霜降果品· 柿子
霜降时节，大自然为我们带来了一种美味且营养丰富的果品——柿子。柿子皮薄味美，营养价值和药用价值相媲美，是不可多得的当季水果。
柿子外形多为扁圆形或椭圆形，果皮光滑，颜色从橙黄到深红不等，民间有 “柿柿（事事）如意” 的美好寓意。鲜柿子味甘、涩，性凉，具有清热润肺、生津止渴、健脾益胃等功效。《随息居饮食谱》有：“鲜柿甘寒，养肺胃之阴，宜于火燥津枯之体。”所以适量食用对于此时的秋燥症状具有很好的改善作用。研究表明柿子含有大量的膳食纤维，有助于促进消化，预防便秘，所含的鞣酸成分还具有收敛作用，能够帮助止血。如《本草纲目》记载：“柿乃脾肺血分之果也。其味甘而气平，性涩而能收，故有健脾、涩肠、治嗽、止血之功。” 适用于痔疮出血、便血等症状。
柿子中的矿物质含量也很丰富，尤其是钾、钙、镁等元素，对维持心血管健康、骨骼健康有重要作用。柿子中的多酚类物质和抗氧化成分，能够帮助清除体内的自由基，延缓衰老，预防慢性疾病。是降压止血的良药，对治疗高血压有良好效果。但柿子内含鞣酸、果胶、单宁含量较多，不易消化，不适合空腹过量食用，否则易形成胃结石。
柿子生品性凉，若将其制成柿饼可减弱其寒凉之性。柿子周身是宝，柿饼、柿霜、柿蒂都有药用价值。
柿饼
柿饼消除了鲜柿子的涩感，也减少了胃柿石的风险，而且口感甘甜。柿饼味甘，性平，具有润肺化痰、健脾涩肠、止血等功效，可用于燥咳吐痰、脾虚食少、腹泻、便血、痔疮出血等症。
柿霜
柿霜即柿饼上所结的白霜，柿霜具有清热生津、润肺止咳等功效。《本草纲目》记载：“柿霜乃其津液，生津化痰，清上焦心肺之热，治咽喉口舌疮痛。”《医学衷中参西录》云：“柿霜色白入肺经，其滑也能利肺痰，其润也能滋肺燥。”口腔溃疡时，用棉签蘸取柿霜，涂抹在溃疡的地方，可以缓解疼痛，减轻烧灼感。
柿蒂
柿蒂虽不起眼，但也是一味良药。其性平，味苦、涩，入胃经，有降逆下气，清热润肺，生津止渴，健脾化痰的功效，是中医治疗呃逆（频频打嗝）的要药，称“止呃要药”。《本草纲目》中提到“古方单用柿蒂煮汁饮之，取其苦温能降逆气也。”
柿子虽好，但不能多食，要注意以下事项：
①脾胃虚寒者不宜食用
柿子性寒，凡脾虚泄泻、便溏、体弱多病、产后及外感风寒者，忌食鲜柿子。不论鲜柿子还是柿饼，每日食用量不宜超过1个。
②空腹、饮酒不宜吃
未经脱涩的柿子含有较高含量的鞣酸，酒精会加速胃酸与鞣酸的反应，所以空腹或酒后一定要慎食柿子。空腹时鞣酸与胃酸直接接触，容易生成胃柿石引起胃肠不适。
③生柿子不宜食之过量
生柿子味道酸涩，具有较强的收敛作用，食之过量，易致口涩、舌麻、大便干燥，所以不建议直接食用未熟透的柿子。
Wellness Fruit for Frost’s Descent Solar Term
As the frost descends, nature bestows upon us a delicious and nutrient-rich treasure—the persimmon. With its thin skin and exquisite flavor, the persimmon is not only a seasonal delight but also a fruit of remarkable nutritional and medicinal value.
Persimmons are typically round or oval in shape, with smooth skin that ranges in color from golden orange to deep red, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Fresh persimmons have the effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, generating fluids, quenching thirst, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Moderate consumption can improve the symptoms of dryness in autumn. Research has shown that persimmons contain a large amount of dietary fiber, which helps promote digestion and prevent constipation. The tannins they contain have an astringent effect, making them useful for stopping bleeding, particularly in cases of hemorrhoids or bloody stools.
Persimmons are also packed with essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which play a vital role in maintaining cardiovascular and bone health. The polyphenols and antioxidants found in persimmons help neutralize free radicals, slow aging, and prevent chronic diseases. They are particularly effective in lowering blood pressure and stopping bleeding, making them a natural remedy for hypertension. However, persimmons contain high levels of tannic acid, pectin, and tannins, which can be difficult to digest. It is not advisable to consume them on an empty stomach or in excess, as this may lead to the formation of stomach stones.
While fresh persimmons are cooling in nature, their processed forms, such as dried persimmons, reduce this cooling effect. Every part of the persimmon—dried persimmon, persimmon frost and calyx—holds medicinal value.
Dried Persimmons
Dried persimmons lose the astringency of fresh ones and pose a lower risk of causing stomach stones. Their sweet flavor makes them a delightful treat. Known to moisten the lungs, dissolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen, astringe the intestines, and stop bleeding, they are often used to address dry coughs, poor appetite, diarrhea, and bloody stools.
Persimmon Frost
The white powder that forms on dried persimmons, known as persimmon frost, has cooling and moisturizing properties. It clears heat, promotes fluid production, and soothes lung-related coughs. For mouth ulcers, applying persimmon frost with a cotton swab can alleviate pain and reduce burning sensations.
Persimmon Calyx
