Lychees are a delicious treat enjoyed by many, and most people are familiar with their benefits and uses. But what about lychee seeds? Lychee seeds are the dried, mature seeds of the lychee fruit, and many may not know much about them. So what exactly are the benefits and uses of lychee seeds? Let's take a look below.(1) Functions of Lychee Seeds
Regulating Qi and Relieving Pain
This herb is pungent and warm in nature, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians. It regulates qi and alleviates pain. The Compendium of Materia Medica states: "Lychee seeds enter the Jueyin meridian, dispersing qi stagnation. Their twin-seeded form resembles testicles, hence their efficacy in treating scrofula, hernias, and testicular swelling—a principle of treating similar conditions with similar forms."Thus, it is frequently used for lower abdominal pain such as hernia pain and testicular swelling caused by cold stagnation and qi stagnation in the Liver Meridian of the Foot Jueyin. It can also be used for premenstrual abdominal pain and postpartum abdominal pain in women caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Warming the Middle and Dispelling Cold
Lychee seeds are pungent and warm in nature, thus possessing the function of warming the middle and dispelling cold. They are commonly used for epigastric pain caused by cold stagnation and qi stagnation.This condition often arises from constitutional qi deficiency or prolonged spleen-stomach weakness, leading to deficient middle yang, internally generated cold, and impaired stomach warming. Symptoms include: dull, persistent epigastric pain, poor appetite, clear water regurgitation, relief from pressure and warmth, worsening pain on hunger, slight alleviation after eating, aggravation by cold, aversion to cold with cold limbs, loose stools,clear and prolonged urination, fluctuating gastric pain persisting for years. Severe cases may present with hematemesis or melena. Tongue appears pale and tender with teeth marks on edges, thin white slippery coating; pulse is deep and slow or soft and weak. The Compendium of Essential Prescriptions states: "Dispels cold pathogens and treats epigastric pain." Thus, this herb effectively addresses this condition.
Litchi seeds can lower blood lipids and regulate lipid metabolism disorders.
Litchi seeds can be used for hernia pain, testicular swelling and pain, epigastric pain, and abdominal pain.
【Applications】
Hernia pain, testicular swelling and pain.Primarily entering the Liver Meridian, its pungent flavor promotes circulation, its bitter taste facilitates drainage, and its warm nature dispels cold. It functions to soothe the Liver, regulate Qi, disperse stagnation, resolve nodules, dispel cold, and alleviate pain. For cold-induced Qi stagnation causing hernia pain or testicular swelling and pain, combine with fennel seeds and green tangerine peel, as in Lychee Seed Powder (Effective Prescriptions from the World of Medicine);or combined with fennel seeds, evodia fruit, and citrus seeds as in Hernia Internal Dissolution Pills (Selected Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas). For testicular swelling and pain due to damp-heat, it may be paired with gentian root, chinaberry fruit, and rhubarb.
Chronic epigastric pain, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain. This herb possesses pungent-dispersing, bitter-draining, and warming-unblocking properties, entering the Liver and Stomach meridians. It regulates Liver Qi, harmonizes the Stomach, regulates Qi, and alleviates pain. For chronic epigastric pain due to Liver Qi stagnation and Liver-Stomach disharmony, combine with ground Aquilaria wood powder, as in Lychee-Fragrance Powder (Jingyue Complete Works).For dysmenorrhea or postpartum abdominal pain due to liver qi stagnation with blood stasis, it can be ground into powder and taken with Cyperus rotundus, as in the Jiantong Powder (from Complete Effective Formulas for Women). Adding Ligusticum chuanxiong, Angelica sinensis, or Leonurus japonicus may enhance efficacy.