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TCM Treasures - Fo shou 佛手
By Zhang Qian |
July 29, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
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FO shou, or fingered citron, a golden fruit shaped like the hand of Buddha, is not only an eye-catching decoration, but also a health-benefiting fruit.
"Bencao Gangmu" - "The Compendium of Materia Medica" - says it may not taste good, but it gives off a long-lasting scent. The best fo shou is said to grow at Jinhua in Zhejiang Province.
It is said that the herb was given to a good son by a beautiful fairy maiden. The boy's mother suffered from pressure on the chest, and one night he dreamt a fairy on Jinhua Mountain gave him a hand-like fruit, the scent of which cured her.
The next morning the boy set off to find the fruit and encountered the fairy, who gave him the magic fruit, together with a cutting.
The boy administered it to his mother, and her ailment was quickly cured.
Fo shou is a "warm" herb that travels through the liver, spleen and lung meridians. It can help regulate energy circulation, dissolve phlegm, relieve vomiting and flatulence, benefit the liver and digestive system. The root, stem, leaves, flower and fruit can all be used.
Fingered citron is also often made into essential oil in modern practices.
Fingered citron and rose tea
Combine 10g fingered citron and 5g rose with boiling water.
Drink often as tea.
Benefits: Helps relieve energy stagnation in the liver, regulates energy circulation.
Fingered citron and ginger tea
Combine 10g fingered citron, 10g ginger and brown sugar with boiling water.
Drink often as tea.
Benefits: Helps soothe the liver, regulates energy circulation and aids digestion.
Fingered citron, ginger peel and huo xiang (Pogostemon cablin) decoction
Make a decoction with 15g fingered citron, 9g huo xiang and 3g ginger peel.
Drink a dose a day.
Benefits: Helps relieve asthma.
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