The efficacy and function of astringent pear leaves

Astringent pear leaves in our lives have attracted our attention because of their extremely high medicinal value. Now let’s take a closer look at what astringent pear leaves are.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of Taiwania taiwanensis, a 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 young branches of this product are cylindrical, with the surface covered with yellow-white long soft hairs and dotted lenticels. The leaves are simple and alternate, elliptical to ovate-elliptical, 7-14cm long and 3-7.5cm wide, gradually pointed or acute at the apex, rounded or broadly cuneate at the base, with serrated edges; the upper surface is brownish yellow to brownish green and shiny, while the lower surface is lighter in color. The young leaves have yellow-white soft hairs on both sides, while the old leaves are hairless or have hairs only on the veins. There are 8-12 pairs of lateral veins, the main vein is flat or slightly concave above and convex below. The texture is slightly crispy. It has a faint smell and a slightly bitter taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Slightly bitter; slightly sweet; neutral

【Functions and indications】Removing heat and dampness; stimulating appetite and eliminating stagnation. Mainly used for heat and dampness, loss of appetite, food accumulation

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 3-9g; or brew as tea.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

From the above we can see that the Chinese medicine astringent pear leaves have very high medicinal value, so we can consider applying astringent pear leaves in our lives.