1. Description

1.1 What is an Asian hazelnut?

The Asian hazelnut (botanical name: Corylus heterophylla, Chinese Pinyin: Zhen Zi, Simplified Chinese: 榛子), is a species of flowering, fruit-bearing, deciduous shrub or small tree in genus Corylus in the birch family, Betulaceae. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins; the male (pollen) catkins are pale yellow, 4 cm (1 1⁄2 in) long, while the female catkins are bright red and only 1–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long. The edible fruit is nearly spherical, small in size between 0.7–1.5 cm (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) in diameter with green to brown skin. The plant can grow up to 7 m tall. Native to eastern Asia in northern and central China, Korea, Japan, and southeastern Siberia and extensively cultivated elsewhere, habitats of Asian hazelnut include mountainous regions, mountain slope (often shaded) (usually from between 200 to 1,000 meters in elevation). Characteristics of Asian hazelnut include tolerance for shade and cold.

Other simplified Chinese names for Asian hazelnut include: 平榛, 棰子, 山板栗, 槌子, 山反栗.

1.2 How do Asian hazelnuts taste?

Good Asian hazelnuts have a nutty, dense and firmed texture with a flavor that is sweet, buttery and pungent.

1.3 How do I tell if my Asian hazelnuts are ripe?

Asian Hazelnuts start to ripen when the leaves on the trees change colour. Most ripe nuts are found in Autumn (September and October especially), depending on the weather. Unripe hazelnuts are green while ripe ones are normally in a chocolate brown or hazel color.

1.4 Are Asian hazelnuts a fruit?

Yes, Asian hazelnuts are a single seeded fruit consisting of an inedible hard shell and an edible seed though the fruit does not open to release the seed to the world. Other example of nuts are chestnuts and Macadamia nuts. Asian hazelnuts are true nuts in botany which should not be confused with culinary nuts which also include some drupes that are not botanical nuts, such as pecans, walnuts and almonds.

1.5 How is Asian hazelnut used in traditional Chinese medicine?

The seed of Asian hazelnut is considered to have sweet and neutral properties and to be associated with the spleen and stomach meridians. It is used as spleen tonic, lung moistening drug and antitussive (cough suppressants) in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as tracheitis.

2. Uses, Health Benefits of Asian Hazelnuts & Medical Formulas

2.1 Reduce Premenstrual Depression

Asian hazelnuts are rich in Vitamine B6, a group of chemically similar compounds which can be interconverted in biological systems. Researches found out that vitamin B6 is required for proper brain development and function and to make the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which affect our emotions. Medically, Vitamin B6 is used as an effective method for treating premenstrual depression. Therefore, it can be concluded that high dietary intakes of Vitamin B6 such as Asian hazelnuts may help to cheer up and wash away low mood during period.

2.2 Skin Health

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a key role as an antioxidant in our body. Vitamin E often work together with other antioxidants to neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage from happening. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants but it cannot be synthesized within our body and therefore we have to get it in our diet. Researches also prove that taking vitamin E in the long run can even reduce sunburns from exposure to UVB radiation. Food that are high in Vitamin E, such as Asian hazelnut may to slow skin aging, prevent skin damage and help us stay young.

2.3 Better Energy Metabolism

Asian hazelnuts also contain rich water-soluble Vitamin B1 (thiamin, or thiamine) which is a coenzyme used by our body to metabolize food for energy and to maintain proper heart and nerve function. Vitamin B1 is in its active form thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), an essential cofactor for several key enzymes in the carbohydrate metabolism. Signs of Vitamin B1 deficiency include chronic diseases such as beriberi, brain abnormalities, digestive abnormalities and neurological disorder. Therefore, diets rich in Vitamin B1 may help to boost metabolism and prevent a lot of related chronic diseases.

2.4 Tracheitis

[CTM Formula] A decoction of Asian hazelnuts, platycodon root and common hogfenneI root is taken orally to treat tracheitis.

2.5 Inappetence

[CTM Formula] Powdered Asian hazelnuts is taken orally with dried tangerine peel soup to treat the lack of appetite or desire.

2.6 Diarrhoea

[CTM Formula] Fried Asian hazelnuts are powdered and taken orally with red date soup to treat spleen deficiency caused diarrhoea.

2.7 Weakness Following Illnesses

[CTM Formula] A decoction of Asian hazelnuts, Chinese yam and dried tangerine peel is taken orally to treat weakness following illnesses.

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.