The efficacy and function of sand fruit

For many Chinese people, traditional Chinese medicine is very trustworthy because it has a long history and few side effects. Sand apple is a common Chinese medicinal material, which has many benefits for human health. So how can we eat sand apple? Let’s learn about it below.

[Other names] Zhire, Huotantou fruit

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root, fruit or whole plant of Rhododendron rubrum.

【Original form】 Evergreen shrub, about 50cm high. The branches are cylindrical, densely covered with brown bristles. The old branches are grayish white with traces of fallen bristles. Simple leaves are alternate; petiole is short, swollen and jointed at the apex; leaf blade is leathery, elliptical, 4-5(-8)cm long, 2-3cm wide, with rounded or acute apex, obtuse or cuneate base, serrated margin, green on the surface, paler on the back, covered with setae, midrib sunken on the surface, distinctly raised on the back, 4-5 pairs of lateral veins, together with the reticulate veins, distinct on the surface. The racemes are terminal or axillary, with the axis of the inflorescence 3-4cm long, covered with white soft hairs, with a bract at the base, large, elliptic, and with a convex tip; the pedicels are slender and finely hairy; the bracteoles are opposite, borne above the middle of the pedicel, elliptic, acuminate at the tip, with ridges, and ciliate; the calyx is 5-lobed, with ovate lobes; the corolla is ovate-altar-shaped, pink or white, with 5 shallow lobes at the mouth. The lobes are small, round, and slightly reflexed; the stamens are 8-10, the filaments are flat, enlarged below the middle, and covered with white short soft hairs, the anthers are 2-chambered, each chamber has 2 awns at the tip, the awns are slightly curved, and the apical pore is cracked; the ovary is covered with soft hairs, the disk is toothed, and the style is 2mm long. The capsule is berry-like, ovoid, purple-red, with persistent style. The flowering period is June-July, and the fruiting period is July-November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing on the edge of ditches or rock slopes, and sunny hillsides at an altitude of 1600-3200m.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; sweet; cool

【Functions and indications】Relieve rheumatism; relieve cough and asthma. Mainly used for rheumatism, cough, asthma, pleurisy

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-15g; or soaked in wine.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of sand apple. Sand apple has a great effect and is very beneficial to the human body. Therefore, everyone can choose sand apple according to their physical condition, but it should still be done under the doctor's advice.