bai zi ren

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone can tell me the shelf life of bai zi ren. I

recently read that when rancid it is toxic. My stock is about 1 1/2

yrs old and doesn't have the " painty " smell or taste that i use to

judge cooking oils. Does it keep fresher if stored in the fridge?

thanks, cindy

 

Cynthia J. Splies, L.Ac, R.H.

[Guest guest]

Hi Cynthia,

 

I can't advise you on odor, but I can tell you that when I was stocking the herb

pharmacy at my acupuncture school, we did keep this herb refrigerated.

 

 

 

CYNTHIA SPLIES <splies wrote: Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone can tell me the shelf life of bai zi ren. I

recently read that when rancid it is toxic. My stock is about 1 1/2

yrs old and doesn't have the " painty " smell or taste that i use to

judge cooking oils. Does it keep fresher if stored in the fridge?

thanks, cindy

 

Cynthia J. Splies, L.Ac, R.H.

 

 

 

 

Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including a

practitioner's directory and a moderated discussion forum.

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

< wrote: Hi Cynthia,

I use Bai Zi Ren (Biota seeds) alot in my prescriptions. A couple of

observations: First, whenever I used to buy BZR from Chinatown here in LA, I

too noticed an unpleasant, rancid-like smell, but I always assumed that that was

just the way it smelled. From my experience, I never noticed any adverse

effects from it, and so as I say, I just accepted the smell as part of the

package. Recently, I ordered some unsulfured BZR from Mayway. The difference

was dramatic. It not only didn't smell heavy and rancid, but actually smelled

nutty and slightly sweet! I'm reminded of a story I read of an American who

went to study in a small town in Poland before WWII, and when he was sick, the

town doctor gave him a teaspoon of cod liver oil (non-refrigerated, of course)

from a barrel. There was no telling how long it had been there! The smell was

so horrible that he never had he smelled anything as pungent and vile before or

since. Yet, it cured him nonetheless. The

point is, obviously, if you can get fresh Biota seeds get 'em. But I wouldn't

lose sleep over using regular commercial Bai Zi Ren. I would also suggest that

decocting probably neutralizes any potential problems with toxins as well.

 

All the best,

 

 

Yehuda

 

 

PS Always remember to crush the seeds before decocting

 

CYNTHIA SPLIES <splies wrote: Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone can tell me the shelf life of bai zi ren. I

recently read that when rancid it is toxic. My stock is about 1 1/2

yrs old and doesn't have the " painty " smell or taste that i use to

judge cooking oils. Does it keep fresher if stored in the fridge?

thanks, cindy

 

Cynthia J. Splies, L.Ac, R.H.

 

Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including a

practitioner's directory and a moderated discussion forum.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

For the previously mentioned concerns, we refrigerate bai zi ren as well as

many others seeds. Rancid oil is a carcinogen. I see no reason to take

chances with poor quality (or poorly kept) medicinals. Also we should not

forget that some of the tonic properties of seeds are because of the oils. I

do not think these bad oils are nourishment for the body, although they may

nonetheless promote a bowel movement.

 

 

 

My 2 cents,

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

_____

 

 

On Behalf Of yehuda frischman

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:26 PM

 

Re: bai zi ren

 

 

 

 

 

< (AT) (DOT) <%40> com>

wrote: Hi Cynthia,

I use Bai Zi Ren (Biota seeds) alot in my prescriptions. A couple of

observations: First, whenever I used to buy BZR from Chinatown here in LA, I

too noticed an unpleasant, rancid-like smell, but I always assumed that that

was just the way it smelled. From my experience, I never noticed any adverse

effects from it, and so as I say, I just accepted the smell as part of the

package. Recently, I ordered some unsulfured BZR from Mayway. The difference

was dramatic. It not only didn't smell heavy and rancid, but actually

smelled nutty and slightly sweet! I'm reminded of a story I read of an

American who went to study in a small town in Poland before WWII, and when

he was sick, the town doctor gave him a teaspoon of cod liver oil

(non-refrigerated, of course) from a barrel. There was no telling how long

it had been there! The smell was so horrible that he never had he smelled

anything as pungent and vile before or since. Yet, it cured him nonetheless.

The

point is, obviously, if you can get fresh Biota seeds get 'em. But I

wouldn't lose sleep over using regular commercial Bai Zi Ren. I would also

suggest that decocting probably neutralizes any potential problems with

toxins as well.

 

All the best,

 

 

Yehuda

 

 

PS Always remember to crush the seeds before decocting

 

CYNTHIA SPLIES <splies (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) <splies%40sbcglobal.net> net>

wrote: Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone can tell me the shelf life of bai zi ren. I

recently read that when rancid it is toxic. My stock is about 1 1/2

yrs old and doesn't have the " painty " smell or taste that i use to

judge cooking oils. Does it keep fresher if stored in the fridge?

thanks, cindy

 

Cynthia J. Splies, L.Ac, R.H.

 

Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including a

practitioner's directory and a moderated discussion forum.

 

http://www.chineseh <http://www..org> erbacademy.org

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindy,

 

We keep ours in the fridge. A year and a half is too old though I

think. I don't know for sure but if it was mine, I'd throw it out.

 

best

 

Sharon

 

 

Sharon Weizenbaum

86 Henry Street

Amherst, MA 01002

413-549-4021

sweiz

www.whitepinehealingarts.com

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I will replace my stock

and keep it in the fridge. ~cindy

 

Cynthia J. Splies, L.Ac., R.H.

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