Ang Ginkgo biloba ay ang pinakamatandang "living fossil" sa gymnosperms, at native sa China. Maliban sa wild forests, ito ay nakalalagay sa buong bansa. Ang seed, na kilala bilang white fruit, ay ang focus ng usapan.
Ang Li Shizhen sa "Bencao Gangmu" ay nagsasabi: "(This item) originally from southern China, leaves like duck feet, hence called 'duck foot' (Duck Foot Seed). First introduced into court during Song Dynasty, renamed as 'Ginkgo'. Because it looks like a small apricot and has white kernel. Now known as white fruit." Kaya ang paggamit nito ay kamakailan lamang. Una, ginamit sa folk cooking, pagkatapos ay inilagay sa royal court, at ang presyo ay tumataas! Tulad ng si Ouyang Xiu noong panahon ng Song: "Red pouches entered the court, Ginkgo became precious in Central China." Si Yang Wanli ay nagtulungan: "Deep gray ashes, repeated encounters, slightly bitter, sweet, highest flavor. Not necessarily better than lotus root, but Ginkgo can accompany golden peaches." Mula noong Ming Dynasty, ito ay ginamit bilang gamot.
Paraan ng Pagkuha
Ang white fruit ay kinukuha sa late autumn kapag mature. Ang seed ay berde, oval to nearly spherical, may white powder on outer layer, at yellow when ripe. Alisin ang fleshy outer layer, linisin, at ilagay sa sun to dry. Ito ay ang kilala naming shell-covered white fruit. Ang white fruit ay mabuti kung ang shell ay yellow-white, the kernel is full, and the cut surface is pale yellow. The kernel has a membranous seed coat. For medicinal or edible use, break the shell, remove the kernel. Can be used raw or steamed/cooked/fried; for eating, remove the membrane and embryo.
Paggawa at Gamit
Ang white fruit ay neutral in nature, sweet and slightly bitter, with mild toxicity, and enters the lung meridian. It has functions of astringing the lungs, relieving asthma, stopping leukorrhea and urination, and resolving phlegm. Externally, it can "detoxify and kill insects."
Ang white fruit contains high levels of carbohydrates, followed by protein, fat, vitamin E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, etc., giving it high nutritional value. However, the active components related to efficacy are not yet clear. Pharmacological studies show it has expectorant effects, and inhibits Mycobacterium tuberculosis and pathogenic skin fungi. The components such as ginkgolic acid and ginkgo phenol have some toxicity.
This item is mainly used for the following conditions: (1) Asthma and cough with phlegm. (2) Excessive leukorrhea, white turbidity, frequent urination, or bedwetting due to kidney deficiency.
Additionally, applying crushed raw material externally can treat cracked hands and feet, rhinitis, and fungal infections on face and hands.
Main Formulas with White Fruit
Defeating Asthma Decoction (from "She Sheng Zhong Miao Fang"): For asthma, cough with upward breathing, yellow phlegm, thick tongue coating. 21 roasted white fruits, 9 grams of Ma Huang, 6 grams of Xing Ren, 9 grams of Kun Hua, 6 grams of Su Zi, 9 grams of Fa Ban Xia, 9 grams of Huang Qin, 9 grams of Sang Bai Pi, 3 grams of Gan Cao. Boil with water, extract juice. Divide into 3 doses. According to "Bencao Gangmu," a pharmacy in Jinling once promoted this formula for asthma, and "everyone who took it was cured, and the family became wealthy." This formula is still commonly used today.
Ginkgo Paste (from "Shou Shi Bao Yuan"): For chronic cough with phlegm, or chronic bronchitis, cough with thick phlegm, breathlessness, and lung deficiency. 120 grams each of white fruit, fine tea leaves, and walnut kernels. Lightly roast and grind tea leaves, crush white fruit and walnut kernels, add 250 grams of honey, and boil into paste. Take 1 teaspoon daily, 2–3 times.
White Fruit and Yam Powder (from "Modern Practical Chinese Medicine"): For frequent urination, leukorrhea, and dizziness. Equal parts of roasted white fruit and yam. Dry and grind into fine powder. Mix evenly. Take 40 grams daily, divided into 3–4 doses, taken with rice gruel or warm water.
White Fruit Stewed Chicken (from "Binhu Ji Jian Fang"): For women with spleen and kidney deficiency, with clear and abundant leukorrhea. 15 grams each of white fruit, lotus seeds, and glutinous rice, 5 grams of black pepper, 1 whole clean wu gu ji. Grind the four ingredients into powder, put into the chicken cavity, tie securely. Add water, a little ginger and salt. Simmer slowly until tender. Divide into 3–4 portions and eat.
Roasted White Fruit (from "Bencao Gangmu"): For frequent urination or bedwetting. Use 14 roasted white fruits. Eat twice a day.
Additionally, stewed or braised chicken with white fruit is a common folk recipe: Use about 50–100 grams of fresh white fruit kernels, 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces), stew with mushrooms, or add lettuce when braising, seasoned with ginger, salt, etc.
Paunawa
1. The dosage for medicinal use is small, 6–10 grams per day; for cooked or stewed, slightly more, but within 25 grams (single person).
2. The item has mild toxicity, should not be eaten raw, especially not in large amounts. The onset of poisoning is 1–12 hours, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fear, screaming, convulsions, coma, and even death. There were records of poisoning or death from white fruit in the Jin-Yuan period.
3. Due to its astringent nature, caution is advised for those with thick, hard-to-cough-up phlegm.
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