Some remedies from longan

Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Branch 3, said that longan is a familiar specialty to Vietnamese people and a precious ingredient in traditional medicine.

Fresh longan pulp contains 77.15% water, 0.01% ash, 0.13% fat, 1.47% protein, 20.55% water-soluble nitrogen compounds, 12.25% sucrose, vitamins A and B.

Dried pulp (longan pulp) contains 0.85% water, 79.77% water-soluble substances, 19.39% water-insoluble substances, and 3.36% ash. The water-soluble part contains 26.91% glucose, 0.22% sucrose, and 1.26% taetric acid. Nitrogen-containing substances 6.309%.

Longan seeds contain starch, saponin, fat and tannin. Scrape off the black shell of the longan seeds, slice them thinly, grind them into powder and sprinkle them on bleeding wounds, or mix them with oil and apply them to burns.

Longan leaves contain quercetin, quercitin, and tannin. Longan leaves have a bland taste, neutral properties, and are effective in treating colds at a dose of 10-15g in decoction form.

Longan is a precious ingredient in traditional medicine.

Uses and dosage of longan

In Oriental medicine, longan is a medicinal herb that nourishes the blood, benefits the heart, strengthens the spleen, and improves intelligence. Compared to jujube, longan is better at treating spleen diseases.

Longan both replenishes qi and blood, and is effective in treating insomnia caused by thinking too much, worrying too much, and feeling restless and nervous.

Longan seeds are ground into powder called "le chau" and are used to stop bleeding when injured, reduce pain, heal skin quickly, and leave no scars (ground and sprinkled on the wound).

Longan peel is ground into powder and used to treat burns. People with colds, digestive disorders, thick and slippery tongue coating... should not eat longan. Use 9 - 10g per day in the form of decoction or liquid extract.

According to ancient documents, longan has a sweet taste, neutral properties, and affects the heart and spleen meridians. It has the effect of nourishing the heart and spleen, nourishing the blood, calming the mind, and improving intelligence. It is used to treat blood deficiency causing forgetfulness, anxiety, and insomnia. People with bloating and poor appetite should not use it.

Prescription with longan and longan seeds

Treats symptoms caused by excessive thinking, depression, insomnia or forgetfulness: Longan, Chinese jujube seed (roasted), Astragalus (extract), Poria cocos, each 4g, 3 slices of ginger, 1 red jujube. Boil and drink hot.

Itchy toe cracks: Remove the black skin from longan seeds, slice thinly, dry, crush, and sprinkle in.

Treat symptoms of poor appetite, insomnia, lethargy: 40g of Ban long extract, 50g of longan, boil longan with water. Slice Ban long extract into small pieces, add to the longan decoction, heat to dissolve. Let cool, slice into thin pieces, drink 10g of this extract before going to bed at night and early in the morning.

Diarrhea due to spleen deficiency: 40 dried longan fruits, 3 slices of fresh ginger, decoct and drink.

Postpartum edema: 10g each of dried longan, ginger, jujube, rice seed, and poria, decoct and drink.

Anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness : 100g longan pulp, 120g sticky rice, cook porridge to eat.

Anemia, physical weakness: 10g longan, 15g lotus seeds, 10g jujube, 10g peanuts, 30g glutinous rice, cook porridge. Eat once every morning and evening.

Neurasthenia: 15g each of longan, sour apple seed, and Chinese clematis root, boil in water and drink before going to bed.

Vomiting, belching : 7 dried longan fruits, burn to ashes, grind into powder, divide equally, drink 3 times a day.

Bleeding due to injury: Grind longan seeds and apply to the wound.

Longan is good for the body, however people need to consult a doctor before using it as medicine to avoid harming their health.

Nguyen Ngoan

Source