The efficacy and function of astringent pear

Astringent pear is a common Chinese medicine. It can be used for medicinal purposes as well as for food. The effects and functions of astringent pear are quite comprehensive. Let’s take a look at it below.

[Other names] Hawthorn, hawthorn fruit, Taiwan apple, hawthorn

[Source] Medicinal material source: The fruit of the Taiwania chinensis plant of the Rosaceae family.

[Original form] Taiwan apple, a tree, up to 15m high. Young branches are covered with long soft hairs, while old branches are dark gray-brown or purple-brown and glabrous. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 1.5-3cm long; stipules are membranous, linear-lanceolate, and fall off early; leaves are oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 9-15cm long, 4-6.5cm wide, with irregular sharp serrations on the edges, with white pubescence on both sides when young, and fall off when mature. The flowers are bisexual; the inflorescence is nearly umbel-shaped, with 4-5 flowers, the pedicels are 1.5-3cm long and have white hairs; the flowers are yellow-white and 2.5-3cm in diameter; the calyx tube is obbell-shaped and has hairs on the outside; the sepals are ovate-lanceolate, entire, and densely covered with white hairs on the inside; the petals are 5, ovate, with short claws at the base; there are about 30 stamens, and the anthers are yellow; the styles are 4-5, with long hairs at the base, longer than the stamens, and the stigma is semicircular. The pear fruit is spherical, 4-5.5cm in diameter, yellow-red, with a persistent calyx with a short tube, sepals reflexed, raised at the tip, a separated fruit core, and red spots on the outside; the fruit pedicel is 1-3cm long. Flowering and fruiting period is summer and autumn.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 1000-2000m.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The fruit of this product is spherical, with a diameter of 4-5.5cm, the surface is brown-red or brown-brown, with fine lines and no spots; the apex is raised, with a persistent calyx, and the sepals are curled. The dried product is in the form of circular slices, 1.5-4.2cm in diameter and 0.3-1cm thick. The outer skin is brown-red to purple-brown, with fine wrinkles and slightly curled edges. The flesh is 0.4-1.2cm thick. Light brown-red, 5 ovary chambers can be seen in the middle cross section, each with 2 seeds. The seed coat is thin and brittle, but most seeds fall off and are hollow. The top section shows the persistent calyx tube with tubular protrusions, which is slightly pubescent or glabrous. In some slices, remnants of the fruit stalk can be seen. It has a faint smell and tastes sour and slightly astringent.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet; sour; astringent; slightly warm

【Functions and indications】Digestion and relieving stagnation; regulating Qi and strengthening the spleen. Stagnation of staple food; abdominal distension; diarrhea

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 9-15g of fruit; 6-15g of fruit charcoal.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Above we introduced what astringent pears are. We know that astringent pears have very comprehensive effects and functions, so we can use astringent pears as a means of regulating the body in daily life.