Properties: Sweet, sour, slightly cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: None given but presumably Stomach and Spleen.
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Promotes the secretion of saliva, relieves thirst, strengthen the Spleen and promotes digestion
Thrist and poor appetite
Suggested Daily Dosage: Eaten as food decocted in water or raw.
Notable Constituents:
- Lycopine
Unsaturated hydrocarbon carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red colour with potent antioxidant properties against singlet oxygen. It has been recommended for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and prostate cancer, although results and reviews are conflicting. Some people can have allergic reactions and excessive consumption can cause an orange discolouration of the skin which fades if discontinued.
- Tomatine
Glycoalkaloid present mainly in the leaves and stems but also in small quantities in the fruit which protects the plant from fungi, insects and snails by disrupting cell membranes via inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. It is used in analytical chemistry for precipitating cholesterol from solution.
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.
