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Alternate English names: eriobotrya leaf

Alternate Chinese names: 巴叶 bā yè; 杷叶 pá yè

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Phlegm-transforming cough-relieving panting-calming agents / Cough-relieving panting-calming agents

Properties: Bitter; slightly cold.

Channel entry: Lung and stomach channels.

Actions and indications:

• Clears the lung, transforms phlegm, and relieves cough: Lung heat patterns of cough.
• Clears the stomach and checks vomiting: Stomach heat vomiting or hiccup.
• Additional uses: Pí pá yè can be used to clear the stomach and allay thirst in febrile disease or treat dispersion-thirst.

Dosage and method: Oral: 5–10g in decoctions. To check vomiting, it should be used in its raw or ginger-processed form. To relieve cough, it should be processed with honey. Pí pá yè is commonly used in pastes and syrups and may also be used in powders and pills.

Product description: These leaves are oval leaves 12–25 cm long and 4–9 cm wide. They are quill-shaped with a gentle point and short leafstalks and are veined with a midrib that bulges on the lower surface. They are brittle and have a grayish, yellowish, or reddish green, shiny upper surface, and a brown lower surface.

Quality: Undamaged large grayish-green leaves are the best.

Production area: Guǎngdōng, Zhèjiāng, Táiwān.

Etymology: The name pí pā yè 枇杷叶 is allegedly so called because this leaf is similar in shape to the 琵琶 (pí pá), the Chinese balloon guitar. The English loquat derives from the Cantonese pronunciation of the alternate name 鲁橘 (lǔ jú).

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