Peanut

A Versatile Ingredient in Chinese Medicine

Description

Peanuts are recognized in Chinese medicine for their neutral and sweet characteristics. They are known to lubricate the lungs and are often considered good for stomach discomfort. Primarily, peanuts affect the spleen and lungs.

Preparation

• Peanut-Rice Congee Soup: Fry 3 cups roasted peanuts until aromatic; soak 1 cup rice (any kind except sweet [glutinous]) in water for at least 2 hours; drain and add the peanuts and boil together in water until they become soft. This soup is consumed once a day to provide comfort for beriberi and to promote milk secretion.
• Roasted Peanuts: Eating roasted peanuts can stimulate the appetite, lubricate the intestines, and provide relief for a dry cough.
• Fresh Peanuts for Cough: Consuming fresh peanuts can be helpful for a cough with mucous discharge.
• Soup with Peanuts, Red Beans, and Red Dates: Boil 100g fresh peanuts with an equal amount of small red beans and red dates to drink as soup at meals.
• Peanuts with Pork: Boil 100g peanuts with 1 pork foreleg to eat at meals after childbirth.
• Peanut and Rock Sugar Drink: Boil 1 glass peanuts with 3 glasses water over low heat for 3 hours; add a little rock sugar and consume on an empty stomach.
• Regular Consumption for Deafness: Eating fresh peanuts on a regular basis is considered helpful for deafness.

Experiment

Initial research on peanuts indicates their potential in arresting bleeding in hemophilia patients, with subsequent findings highlighting the greater effectiveness of raw peanuts and the outer brown skins.

Clinical Report

A specific preparation involving boiling the outer layers of peanuts has been utilized for the management of chronic tracheitis. Among 407 cases treated, a significant number showed improvements or positive results, while others showed no effects.

Notes

• The outer layers of peanuts should ideally not be removed when used in a Chinese remedy, unless otherwise stated.
• Large quantities of peanuts might be harmful to digestive functions and the skin.
• Peanut oil, being neutral and sweet, is used to lubricate the intestines. It can also be applied to the scrotum region to alleviate discomfort.

In conclusion, peanuts play a multifaceted role in Chinese medicine, offering different preparations and applications for a variety of conditions. The scientific research around peanuts continues to unravel their intriguing potentials, making them an exciting area of study and practice.