Medicinal value of green plum blossom

Medicinal value of green plum blossom

Green plum blossom, also known as green-calyx plum and white plum blossom, is the bud of plum, a plant of the Rosaceae family. It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places, and now can be found in many places such as Sichuan, Hubei, and Jiangxi. The ones with red corolla are called red plum blossoms. They are similar in shape to white plum blossoms, but slightly larger. The corolla is light pink, with double petals and reddish-brown calyx.

White plum blossoms are mainly used for medicinal purposes, while red plum blossoms are less used. The flower buds contain volatile oils, mainly benzaldehyde, isoeugenol and benzoic acid, which promote gastrointestinal motility, increase appetite, help digestion, and have a certain stomachic effect; at the same time, they have inhibitory effects on many pathogens and are an excellent medicinal and food product.

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, green plum blossoms have a refreshing fragrance, sour and astringent taste, and a neutral nature. They have the effects of soothing the liver, harmonizing the stomach, resolving phlegm, and detoxifying. They are mainly used to treat plum pit qi, liver and stomach pain, loss of appetite, dizziness, scrofula, sores, and mental depression. Green-calyx plum is mild in nature, and many doctors both ancient and modern say that it "regulates qi without harming yin." However, patients with severe Yin deficiency, such as red tongue without coating, little fluid, dry mouth and preference for cold drinks, should not drink alcohol for a long time. Long-term use of foods that regulate Qi will definitely damage Yin and consume Qi.