Pinyin: Lizhihe
Aliases
Lihe, Liren, Zhihe, Dalizhi.
Source
1. For pneumonia: Renshen 6 g, decoct in water and take orally.Litchi chinensisDried mature seeds of *Myristica fragrans* Houtt.
Botanical Description
Evergreen tree, 10-15 m tall. Even-pinnate compound leaves, alternate, leaf including petiole 10-25 cm long; leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, rarely 4 pairs, petiolules 7-8 mm long, leaf blades lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 6-15 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, apex abruptly acuminate or caudate-short acuminate, entire margin, glabrous, thinly leathery or leathery. Panicles terminal, large, much branched, flowers unisexual, monoecious; calyx shallowly cup-shaped, deeply 5-lobed, covered with golden-yellow short tomentum; petals 5, with broad and thickly hairy scales on inner base; stamens 6-7, sometimes 8, filaments about 4 mm long, ovary densely covered with small tubercles and stiff hairs. Fruit ovoid to subglobose, 2-3.5 cm long, usually dark red to bright red when mature. Seeds completely enclosed by fleshy aril. Flowering in spring, fruiting in summer.
Habitat and Distribution
Distributed in South China and Southwest China, with the most extensive cultivation in Guangdong, southern Fujian, and Taiwan.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest the ripe fruit in summer, remove the peel and fleshy aril, wash clean, and sun-dry.
Medicinal Properties
This product is oblong or ovoid in shape, slightly flattened, 1.5-2.2 cm long and 1-1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is brownish-red or purplish-brown, smooth, glossy, with slight depressions and fine wavy lines; at one end there is a suborbicular yellowish-brown hilum approximately 7 mm in diameter. The texture is hard. There are 2 cotyledons, brownish-yellow. Odor: faint; Taste: slightly sweet, bitter, and astringent.
Chemical Constituents
This product containsαMethylcyclopropylglycine, 3-hydroxybutanone, allo-aromadendrene, humulene, and other constituents.
Pharmacology
Lowers blood sugar and reduces liver glycogen.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, slightly bitter, warm. Enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
Functions and Indications
Promotes Qi circulation, dissipates masses, dispels Cold, and alleviates pain. Used for Cold hernia with abdominal pain and testicular swelling and pain.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 6-10 g; grind into powder, 1.5-3 g; or prepare into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply with a medium.
Prescriptions
1. For heart pain and small intestinal Qi disorder: Litchi seeds (Lizhihe) burned over slow fire until preserving the nature, ground into powder, take one dose mixed with fresh wine. (From *Bencao Yanyi*). 2. For prolonged epigastric and stomach cavity pain that recurs upon provocation (more common in women): Litchi seeds (Lizhihe) 3 g, costus root (Muxiang) 2.4 g. Grind into powder. Take 3 g per dose, mixed with clear soup. (From *Jingyue Quanshu*, "Lixiang San"). 3. For Qi and blood stabbing pain in women: Litchi seeds (Lizhihe, burned preserving the nature) 15 g, cyperus tuber (Xiangfuzi, removed hair, stir-fried) 30 g. Grind the above into fine powder. Take 6 g mixed with salt water or rice drink, regardless of meal times. (From *Furen Liangfang*, "Juan Tong San"). 4. For heart and spleen pain in women: Litchi seeds (Lizhihe) burned preserving the nature, ground into powder, take with light vinegar soup. Also treats sudden heart pain in men and children, take with clam shell powder soup. (From *Puji Fang*). 5. For axillary odor (body odor): Litchi seeds (Lizhihe) dried over fire and ground into fine powder, mix with appropriate amount of white wine, apply evenly to the armpit, twice daily. (From *Fujian Yaowu Zhi*).
