- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Southern China and Southeast Asia
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Food · № 653
Dimocarpus longan
Food · Asia
Longan
Dimocarpus longan
Traditionally attributed effects: a sweet, warming tonic for heart and blood; good for digestion and calming.
Safety notes
Generally safe as food. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with dampness or heat.
Preparation
Dried flesh in sweet soups and tonics.
Use in traditions
A subtropical fruit tree; the dried flesh softens the taste of bitter herbal dishes.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese food therapy
Attributed effects
Strengthens the heart, improves circulation and nourishes the blood; makes soups sweet without extra sugar.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, warm
- Meridians
- heart, spleen
Attributed effects
Long yan rou nourishes the blood and calms the mind in anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and palpitations, and helps with exhaustion from worrying or working too hard.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 6–15 g a day, usually in a decoction. Also eaten as a sweet treat.
Combinations
- With ginseng, huang qi, dang gui and jujube seed in gui pi tang
Caution: Not with dampness or heat.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionPowder and kitchen
- Formulas
- Gui pi tang