INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Semen Armeniacae |
| Common English: | Apricot Kernel Apricot Seed Bitter Apricot Kernel |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Bitter |
Slightly Warm Slightly Toxic |
Lung Large Intestine |
3-10g Tincture: 2-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Stops cough and calms wheezing |
Coughs due to either Heat or Cold (depending on combination) Wind-Dry coughs (especially useful) |
Moistens the Intestines and unblocks bowels |
Constipation |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Fol. Mori |
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Dry cough due to Wind-Cold |
Non-productive dry cough due to Wind-Heat |
Non-productive cough due to Dry Heat scorching the Lungs |
Rx. Ophiopogonis |
Hb. Ephedrae |
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Dry cough due to Dryness and Heat injuring the Lungs |
Cough and wheezing due to Excess |
Cough, thirst and wheezing due to Excess with Lung Heat |
Fr. Perillae |
Fr. Amomi Rotundus |
Sm. Cannabis |
Cough and wheezing with constipation |
Early-stage Damp Warmth disorder with heaviness of the head and body,a stifling sensation in the chest, poor appetite and afternoon fever |
Constipation due to Deficient Qi and dry Intestines |
Sm. Persicae |
Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis |
Bul. Fritillariae Cirrhosae |
Constipation due Lung Qi Stagnation Blood Stasis with pain in the chest, abdomen or throughout the body Wheezing and cough due to Lung constraint |
Strongly descend Qi and disperse Phlegm-Dampness and calms wheezing to treat cough and wheezing from Phlegm-Dampness leading to Lung Qi Stagnation Upper and Middle Jiao Dampness with a stifling sensation in the chest and epigastric and abdominal distention with a feeling of fullness |
Wheezing and cough from externally contracted Lung disorders Non-productive cough from Lung Deficiency disorders Coughing of thick, yellow sputum due to Phlegm-Fire |
Fol. Mori |
Sm. Cannabis |
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Headache, fever, and dry non-productive cough from External Warm-Dryness disorders |
Cough with profuse sputum, nasal obstruction and a hoarse voice |
Constipation due to Deficiency or Qi, Blood and/or Body fluids |
Sm. Platycladi |
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Constipation due to Dryness |
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- Stops constipation due to its high oil content.
- Overdose may cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and headache. It may lead to dyspnea, dilated pupils, arrhythmias and coma. Cooking, removing the cover, and mixing with sugar reduces its toxicity. The bark of the apricot or the cortex of its root are used as antidotes.
- This herb is in expectorant formulas - especially for Lung Cold.
- This herb can be used for intestinal cancer.
- It is good for externally contracted coughs.
- It has a descending function and is therefore god to stop coughing and wheezing.
- Some sources say that this herb relieves muscle tension.
- Xing Ren unblocks the collaterals of the Lungs, is soft and presses down internally. Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang opens pores and interstices, is hard, and expands the exterior. Used together, they completely eradicate the pathogen.
- Sm. Armeniacae Amrum Ku Xing Ren (bitter or northern Apricot Kernel) are the most used type. The outer coating is toxic and must be removed.
- Sm. Armeniacae Dulce Tian Xing Ren (sweet or southern Apricot Kernel) is used for dry or deficient coughs. They are less toxic, more moistening and are used for cough and wheezing. The actions are more gradual and less pronounced than Ku Xing Ren. These kernels are also used for food.
- Dry-fried Apricot Kernel Chao Xing Ren is more appropriate for patients with a weak Spleen and Stomach and a tendency toward loose stools.They still alleviate cough and wheezing.
- Defatted Apricot Kernel Xing Ren Shuang has no Intestinal moistening properties but still transforms Phlegm and eliminates cough and may have Blood-invigorating and collateral-opening properties.