate it, so that its branches and leaves turned green again and the pomegranate flowers bloomed brightly once more.
When Zhang Qian completed his mission and returned to the Central Plains, the king of the State of Anshi offered him gold and gifts, all of which he declined, but he requested to bring back that pomegranate tree, and the king gladly agreed. Unfortunately, on the way back Zhang Qian was intercepted by the Xiongnu, and in the fighting that pomegranate tree was lost. When Zhang Qian and his men reached Chang'an, Emperor Wu of Han led the hundred officials out of the city to welcome them. Just at that moment, a young woman in a red skirt and green clothes was seen running toward Zhang Qian, panting and tearful.
Emperor Wu of Han and the hundred officials were all startled, not knowing what had happened. Zhang Qian looked closely and was also greatly shocked - was this not the young woman he had coaxed out the door when he was staying in the State of Anshi? It turned out that on the night before Zhang Qian set out, his door was gently knocked open, and there was that young woman bowing to him, requesting to go with her benefactor to the Central Plains. Zhang Qian could not understand for a moment what was going on, and secretly thought it must be a maid of the State of Anshi wanting to flee with him to the Central Plains. As a Han envoy, he could not stir up trouble because of this, so he urged her out the door. He had not expected that today she would catch up again. Zhang Qian asked: "You are not in the State of Anshi; why have you traveled a thousand li to chase after us?" The young woman replied tearfully: "I do not seek wealth or honor; I only seek to repay the grace of being watered. I met with robbery along the way, which prevented me from following you all the way." When she finished speaking she suddenly disappeared, and at once turned into a pomegranate tree full of flowers and luxuriant leaves. Zhang Qian suddenly understood, and reported to Emperor Wu of Han the matter of watering the pomegranate tree in the State of Anshi. Emperor Wu of Han was overjoyed and ordered the gardener to transplant it into the imperial garden, and from then on the land of the Central Plains had pomegranate trees.
Pan Yue wrote in his rhapsody chanting the pomegranate: "The pomegranate is a wondrous tree under heaven, a famous fruit of the Nine Provinces; its flavor soaks and flows, its fragrance overflows."
The whole pomegranate is a treasure; its flowers, leaves, fruit, rind and root bark can all be used medicinally. Pomegranate flowers, "dried in the shade and made into powder, taken with iron dan for a year, turn white hair as black as lacquer," which shows their effect of darkening the hair, but more often pomegranate flowers are used to stop bleeding. Folk commonly use pomegranate leaves to treat bruises and injuries, pounding the leaves and applying them to the injured area. The pomegranate fruit is red as agate and white as crystal, and its taste is fresh, sweet and delicious. Pomegranate root bark can kill insects, and pomegranate rind is sour and astringent and can stop diarrhea and dysentery. If used just right, the pomegranate is an effective folk single remedy.
[Flower Language] The flower language and symbolic meaning of Anshi pomegranate and the pomegranate flower: mature beauty
The Anshi pomegranate, native to Iran and Afghanistan, is a very beautiful flower. The Anshi pomegranate flower is a unisexual flower; the flowers on one tree are divided into female flowers and male flowers, and female and male flowers are relatively easy to distinguish, because female flowers are larger and more beautiful than male flowers, but both female and male flowers are very beautiful, and the flower colors are mostly red or white. Both can attract bees and butterflies. Seen from afar, it is like a mature woman wearing a colorful skirt dancing gracefully there, very pleasing to the eye. Therefore, its flower language is: mature beauty
Pomegranate Pictures