1. Description
What is a quince? The quince (scientific name: Cydonia oblonga, Chinese Pinyin: Wen Po, Simplified Chinese: 榅桲), is a species of small deciduous, fruit bearing tree with white or pink, five-petal flowers and yellow pear like scented fruits. The plant is categorized in genus Cydonia in the rose family, Rosaceae. The plant can grow up to 10 m tall. Habitats of the quince include orchards, hillside, shrublands, rocky slopes and woodland margins. Native to Caucasia in western Asia, the plant is now extensively cultivated elsewhere. Characteristics of quince include tolerance for cold and adaptation to different soils.
Other simplified Chinese names for quince include: 榲柏, 金苹果, 木梨.
How do Quinces taste?
The quince fruits have intense aroma and flavor. The persistent tart flavor of quinces counteracts the greasiness in meat and fowl dishes in rich cuisines.
This is what the quince look like. (Image source: www.meichubang.com)
Can I eat a raw quince?
Yes, you can eat raw quince, but the fruit tastes sour and tart. The tartness decreases when cooked and the cooking process really lets the fragrant aroma out.
How quince is used in traditional Chinese medicine?
The fruit of the quince is used as dampness-dispelling drug, muscles and joints relaxant, antiemetic and stomachic in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as indigestion and watery diarrhea.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels
The fruit of the quince is considered to have sour, sweet, mildly warm and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the spleen and stomach meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Quince & Medical Formulas
3.1 Reduce Inflammation
Chronic and uncontrolled inflammation can lead to a lot of diseases and health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and even metal problems like depression (clevelandclinic.org 2014). Ripe quince fruit has high content of Vitamin C, equivalent to nearly 25% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). Vitamin C helps to boost immunity and aids in the treatment of inflammatory conditions and therefore help to stop a number of diseases at the beginning stages.
3.2 Better Weight Control
Quince fruit is rich in dietary fiber and also it provides only 57 calories per 100 g of the fruit. Dietary fiber is important for maintaining intestinal health and securing healthy blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Since the dietary fiber cannot be consumed, the fruit helps to loss fat and exert better body weight control.
3.3 Painful Joints
[CTM Formula] A decoction of quince is taken orally to relieve joint pain as well as to aid digestion.
3.4 Fruit For Pregnancy
Quince is loaded with healthy nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds, antioxidants and dietary fiber. Some believed that quinces eaten during pregnancy helps to produce wise babies.
List of reference
clevelandclinic.org 2014 Why You Should Pay Attention to Chronic Inflammation [online] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/10/why-you-should-pay-attention-to-chronic-inflammation/
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.