Almond is a commonly used herbal medicine for relieving coughs and alleviating wheezing. It consists of the dried, mature seeds of the plants Prunus armeniaca, Prunus sibirica, Prunus davidiana, or Prunus armeniaca var. chinensis, all belonging to the Rosaceae family. It has the effects of regulating qi, resolving phlegm, relieving coughs, alleviating wheezing, and promoting bowel movements. It is commonly used to treat constipation, chest tightness, blood deficiency, wheezing, and coughs with excessive phlegm.
Almond
Almond is a commonly used herbal medicine for relieving coughs and alleviating wheezing. It consists of the dried, mature seeds of the plants Prunus armeniaca, Prunus sibirica, Prunus davidiana, or Prunus armeniaca var. chinensis, all belonging to the Rosaceae family. It has the effects of regulating qi, resolving phlegm, relieving coughs, alleviating wheezing, and promoting bowel movements. It is commonly used to treat constipation, chest tightness, blood deficiency, wheezing, and coughs with excessive phlegm.
Chinese Name : 杏仁
Aliases : Bitter Apricot Kernel, Mountain Apricot Kernel, Apricot, Mu Luo Zi, Northern Apricot Kernel
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Bitter in taste, slightly warm in nature; enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Descends qi and transforms phlegm; relieves cough and alleviates wheezing; moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movements.
Indications
Mainly used to treat constipation, chest tightness, blood deficiency, shortness of breath, and cough with excessive phlegm.
Usage and Dosage
Decoct and take 3–9 grams. It is best to crush the kernels and decoct them first.
Precautions
Almonds are slightly toxic; children and pregnant women should use with caution.
Chemical Constituents
Almond contains amygdalin and amygdalase.
Pharmacological Actions
When almonds are ingested, amygdalin is hydrolyzed by enzymes to produce hydrogen cyanide. Some believe that consuming small amounts of almonds, which break down slowly in the body and gradually produce trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide, does not cause poisoning but instead acts to sedate the respiratory center. This calms respiratory movements, thereby exerting antitussive and anti-asthmatic effects.
Relevant Discussions
1. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: “Treats coughing and shortness of breath, thunderous rumbling in the throat and throat obstruction, descends qi, and is used for postpartum and lactation conditions, traumatic injuries, and cold-induced heart palpitations.”
2. The *Bencao Biandu* states: “Its primary function is to descend qi; when qi descends, phlegm dissipates and coughing ceases. It can moisten the large intestine, so it may be used for those with constipation due to stagnant qi in the large intestine.”
3. *The Rhapsody on the Medicinal Properties of the Pearl Sack*: “It clears lung heat, treats wind-dryness in the upper burner, relieves chest and diaphragm qi reversal, and moistens the large intestine to treat constipation.”
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. Combination of Sweet Almonds and Platycodon: Sweet almonds have a bitter taste and a descending nature; they can descend qi to stop coughing, eliminate phlegm, and relieve wheezing, making them a key herb for treating coughs and wheezing. They can be used for cough and wheezing symptoms regardless of whether they result from wind-cold, wind-heat, external pathogens, or internal injury.Platycodon is bitter and pungent in nature, with a neutral property; it primarily enters the Lung Meridian. It disperses and descends Lung Qi to soothe the throat and has a good expectorant effect, making it a key herb for the Qi aspect of the Lung Meridian. It is particularly effective for treating coughs with excessive phlegm and can be used regardless of whether the condition is due to cold, heat, deficiency, or excess.When combined, these two herbs complement each other through their dispersing and descending actions, harmonizing the flow of qi to disperse lung qi and descend qi, thereby demonstrating remarkable efficacy in relieving cough and eliminating phlegm. They are commonly used for conditions caused by external pathogens—regardless of whether they are due to cold, heat, deficiency, or excess—that result in impaired lung qi dispersion, manifesting as cough, chest tightness, excessive phlegm, sore throat, and hoarseness.
2. Apricot Kernel Combined with Perilla Seed: Both herbs have the effects of relieving wheezing and moistening the intestines to promote bowel movements.However, Apricot Kernel tends to focus on descending qi to stop coughing and relieve wheezing; it can be combined for any condition involving coughing and wheezing, regardless of whether it stems from external pathogens or internal injury, or involves cold, heat, deficiency, or excess. Perilla Seed excels at clearing phlegm, descending qi, and relieving wheezing, and is suitable for coughing and wheezing caused by qi reversal and phlegm congestion. When used in combination, these two herbs complement each other to achieve the effects of descending qi, regulating the lungs, moistening the intestines, and promoting bowel movements.This combination is commonly used for coughs caused by external invasion of wind-cold, accompanied by qi reversal due to disharmony in the qi mechanisms of the zang-fu organs, and constipation.
3. Almond Combined with Ephedra: Almond is bitter and warm in nature, with descending and dispersing properties; it excels at descending qi and relieving cough, while also eliminating phlegm and alleviating wheezing. Ephedra is pungent and warm, with floating and dispersing properties; it excels at dispelling wind-cold, opening and dispersing lung qi to relieve cough and alleviate wheezing.When combined, one descends and the other disperses, harmonizing the flow of qi and enhancing the effects of suppressing cough and relieving wheezing. This combination is commonly used for excess-pattern cough and wheezing caused by external invasion of wind-cold and stagnation of lung qi.
4. Apricot Kernel Combined with Peach Kernel: Both are seed-based herbs that, due to their high oil content, have the effect of moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements. Apricot Kernel is bitter and dispersing, capable of descending qi to suppress cough and relieve wheezing, as well as moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements.Peach kernels, with their bitter, dispersing, and blood-stasis-resolving properties, possess strong blood-activating and stasis-resolving effects; they also moisten the intestines to promote bowel movements and descend qi to relieve cough and wheezing. When combined, the effects of moistening the intestines to promote bowel movements and descending qi to relieve cough and wheezing are significantly enhanced, while simultaneously promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis. This combination is commonly used for intestinal dryness and constipation due to deficiency of body fluids, as well as for prolonged cough and wheezing caused by impaired lung dispersion and descent, qi reversal, and the presence of blood stasis.
Medicinal Diet Therapy
A medicinal dish featuring sweet almonds is Ginger Juice Sweet Almond Pork Lung Soup.
1. Benefits: Warms the lungs, relieves cough, and resolves phlegm. Suitable for elderly patients with chronic bronchitis characterized by deficiency-cold, wheezing, cough, copious white phlegm, and constipation.
2. Ingredients: 250g pork lung, 12g sweet almonds, 2 tablespoons ginger juice.
3. Preparation: Wash the pork lung and cut it into pieces. Wash the sweet almonds. Place the pork lung and almonds in an aluminum pot, add water, and simmer together. Just before they are fully cooked, add the ginger juice and a pinch of salt.
4. Usage: Eat the pork lung and drink the soup.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate herbal formula.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest ripe fruits in summer, remove the pulp and shell, extract the seeds, sun-dry them, and use them raw.
Processing Methods
1. Raw Use: Take the raw herb, remove impurities, residual hard shells, and any decayed parts; sift out any skin fragments; crush before use.
2. Blanched Apricot Kernels: Place the cleaned apricot kernels in boiling water and blanch briefly until the outer skin swells slightly; remove, soak briefly in cold water, rub off the outer skin, sun-dry, and then sift out the skin.
3. Roasted Almond: Place the blanched almonds in a pan and roast over low heat until the surface turns slightly yellow; remove and let cool.
4. Almond Paste: Grind the blanched almonds into a paste; cold-press to remove oil using a press, repeating the process until the mixture no longer sticks and forms a cake; then grind finely and sift.
5. Honey-coated almonds: Crush the blanched almonds into small pieces, place them in diluted honey, and stir-fry over low heat until the mixture no longer sticks to your hands. Remove and let cool. Use 10 kilograms of honey for every 100 kilograms of blanched almonds.
Storage Methods
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place to prevent insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The dry seed is heart-shaped and slightly flattened, 1–1.5 cm long and about 1 cm wide, with a gradually tapering apex, a blunt, rounded base, and asymmetrical left and right sides.The seed coat is reddish-brown or dark brown, with brown stripes radiating from the base toward the apex; the surface has fine longitudinal wrinkles. There is an indistinct hilum at the apex; below it, on the lateral ridge, there is a pale, ridge-like seed scar.The point of fusion is located in a depression at the base; a darker-colored longitudinal line extends from the point of fusion to the seed umbilicus, forming the seed ridge. The seed coat is thin and contains two milky-white, fleshy cotyledons rich in oil; there is often a gap in the center of the fusion surface, and the radicle is located at its apex. It has a bitter taste with a distinctive almond-like flavor.
Properties of Processed Slices
See “Characteristics of Medicinal Materials.”
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Plants of the Rosaceae family: mountain apricot, Siberian apricot, Northeast apricot, or common apricot.
Morphological Characteristics
Deciduous trees with well-developed root systems; the taproot is stout and penetrates deeply into the soil. Flowers bloom before the leaves, appearing singly at the tips of small branches; the pedicels are short and covered with short soft hairs; the calyx is purplish-green; the calyx tube is cylindrical, and the sepals reflex after flowering; the petals are obovate, white or tinged with red.The fruit is nearly spherical, green when young, turning white, yellow, or yellowish-red when ripe; the flesh is relatively thin and juicy, with a sour and astringent taste. The seeds have a bitter and astringent taste. Flowering occurs from March to April, and fruiting from June to July.
Distribution Area
It is mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.
Growth Habits
It prefers a warm and humid climate, thrives in full sun, is highly cold-tolerant, and drought-tolerant, but is sensitive to waterlogging. It is highly adaptable and resilient, capable of growing in most soils, though it prefers loose, well-drained, fertile, deep sandy loam.
Propagation Methods
Propagation is by seed or grafting.
Cultivation Techniques
1. Seed Propagation: Harvest ripe fruits, rub off the pulp, and collect the seeds. Mix the seeds with moist sand in a 1:3 ratio for winter sand stratification.Sow in late March for spring planting, or in late November for fall planting (seeds for fall sowing do not require sand stratification; simply air-dry them in a well-ventilated, shaded area before sowing). Sowing is typically done in wide ridges, with one row per ridge. Plant seeds individually at 10–15 cm intervals, placing one seed per hole. After sowing, cover with 5–6 cm of soil (approximately three times the diameter of the seed) and firm the soil.
2. Grafting Propagation: Use seedling rootstocks from apricot or wild apricot seedlings. Branch grafting is performed in late March, while bud grafting is carried out from early July to late August.
Pest and Disease Control
1. Diseases include apricot leaf spot. Spray with a 5-degree lime-sulfur solution before budbreak and a 0.3-degree lime-sulfur solution when leaves unfurl.
2. Pests include the apricot weevil, as well as bagworms, longhorn beetles, and others.