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| Latin: |
Fructus Chaenomelis |
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| Origin: |
Chaenomeles fruit is the ripe fruit of the deciduous tree Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai [Chaenomeles lagenaria (Loisel.) Koidz.], of the Rosaceae family.
Known as the "wrinkled-skin mugua," used in traditional Chinese medicine, which is different from "mugua" the fruit, or papaya, Carica papaya L., of the Caricaceae family.
The chaenomeles fruit "mugua" is native to east Asia. In China, it is mainly produced in the provinces of Anhui, Sichuan, Hubei, etc. Those produced in Xuancheng of Anhui, known as "Xuan mugua", is of better quality.
The tree grows to about 1 to 2 m tall. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. The plant cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.
It is harvested in summer and autumn when the fruit is greenish yellow. After harvesting, soak the wrinkled-skin fruit in boiling water until the skin turns greyish white, halve it longitudinally and dry it in the sun; cut the smooth-skin fruit longitudinally into 2 or 4 segments, scald them in boiling water and dry in the sun. Slice for use when raw.
See also Food, Fruits, Papaya. |
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| Properties: |
| Sour in flavor, warm in nature, it is related to the liver and spleen channels. |
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| Functions: |
| Relaxes muscles and tendons and activates the flow of qi and blood in the channels and collaterals as well as removes dampness and regulates the stomach. |
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| Applications: |
1. To treat rheumatism and arthralgia, spasms of the muscles, beriberi with swelling and pain:
a) Tense tendons and stiff neck and inability to turn round:
Chaenomeles fruit is used in combination with olibanum, myrrh and raw rehmannia, e.g., Mugua Jian.
b) Beriberi (a deficiency disease marked by inflammatory or degenerative changes of the nerves, digestive system, and heart and caused by a lack of or inability to assimilate thiamine) with swelling and heart-attacking dysphoria (excessive pain, anguish, agitation, disquiet, restlessness, malaise):
Chaenomeles fruit is often used in combination with evodia fruit, betel nuts, etc., e.g., Jiming San.
2. To treat vomiting and diarrhea and spasms:
Chaenomeles fruit is often used together with evodia fruit, pinellia tuber, Chinese goldthread rhizome (Rhizoma Coptidis), etc., e.g., Mugua Tang in the book 'Recipes Assigned to the Three Categories of Pathogenic Factors' and Canshi Tang in the book 'On Cholera'.
3. To treat indigestion:
Chaenomeles fruit can also be used for indigestion because it can remove undigested food. |
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| Dosage and Administration: |
6-12 g.
Decoct chaenomeles fruit for oral administration. |
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| Cautions on Use: |
| Chaenomeles fruit should be avoided by anyone with excessive gastric juice. |
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| Reference Materials: |
Other Medical Records of Famous Physicians : "Damp arthralgia due to pathogenic factors, serious vomiting with diarrhea due to cholera and continuous spasms."
Original Meanings of Materia Medica : "The chaenomeles fruit can activate the muscles with its sour taste and rescue the vital function from collapse with its astringent property. Due to its essential taste, it is especially specialized in entering the liver to reinforce the muscles and promote blood circulation."
"It is an indispensable herb for the guiding action in the treatment of debility of the loins and knees and beriberi." |
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| Toxic or Side Effects: |
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| Modern Researches: |
Chaenomeles fruit contains saponins, flavonoids, vitamin C, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, etc. It also contains catalase, peroxidase, tannin, etc.
This herb seems to have the effects of alleviating the myospasms of the stomach and intestines and of the four limbs. |
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