In the corner of the bustling market, Mrs. Zhao has a small stall selling Chinese herbs all year round. One day, Aunt Zhao was checking the pulse of the villagers who came to seek medical treatment, she frowned slightly, facing a middle-aged man.
His face was flushed, his eyes were a little dry, and his words were full of anxiety. The man complained that he had been upset lately and couldn't sleep at night, so Aunt Zhao smiled and grabbed a few yellow and white fruits from the wooden box and handed them to him: "This is a gardenia, we have a fire extinguisher here, you use it according to my instructions, and keep your heart and lungs completely gone." ”
1. Overview of the medicinal value and efficacy of gardenia
Gardenia is not only a common ornamental plant in traditional Chinese horticulture, but also a Chinese medicinal material with a long history. Its fruit, because of the bright color, shaped like a pearl, so it has the name of "gardenia beads". Traditional Chinese medicine believes that gardenia has a cold and bitter taste, enters the heart, lungs and stomach meridians, and has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood and stopping bleeding.
Modern pharmacological studies have found that gardenia contains a variety of active ingredients, such as gardenin, hesperidin, etc., which have significant effects on anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant.
The history of gardenia use can be traced back thousands of years, as early as the "Shennong Materia Medica" has been recorded.
Its medicinal properties make it still popular in today's herbal market. However, the correct use of gardenia, especially its compatibility with other herbs, is essential for its efficacy.
2. Clearing the heart and lungs: the application of gardenia in cardiopulmonary health
Cardiopulmonary health problems are becoming more and more common in modern society, and work stress and irregular lifestyle habits often lead to people being upset and even experiencing symptoms such as insomnia. The application of gardenia in this regard is particularly prominent, especially in the effect of clearing the heart and reducing irritability.
By using it with soy sauce, it can enhance its effect of clearing heat and relieving depression. Tempeh, also known as black beans, has a sweet and warm taste, which forms a neutralizing effect with the coldness of gardenia, making the medicinal effect peaceful and effective.
In terms of specific efficacy demonstration, the use of gardenia soy sauce soup has been recorded in detail in a number of clinical cases. For example, a study of patients with primary insomnia showed that after taking gardenia soup for one month, the patients' sleep quality was significantly improved, and the symptoms of irritability were also reduced.
In addition, gardenia can also help regulate the respiratory system and reduce symptoms such as sore throat caused by inflammation of the heart.
3. Clearing the stomach fire: the efficacy of gardenia in the digestive system
Stomach fire is a common problem that many people experience with irregular eating and stressful life.
Excessive stomach acid secretion or unhealthy eating habits often lead to an overheated stomach, causing symptoms such as stomach pain, acid reflux, bad breath, and a burning sensation in the stomach.
Gardenia, as a bitter herb, can effectively clear the stomach and relieve these uncomfortable symptoms.
Specifically, gardenias are rich in gardenisides and a variety of flavonoids, which can inhibit the secretion of gastric acid and reduce irritation to the gastric mucosa.
At the same time, it can also help stabilize the function of the stomach by reducing the frequency of peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract. In clinical practice, gardenia is commonly used to soak in water or use with other medicinal materials such as white peony and gypsum to achieve a better effect of regulating stomach fire.
For example, in a study of hyperacidity, taking gardenia soaked water for one month significantly reduced the level of gastric acid secretion and improved the symptoms of acid reflux and stomach pain.
At the same time, since rising stomach fire is often accompanied by mouth sores and throat discomfort, gardenia can alleviate these symptoms and reduce the pain level of ulcers through its anti-inflammatory properties. It can be seen that gardenia can help people improve the health of their digestive system in many ways when it comes to regulating stomach fire.
Fourth, the liver and kidney fire: the protective effect of gardenia on the liver and kidney system
The life pressure and unhealthy work and rest habits faced by modern people often affect the health of the liver and kidneys, resulting in hyperactivity or excessive kidney fire. Inflammation of the liver can manifest as dry eyes, irritability, headaches, and even insomnia.
Excessive kidney fire may cause symptoms such as soreness in the waist and knees, tinnitus, and dry mouth. In this case, the gardenia can play a role in clearing the fire and reducing the fire through its cold properties.
Especially in terms of dry eyes and irritability caused by liver and kidney fire, the combination of gardenia with chrysanthemum and stone cassia is a classic compatibility. Chrysanthemum has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying and brightening the eyes, while Cassia Stone helps to calm the liver fire and protect the health of the liver.
According to a study in glaucoma patients, long-term consumption of herbal teas consisting of gardenia, chrysanthemum, and cassia can significantly reduce the patient's intraocular pressure and improve the symptoms of blurred vision and dry eyes.
At the same time, many clinical cases have also shown that the combination has a positive effect on the improvement of mood and its symptoms.
Therefore, as an important component of traditional Chinese medicine, the proper use of gardenia and its compatible formula provides a natural and effective solution to common liver and kidney problems in daily life.
5. Precautions for the correct use of gardenias
Although the use of gardenia has many medical benefits, it is also necessary to be cautious about how it is used and how it is dosed. Gardenia cold, excessive may cause diarrhea or affect digestive function, especially in people with a cold constitution should be more careful.
In addition, each person's constitution and symptoms vary greatly, and the use of gardenias needs to be adjusted according to the individual's specific situation.
In traditional use, the observation of the tongue image is an effective means to judge the individual's constitution and internal heat. The red tongue and the yellow greasy tongue coating usually indicate internal heat or damp heat, and the use of gardenia can achieve the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying.
On the contrary, if the tongue is pale and the tongue coating is thin, excessive use of gardenias may cause the cold in the body to worsen, and symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur.
In practical application, it is advisable to use gardenia under the guidance of a professional physician, especially when used in combination with other medicinal herbs. For example, the compatibility of gardenia with cassia and chrysanthemum is widely used to clear the liver and eyes, but this combination requires precise dosage control to avoid possible side effects.
6. Common misunderstandings and taboos
In a wide range of folk use, the application of gardenia is often accompanied by some misunderstandings. A common misconception is that gardenias can be used for long periods of time, ignoring its cold nature.
Long-term or excessive use of gardenias, especially if there is no adequate pathological need, may cause the body to be too cold and cause discomfort.
In addition, pregnant women should be especially cautious when using gardenias. Due to the strong heat-clearing effect of gardenia, improper use may affect the health of the fetus.
For people with chronic indigestion or physical deficiency, gardenias should also be avoided.
For these misunderstandings and contraindications, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the pharmacological effects of gardenia and its scope of application and contraindications to ensure that it is used under the premise of safety and effectiveness.
For example, for people with specific health conditions, such as patients with cardiovascular disease and low blood pressure, gardenia's heat-clearing and fire-lowering properties may adversely affect their condition.
Such individuals should be more cautious when using gardenias to avoid a drop in body temperature or blood pressure due to the drug-induced cold properties.
epilogue
As a traditional Chinese medicinal material, gardenia still plays an important role in modern society through its unique medical properties. Whether it is to clear the heart and lungs, stomach or liver and kidneys, gardenia can provide an effective solution.
However, proper use, dosage control, and compatibility with other herbs are key to ensuring therapeutic efficacy and avoiding side effects.
By making reasonable use of the heat-clearing and detoxifying properties of gardenia, we can maintain our health while also enjoying the natural curative effects brought by traditional Chinese medicine.