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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Heat-Clearing, Blood-Cooling & Photoprotective Carotenoid Sovereign (清热凉血 / 消肿解毒退热明目生肌润肤药)

    红木 / 胭脂树 / 假藏红花 / 红木籽 — Bixa orellana L.

    Pinyin: Hóngmù / Yānzhishù · Malay: Kesumba Keling / Kesumba / Keling · Family: Bixaceae (红木科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Neutral (平 / 微凉)

    Flavor

    Sweet, astringent, slightly pungent, earthy (甘、涩、微辛)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Kidney (肾), Heart (心)

    Traditional Edict

    Rouge Tree (Lipstick Tree). Vermilion seeds coated in carotenoid pulp. Clears toxic heat, cools blood, brightens vision, relieves eruptive measles fevers (Demam Campak), and provides natural cosmetic UV sun protection.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Carotenoids degrade under UV light; store seeds and oils in dark amber glass bottles. High clinical and food safety. Caution with heavy insulin therapy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome (pure tocotrienol HMG-CoA reductase degradation), macular retinal degeneration and digital blue-light eye strain (bixin photoprotection), and burn wound healing.

    Quality Markers

    cis-Bixin (胭脂树素) >= 2.00%-3.50% & d/g-Tocotrienols >= 90.0% of Vitamin E fraction (HPLC/LC-MS)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. cis-Bixin linear apocarotenoid physically quenches singlet oxygen and scavenges peroxyl radicals in macular retinal cells and dermal fibroblasts, shielding against UV-photoaging. 2. Pure d/g-tocotrienols degrade HMG-CoA reductase. 3. Ellagic acid promotes collagen.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN KESUMBA GOLDEN CAROTENOID OIL (Minyak Kesumba): 50 g seeds steeped in 200 mL warm virgin coconut oil at 60C for 2h (ruby-orange antioxidant oil). Dried leaf decoction: 10-20 g. Standardized Tocotrienol extract: 125-250 mg.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Macular Vision & Blue-Light Shield Elixir with Lycium barbarum (Goji) and Clitoria ternatea. 2. Nanyang Maternal Febrifuge & Measles Tea with Lonicera japonica.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only