In traditional medicine, lemon seeds are commonly used in combination with various herbs to treat coughs in children. This seed is also an effective remedy for snake bites.
The lemon seed, often discarded when using the lemon fruit, is actually a well-known remedy according to folk experience.
Treating Coughs in Children: Take 10 grams of lemon seeds, 10 grams of calamondin seeds, and 10 grams of sweet flag leaves, along with one black chicken egg. Use all the ingredients fresh, crush them finely, add sugar, and steam until cooked. Consume in 2-3 doses throughout the day. Alternatively, mix 10 grams of lemon seeds, 15 grams of garlic chives, 15 grams of male papaya flowers, and 20 ml of water. Crush the ingredients, mix with water, and add honey or granulated sugar, then consume in 3 doses during the day for several days.
Antivenom for Snake Bites: Take 10-20 grams of fresh or dried lemon seeds, chew them finely, swallow the juice, and apply the residue to the bite wound. This is a traditional remedy practiced in some mountainous regions of our country and in certain areas of India. According to folk experience, bitter substances in remedies are often effective in detoxification (the bitter compound in lemon seeds has been identified as lemonin or pepolimonin). A combination of 15 grams of lemon seeds, 10 bitter melon seeds, 12 grams of sweet flag roots, 20 grams of bear ginger, and a few grains of salt can be used. All ingredients should be fresh, crushed, and soaked in 30 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes. Stir well and then strain. Adults should take this in two doses 20 minutes apart; children under 15 should take 1/4 to 1/3 of the adult dose.
Additionally, lemon seeds can relieve constipation. Take 10-20 grams of seeds just separated from the fruit segments and soak them in a bowl of hot water for a few hours. The sticky substance surrounding the seeds will swell and dissolve into a thick, viscous solution. Add sugar and consume once a day. The mechanism of action is that once in the intestines, the viscous substance has an osmotic effect that draws water, swelling up and increasing volume, thus creating a favorable environment for the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. These bacteria are essential for the contractions of the large intestine, facilitating the easy passage of stool.
Dr. Bao Hoa, Health & Life
