Properties: Sweet, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Lung, Large Intestine
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Nourishes Yin, engenders fluids and alleviates thirst
Diabetes (消渴 Xiao Ke)
Dizziness, blurred vision, irritability
Shortness of breath, dry cough
Dry constipation
Suggested Daily Dosage: 1-2 fruits, eaten as food.
Notable Constituents:
- Lipase
Enzyme responsible for breaking down triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the ester bonds in triglycerides. It is produced by the pancreas but also available from certain foods, for which avocado seed is a source that is acid stable and so not broken down by the stomach (Tursi et al., 1994). However, oat flour was found to be a better source for patients with pancreatic enzyme insufficiency.
- Pantothenic Acid
Vitamin B5 found in many foods but especially high in avocados. It has a role in the synthesis of coenzyme-A (CoA), as well as the synthesis and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
