What is peach gum, and what are its benefits and functions? Peach gum, also known as peach oil or peach resin, is a resin secreted from the bark of peach or mountain peach trees (Rosaceae family). Though uncommon in daily life, it serves as a valuable health-promoting ingredient and traditional Chinese medicine. Let's explore its benefits, functions, and consumption methods.
I. Composition of Peach Gum:
The primary components of the gum include galactose, rhamnose, and alpha-glucuronic acid.It has a sweet and bitter taste, neutral nature, and is non-toxic. It is primarily used to treat calculi dysuria, hematuria, and dysentery. Peach gum possesses sufficient water solubility and appropriate viscosity, and is available in both solid and solution forms. It can be used to formulate water-soluble adhesives, as well as serve as a thickener and emulsifier.
III. Properties and Meridian Tropism:
Peach gum has a sweet and bitter taste, neutral nature, and is non-toxic.It enters the Large Intestine and Bladder meridians.
IV. Effects and Indications of Peach Gum:
Peach gum possesses effects of clearing heat, quenching thirst, alleviating pain, beautifying the complexion, and combating aging. It is primarily indicated for treating calculi dysuria, hematuria, and dysentery.
① The Supplement to the Materia Medica: "Maintains the middle burner, prevents hunger, and endures wind and cold."
② Tang Ben Cao: "Treats calculi dysuria, breaks up blood stasis, and cures malignant obstructions."
③ Ben Cao Gang Mu: "Harmonizes blood, boosts qi, treats dysentery, and relieves pain."
Dosage & Administration: Internal use: Decocted as soup, 0.5–1 liang (approx. 15–30g), or incorporated into pills/powders.
V. Culinary Applications of Peach Gum:
(1) Papaya Stewed with Peach Gum
Ingredients: 1 papaya, 10g peach gum.
Method:
1. Soak peach gum in water overnight (12+ hours) until softened and expanded—it increases over tenfold in volume. Don't underestimate these 10g; it yields two servings.
2. Thoroughly rinse the softened peach gum to remove black impurities, then break into small pieces.
3. Add a small amount of water and steam over water for about 30 minutes.
4. After steaming, drain and set aside.
2. Thoroughly rinse the softened peach gum to remove dark impurities, then break into small pieces.
3. Add a small amount of water to the peach gum and steam over water for about 30 minutes.
4. Halve the papaya, remove seeds, and pour the steamed peach gum into the papaya. Sprinkle with rock sugar and continue steaming for about 20 minutes.
(II) Peach Gum and Silver Ear Fungus Sweet Soup
Ingredients: 15g peach gum, 1 snow pear (300g), 30g rock sugar, 5g silver ear fungus,
Instructions:
1. Soak 5g peach gum in 1000ml water overnight (about 12 hours) until softened and expanded to roughly 10 times its original size.
2. Thoroughly remove any black impurities from the surface of the softened peach gum and rinse.Soak the peach gum in water overnight (about 12 hours) until soft and expanded, increasing in volume by about 10 times.
2. Carefully remove any black impurities from the surface of the softened peach gum. Rinse thoroughly with water, then break into uniform small pieces.
3. Soak the white fungus in water for 20 minutes until softened, then tear into small pieces by hand. Peel the pear and cut into 1cm cubes.
4. Place the peach gum, white fungus, and water into a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes. The broth will begin to thicken slightly.
5. Add the peach gum, white fungus, and pear cubes to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes. The broth will begin to thicken slightly.
6. Remove from heat.
4. Place the peach gum, silver ear fungus, and water in a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the broth begins to thicken.
5. Add the pear cubes and cook for 5 minutes. Then add rock sugar and cranberries. Stir constantly while cooking for 3 minutes until the rock sugar is completely dissolved and the broth becomes thick and viscous.
(III) Peach Gum and Soapberry Seed Pudding
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon each of soapberry seeds, peach gum, and rose jam; 6 red dates.
Method:
1. Rinse peach gum and soapberry seeds separately, then soak in water. I soaked mine for 8 hours. After soaking, briefly rinse the peach gum and soapberry seeds, then place them in a clay pot with 6 red dates.
2. Add sufficient water to the clay pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of rose jam to a bowl. While still hot, pour the cooked peach gum and soapberry seeds into the bowl and stir until well combined.
6. Medicinal Recipes for Peach Gum:
1. For treating coughs: Boil 10g of peach gum with 10g of licorice root and 10g of honey in 300ml of water. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Drink the decoction 3 times daily.
2. For treating diarrhea: Boil 10g of peach gum with 10g of licorice root and 10g of honey in 300ml of water. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Drink the decoction 3 times daily.
3. For treating constipation: Boil 10g
3. Add 1 tablespoon of rose jam to a bowl. Pour the hot cooked peach gum and soapberry seeds into the bowl and stir until well combined.
VI. Medicinal Formulas for Peach Gum:
1. For treating blackened rashes and convulsions: Decoct peach gum into a decoction and drink it.Boil one portion of water into a paste, mix with warm wine, and consume without delay. (Peach Gum Decoction from "Comprehensive Treatise on Pediatric Hygiene") Pure Natural Peach Gum
2. For diabetes: Rinse peach gum with lukewarm water, boil in a small pot, and consume. Add salt to taste (avoid sweetening). Take 1-2 ounces per serving.(From "Collection of Verified Herbal Formulas")
3. For painful urinary calculi: Take a peach gum piece the size of a date. In summer, mix with three measures of cold water; in winter, mix with three measures of hot water. Take three times daily. Calculi will pass; discontinue when all stones are expelled. (From "Recorded Effective Formulas Through the Ages")
4. For bloody urine: Equal parts gypsum, akebia stem, and peach gum (roasted and ground).Grind into fine powder. Take two qian per dose with one bowl of water, decoct until reduced to seven parts. Drink the entire decoction before meals. (Peach Gum Powder from Yang Family's Treasured Formulas)
5. For postpartum bloody or white diarrhea with tenesmus and abdominal pain: Equal parts of dried peach gum, agarwood, and fried pollen. Grind into powder. Take two qian per dose before meals with rice gruel.(Women's Effective Formulas)
6. For thirst due to deficiency heat: Take peach gum the size of a bullet, hold in mouth, and swallow the juice.(Thousand Gold Prescriptions)
7. For stomach pain and gastritis: Take peach gum slightly larger than a soybean, wash with clear water, chew thoroughly, and swallow with warm water. Take once in the morning and once in the evening. Continue for thirty days. Gastritis will not recur, and the stomach will no longer feel uncomfortable after eating cold foods.
VII. Various Discussions on Peach Gum:
1. The Supplement to the Materia Medica: Maintains energy, prevents hunger, and endures wind and cold.
2. Tang Materia Medica: Treats stone-type dysuria, breaks up blood stasis, and cures evil spirits and malevolent influences.
3. Compendium of Materia Medica: Harmonizes blood, boosts qi, treats diarrhea, and relieves pain.
4. Benjing Fengyuan: The gum from peach trees most effectively promotes fluid circulation, treating blood-stone and stone-stone conditions. For blackened, sunken smallpox lesions, it is essential in the "Must-Win Ointment."
This concludes our introduction to peach gum—its nature, benefits, and uses. We hope this information proves helpful. Wishing you health and prosperity this winter.