Peach seed, a valuable herb to promote blood circulation

What is peach seed(Tao Ren)?
When used as a Chinese medicine, it mainly refers to the ripe seeds of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch or Prunus davidiana (Carr.) Franch. Both of them are plants belonging to the family Rosaceae. Other common names of this herb include seeds of peach, Semen Persicae, Peach Kernel, Semen Pruni Persicae, peach tree seeds, peach pits, peach fruit seeds, and the like. Prunus persica seeds are produced all over China and most of them are cultivated; Prunus davidiana seeds mainly grow wild in provinces of Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, and Yunnan. They are usually picked from June to July when the fruits are ripe. The following steps are to remove the flesh and pit shell, take the seeds, peel them, and dry in the sun. Medicinally it is normally used raw or fried.

Prunus persica seed is ovate, flat, long, 1.2 to 1.8cm long, 0.8 to 1.2cm wide, and 0.2 to 0.4cm thick. Surface is from yellowish brown to reddish brown and densely covered with granular protrusions. One end is pointed; the central part is enlarged; the other end is blunt, slightly oblique and flat, and with thin edge. The pointed end has shortly linear hilum while the blunt end has slightly darker chalazas that are less obvious and many longitudinal vascular bundles radiating from chalazas. Seed coat is thin, off-white, oily, and with 2 cotyledons. It is nearly odorless but slightly bitter. Prunus davidiana seed is nearly oval, smaller but thicker, about 0.9cm, about 0.7cm wide and about 0.5cm thick.

Peach seeds benefits
Traditional Chinese medicine thinks it is of neutral nature. That’s to say, as a food the ingestion of it won’t let you risk suffering from internal heat. Instead, consuming peach seeds is good for you no matter you are of cold or heat habitus since it plays a certain restrain dilution role.

The most valued healing properties of peach seed in TCM are its effect of promoting blood circulation. Given the fact of backward medical technology in ancient times, dietary therapy or herbs was one of the few available ways that could count on once people suffered from stagnant movement of Qi and blood. And peach seed nut is that one commonly used medically to invigorate the circulation of blood. It is said that it was once so expensive and rare that few people then could afford it. Likewise, it can be applied to treat scarce menstrual flow or even absence of menstruation in women.

Besides, it is also a good aperient since it contains certain of fatty oil, which can help obstructed bowel or indigestion. Eating peach seeds on daily basis can lubricate the intestine, keep the intestine smooth, and improve bowel function. It is worth noting that obstructed bowel is very likely to cause the proliferation of bacteria, and thus lead to intestinal inflammation. That’s to say, appropriate consumption of it is beneficial to intestinal discharge of waste, prevention of intestinal inflammation, and even the treatment of intestinal inflammation.