As is well known, longan, also known as dragon's eye, is a fruit mainly produced in the southern subtropical regions of China. It is considered a rather special and precious specialty. Most notably, longan not only helps with insomnia and forgetfulness but can also address issues like anemia and replenish vital energy. It is undoubtedly an excellent healthy food choice.
In addition, longan pulp can be combined with other foods to make a variety of dishes. For example, Babao rice and Babao congee are well-known desserts, while longan with lotus seed soup, longan with red date soup, and longan with red bean soup can be used for therapeutic purposes.
According to modern scientific experiments, longan pulp is rich in glucose, riboflavin, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, with its selenium content being particularly outstanding. It also contains relatively high amounts of sucrose, tartaric acid, niacin, choline, protein, and dietary fiber. Some reports suggest that longan pulp may also contain substances that can delay aging. Therefore, consuming an appropriate amount of longan pulp in daily life is beneficial to the body. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests that people with poor digestion, a thick greasy tongue coating, a sore red throat, toothache, or internal heat due to yin deficiency should temporarily avoid eating longan.
Beyond the health and medical uses of longan pulp, TCM literature also records the medicinal properties of the longan seed, shell, and leaves. After the longan seed is calcined until charred and ground into a fine powder (known as "Lizhu Powder"), applying it externally to the site of a wound can stop bleeding, alleviate pain, and reduce scarring after healing. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that grinding six longan seeds and fourteen peppercorns into a fine powder can be used to treat underarm body odor. The calcined and powdered longan shell, mixed with tea oil to form a paste, can be used as an external application for treating burns and chronic, unhealing skin ulcers. Furthermore, a decoction of longan leaves can be used for external washing to treat sores and swellings.
If you eat more longans when you need to replenish your energy in the summer, you will later feel its charm and the subtle changes its effects bring to your body. Believe that once you have tried it, you will be utterly captivated by this fruit. If you don't believe it, you should give it a try.