Talking about pecans, one is bound to think of their brain-like shape and their ability to nourish the brain and enhance intelligence. One can also see many elderly people fondling pecans in their hands to exercise or maintain good health. Pecans are one of the four famous dried fruits and are recorded in numerous dietary and medical texts, also known as Hu Tao (Persian walnut), Qiang Tao, and Wan Sui Zi. Pecans have a slightly sweet, fragrant, and crispy taste, are rich in nutrients, and have high health and medicinal value. Other parts such as the pecan shell and the partition between the kernels can also be used as medicine with wide-ranging applications.
Pecan Kernels
Nut-based foods are considered an important part of a healthy diet, and pecan kernels are widely recognized as longevity-enhancing delicacies. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this ingredient targets the kidneys, lungs, and large intestine meridians, possessing properties that solidify the kidneys, reduce essence leakage, warm the lungs, moisten the intestines, replenish vital energy, and benefit the triple energizer. The “Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu” records about pecan kernels: “Sweet and warming, they moisten the lungs, benefit the kidneys, the large intestine, transform phlegm, stop pain, strengthen the waist and legs, disperse wind-cold, assist smallpox, heal exhaustion from overwork, improve blood circulation, replenish postpartum deficiency, moisturize the skin, warm the water organs, counteract copper toxicity, treat various pains, eliminate mutton odor, and relieve toothache.” It is evident that pecans have multiple therapeutic or health maintenance functions, such as transforming cold phlegm, strengthening the waist and legs, promoting blood circulation, replenishing postpartum weakness, or beautifying the appearance. Pecan kernels are “both food and medicine,” used not only in many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions like Qing E Pills and Walnut Pills but also processed into pecan powder, pecan beverages, snacks like jujube and pecan, and pastries. Modern research suggests that pecan kernels are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, with functions such as delaying aging, lowering cholesterol, and reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, daily consumption should also be noted, as excessive intake may have side effects such as activating wind-phlegm or assisting kidney fire. People with a cold constitution or cold conditions can eat more, but those with phlegm-fire should be particularly cautious.
Pecan Shells
After removing the pecan kernels, the sturdy pecan shells remain, but their functions should not be underestimated. Many ancient TCM texts record various therapeutic uses of pecan shells. In internal treatments, ancient people often used the method of burning to ashes while retaining its nature before using the pecan shells. For example, “Ben Jing Feng Yuan” records: “Its shell, when burned to ashes while retaining its nature, treats breast abscesses; take two grams of the ash, mix it with wine, and take it orally. If swelling has not occurred, it will dissipate; if it has ruptured, it will gradually close up.” “You Ke Zhe Zhong” states: “For persistent diarrhea, burn the pecan shell to ashes while retaining its nature, grind it into a powder, and take it with wine according to age.” It is evident that the pecan shell, burned to ashes while retaining its nature, has several therapeutic benefits.
In external treatments, pecan shells, apart from being ground into a powder after being burned to ashes while retaining its nature for topical use, are also commonly used as a barrier in moxibustion therapy for diseases of surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and other fields. “Hui Zhi Tang Experience Formula” records a treatment for initial stages of nameless swellings: first, fill the pecan shell with mashed garlic, seal the opening with yellow paper, and cover it on the affected area. Finally, place a large moxa ball on the shell and perform moxibustion seven times. After 3-5 sessions, the swelling can be reduced. Modern practices also utilize improved pecan shell moxibustion for eye diseases, as direct moxibustion is not suitable for the eyes, and the pecan shell's shape resembles the eye, making it conducive for barrier moxibustion. These innovative uses significantly expand the application range of pecan shells.
Pecan Partitions
The pecan partitions are thin, pale-brown, woody slices located between the kernels inside the pecan shell, with a bitter and astringent taste, neutral in nature, targeting the spleen and kidney meridians. They are also known as Hu Tao Yi, Hu Tao Jia, and Fen Xin Mu. From a TCM perspective, astringent herbs have the function of consolidating and astringing, so they are often used clinically to treat spermatorrhea, frequent urination, hematuria, leukorrhea, dysentery, and other diseases. Drinking tea made by boiling pecan partitions in water has a certain effect on treating insomnia. Additionally, when using pecans medicinally, attention should be paid to whether the partitions are included, as some formulas require the kernels to be used with their skin or together with the pecan partitions. For instance, “Ben Cao Zheng Yao” records: “A child had phlegm wheezing for five days without breastfeeding. After taking a soup made of ginseng and walnuts, the wheezing stopped. The next day, the pecan partitions were removed, and the wheezing recurred. When taken with the skin still attached, the child recovered. The skin has the function of consolidating the lungs.”
Two Pecan-Based Dietary Therapies
Crystal Pecans
Ingredients: One pound of pecan kernels, one pound of persimmon cream cakes.
Method: Steam the pecan kernels until cooked, then combine them with the persimmon cream cakes and steam again until they melt together. Allow to cool and consume as desired. Alternatively, you can grind the pecan kernels and mix them with the persimmon cream cakes before steaming.
Efficacy: From “Medical Record of Integrating Chinese and Western Medicine,” it treats deficiency of both the lungs and kidneys, or cough, or wheezing, or lower back and leg pain, or weakness in the limbs, and is especially effective for children.
Pecan Peanut Red Date Porridge
Ingredients: 30 grams of pecan kernels, 15 grams of peanut kernels, 5 red dates, 100 grams of rice, and appropriate amounts of rock sugar and other seasonings.
Method: Wash the pecan kernels, peanut kernels, red dates, and rice, add an appropriate amount of water, and cook with the rice. Once the porridge is cooked, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and other seasonings and cook for a short while before consuming.
Efficacy: Tonifies qi and nourishes blood, strengthens the spleen and benefits the kidneys.