🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Apricot kernels and peach kernels are dried mature seeds derived from plants of the Rosaceae family—apricot and peach species, respectively. They resemble each other closely in appearance and color but have different therapeutic actions. Apricot kernels are used for relieving cough and asthma, while peach kernels are used for activating blood circulation and removing stasis. To correctly distinguish between them, here is a simple identification method:
Apricot kernels have a yellowish-brown surface, a bitter taste, a distinctive almond-like odor, and are smaller than peach kernels. Peach kernels have a reddish-brown surface, a slightly bitter taste, and lack the characteristic almond odor.
After soaking the seeds in boiling water, peel off the seed coat. Then mix equal parts of 25% potassium carbonate solution and 2% bleaching powder solution, take the supernatant, decolorize the seed coat, rinse with water, and stain with 2% methyl green solution for observation:
On apricot kernels, the fine lines (vascular bundles) extending from the hilum run longitudinally along the seed coat and branch extensively.
On peach kernels, the fine lines (vascular bundles) extending from the hilum run longitudinally along the seed coat and branch sparsely.