We usually talk about local medicinal materials, but what are authentic medicinal materials, few people can say clearly at this time. In fact, the "Tao" in authentic medicinal materials is the ancient administrative distinction, "land" refers to the region or region, and "authentic medicinal materials" refers to certain medicinal biological varieties in the specific environment and climate and other factors, the formation of suitable origin, excellent varieties, high yields, exquisite preparation, outstanding curative effect, with regional characteristics of the medicinal materials. Simply put, the natural environment in some places is particularly suitable for the growth of certain Chinese medicines, and the efficacy of this Chinese medicine produced is better than that produced in other places, then the Chinese medicine produced in this place is an authentic medicinal material. Just like the ejiao in Shandong, ginseng in northeast China, and sand kernels in Guangdong, these are authentic medicinal materials.
It can be seen that the distribution and production of natural medicinal materials are inseparable from certain natural conditions, and the medicinal materials produced in different places are quite different. In particular, the difference in climate between the north and the south of our country is so large, and the medicinal materials of the two places are naturally very different. Like we often say that the southern apricot and the northern apricot, these herbs we often use, what is the difference between them, what is the difference between the use and efficacy, let's compare it in detail:
The difference between the north and the south speaks of authentic medicinal herbs
Medicinal almonds are divided into sweet almonds and bitter almonds, due to the difference in the growth region, we are generally accustomed to calling sweet almonds as southern apricots and bitter almonds as northern apricots. Both of these almonds belong to the medicinal and food homologous ingredients. "Materia Medica Truth Seeking Truth" said: "Almonds have the ability to diverge my cold, and have the power to calm the breath, where the lungs feel the wind and cold and see the cough chest full of constipation, there is no irremediable treatment." It can be seen that the medicinal use of almonds can reduce breath, relieve cough and asthma, moisten the intestines and laxatives, and are mostly used for coughing and wheezing, chest full of phlegm, blood deficiency and dryness, and constipation. We can often see the north and south apricots appear in the soup in the restaurant, especially in Cantonese restaurants, because Cantonese people especially like to mix and match the south apricot and the north apricot together, and when the soup is boiled with old fire and even dessert, they will put some north and south apricots down. Because they are often mixed together, the distinction between the north and the south apricots often overwhelms many people. Let's now distinguish between the southern apricot and the northern apricot.
Southern apricot
Southern apricot: that is, sweet almond, generally the faint seed of certain cultivated varieties of apricot. Flat, slightly sweet taste, delicate and not bitter, with the effect of moisturizing the lungs and expectorant, suppressing cough and asthma. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that apricot is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to heart health; contains antioxidant substances such as vitamin E, which can prevent disease and premature aging; and also contains a certain amount of carotene and other nutrients. In addition to being used for soup, southern apricots can also be eaten raw, and the sweet almond snacks generally sold on the market are made of southern apricots, which can also be added as condiments to cakes, cookies and dishes. Southern almonds are generally larger than northern almonds, symmetrical to the left and right, and light brown in appearance.
Recommended health food treatment: Southern apricot pig lung soup. Cut the pig lungs into pieces, scrub them by hand to remove the foam in the pig lung trachea, wash the southern apricots, jade bamboo and red dates, and then put all the ingredients into the tile pot together, add an appropriate amount of water, boil over low heat, simmer for 2 hours, season.
Northern apricot
Northern apricot: that is, bitter almond, the source is the dried mature seeds of the rosaceae plant mountain apricot and the northeastern apricot. Warm and bitter. It has the effect of relieving cough and asthma, moisturizing and laxative. The northern apricot is heart-shaped, slightly pointed at the apex, bluntly rounded at the base, asymmetrical to the left and right, and the seed coat is dark brown with irregular wrinkles. The biggest difference between northern apricot and southern apricot is toxicity, and uncooked northern apricot contains toxic hydrocyanic acid. Such almonds must be boiled to remove toxicity. Peel and tip the northern apricot, soak in water for three days, cook without a lid, and then eat. Otherwise raw food or improper processing can easily lead to poisoning. Therefore, it is generally difficult for us to sell northern apricots in the market, and only medicinal shops can find them.
Recommended health diet recipe: Northern apricot stewed sydney pear. Put 10 northern apricots, 1 sydney pear and white sugar in a stew bowl, add half a bowl of water, and simmer for 1 hour.
Finally, it is summarized into a table, which is convenient for everyone to intuitively compare the two medicinal herbs
Species
Rosaceae apricots
Rosaceae deciduous mountain apricot, Siberian apricot, Northeast apricot
Sexual taste
Sweet and flat
The taste is bitter and warm
efficacy
Moisturize the lungs and expectorant, moisturize the intestines and laxative
Relieves cough and asthma, moisturizes the intestines and laxatives
shape
Large and flat, symmetrical left and right, with a lighter skin color
Slightly thicker than the southern apricot, heart-shaped, slightly pointed at the apex, blunt and rounded at the base, asymmetrical left and right, dark skin color,
toxicity
innocuity
There is a small poison
General dosage
3-9 g
6-15 g
dispose
Generally, no special treatment is required
At least soak in water for three days and cook without a lid
Price
More expensive
Cheaper