What are the effects and functions of Buddha's hand fruit?
Buddha's hand fruit, also known as Buddha's hand citron, five-finger orange, five-finger citron, etc., is the dried fruit of the plant Buddha's hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) in the Rutaceae family. It is harvested in autumn when the fruit has not yet turned yellow or has turned yellow, cut lengthwise into thin slices, and then sun-dried or dried at low temperature. As a medicine, it has the effects of soothing the liver and regulating qi, harmonizing the stomach and relieving pain, and drying dampness and resolving phlegm. It has a therapeutic effect on conditions such as liver-stomach qi stagnation, distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium, gastric stuffiness and fullness, poor appetite and vomiting, and cough with profuse phlegm. Let us take a look at the effects and functions of Buddha's hand fruit together below!
Medicinal Effects of Buddha's Hand Fruit
[Nature and Flavor] Pungent, bitter, and sour in flavor, warm in nature.
[Meridian Entry] Liver, spleen, stomach, and lung meridians.
[Effects] Soothing the liver and regulating qi, harmonizing the stomach and relieving pain, drying dampness and resolving phlegm. Mainly treats liver-stomach qi stagnation, distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium, gastric stuffiness and fullness, poor appetite and vomiting, and cough with profuse phlegm.
Compatibility and Applications of Buddha's Hand Fruit
1. Chest and abdominal distension and pain: Buddha's hand fruit has a delicate fragrance and a mild medicinal nature. Although it is a pungent, bitter, and warm substance, it does not have the drawback of being drying and harsh. It can enter the four meridians of the lung, liver, spleen, and stomach, and can be used for all types of qi stagnation. To treat chest tightness due to lung qi stagnation and spleen-stomach qi stagnation, it can be used together with costus root (Aucklandia lappa) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). To treat liver qi stagnation and the condition of liver qi invading the stomach, it can be used together with green tangerine peel (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and Sichuan chinaberry (Melia toosendan) and others.
2. Cough with profuse phlegm: Buddha's hand fruit has a relatively weak ability to resolve phlegm and stop coughing, but also has the function of regulating qi and relieving chest tightness, so it is very suitable for those with long-standing cough and profuse phlegm accompanied by chest tightness and pain. It can be used together with tangerine pith, loofah sponge, and loquat leaves.
Related Discussions on Buddha's Hand Fruit
1. "Dian Nan Ben Cao": Tonifies the liver and warms the stomach, stops vomiting, dispels cold phlegm in the stomach, treats stomach qi pain, stops cold pain in the face, harmonizes the middle and moves qi.
2. "Compendium of Materia Medica": Boiled with wine and drunk, it treats phlegm-qi cough. Decocted as a soup, it treats pain below the heart due to qi.
3. "Ben Jing Feng Yuan": Specifically breaks stagnant qi. To treat tenesmus after dysentery, use the aged one.
4. "Ben Cao Zai Xin": Treats qi and soothes the liver, harmonizes the stomach and resolves phlegm, breaks accumulations, treats dysphagia and regurgitation, and dissipates abdominal masses and scrofula.
Edible Methods of Buddha's Hand Fruit
1. Buddha's Hand Citron and Ginger Soup
[Ingredients] 10 grams of Buddha's hand citron, 6 grams of ginger, an appropriate amount of white sugar.
[Method] ① Peel the ginger, wash it together with the Buddha's hand citron in clean water, and cut the ginger into slices. ② Wash the clay pot, put the ginger slices and Buddha's hand into the pot, add an appropriate amount of clean water, place over fire and boil for 1 hour, remove the residue and keep the liquid, add white sugar and it is ready.
2. Buddha's Hand Fruit Rose Tea
[Ingredients] Three qian of rose flowers, two qian of Buddha's hand,
[Method] ① First, add water to the Buddha's hand and decoct for about twenty minutes. ② Then use the Buddha's hand medicinal liquid to brew the rose flowers, and drink it as a tea substitute.
3. Rock Sugar Stewed Buddha's Hand Fruit
[Ingredients] Rock sugar, Buddha's hand fruit.
[Method] ① Wash the Buddha's hand fruit, then slice it. ② Prepare a stewing cup, add two cups of water, the Buddha's hand fruit, and rock sugar. ③ After bringing to a boil over high heat, turn to low heat and simmer for 40 minutes and it is ready.