1. Description
Asian pear (scientific name: Pyrus pyrifolia, also known as Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, nashi pear, Taiwanese pear, and sand pear; Chinese Pinyin: Sha Li, Simplified Chinese: 沙梨), is a species of deciduous fruit bearing tree with white flowers and golden and yellow fruits in genus Pyrus in the rose family, Rosaceae. The plant can grow up to 15 m tall. The Asian pear flavor is generally described as sweet taste and a crisp texture. Habitats of Chinese pear include hillsides, valley and fields in warm and rainy areas (usually from between 100 to 1,400 meters in elevation). Native to East Asia, the plant is now extensively cultivated around the world. Characteristics of Asian pear include tolerance for drought and flooding. Chinese pear is used as antitussive, antiasthmatic and stomachic in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as gastric disorder and chronic coughing.
Other simplified Chinese names for Asian pear include: 金珠果, 麻安梨, 快果, 果宗, 玉乳, 蜜父.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels
Asian pear is considered to have sweet, mildly sour, cold and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the lung, stomach, heart and liver meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Chinese Pear & Medical Formulas
3.1 Coughing
Asian pears contain glycosides, tannic acid as well as other ingredients which can help decrease the amount of phlegm, nourish the lung and stop coughing. There is a number of recipes for nursing coughing, such as the famous Asian pear and honey cough remedy.
3.2 Blood Pressure
One average Asian pear contains about 116 calories and only 0.6 grams of fat. The majority of these calories come from carbohydrates, with 9.9 of the 29.3 grams of total carbohydrates coming from dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is important for maintaining intestinal health and securing healthy blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
3.3 Heart Health
Asian pears contain rich vitamin B1. Evidence suggests that vitamin B1 (thiamin) supplementation may improve heart function in individuals with congestive heart failure, it can also help beat tiredness.
This is what Chinese pears look like. (Image source: cs.bendibao.com)
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.