What is 罗汉果 [Luo Han Guo]? Siraitia grosvenorii is the scientific name. Why am I sharing this ingredient on this page and not on the page of ingredients? Be patient, and read on.
Siraitia grosvenorii is an herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, native to southern China and northern Thailand. The plant is cultivated for its fruit, whose extract is nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar and has been used in China as a natural low-calorie sweetener for cooling drinks, and in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes and obesity.
The plant's fruit is often called in English language publications luo han guo or luo han kuo (from the Chinese luóhàn guǒ, 罗汉果/ 羅漢果). It may also be called la han qua (from Vietnamese la hán quả), arhat fruit, Buddha fruit, monk fruit, or longevity fruit (although this name has been used for several other fruits).
The plant's fruit is often called in English language publications luo han guo or luo han kuo (from the Chinese luóhàn guǒ, 罗汉果/ 羅漢果). It may also be called la han qua (from Vietnamese la hán quả), arhat fruit, Buddha fruit, monk fruit, or longevity fruit (although this name has been used for several other fruits).
TCM Chinese Herbs, Health Benefits of Lou Han Guo (罗汉果):
• Clearing heat, cooling blood heat, promoting production of fluid, stopping coughing, detoxification, rejuvenation and skin care.
• Treat coughing due to phlegm-heat, sore throat, constipation, irritability and thirst.
• Treat dry coughing due to lung fire, sore throat and aphonia, intestinal dryness and constipation.
• Effectively treat diseases like acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, throat burning and acute gastritis.
• The root of this tree can fix ringworm, carbuncle, sore boil, etc.
• The hair of it can be used for wounds.
• Relieve throat infection or cough.
• Prevent heatstroke and cooling the body in hot climates.
• Clearing heat, cooling blood heat, promoting production of fluid, stopping coughing, detoxification, rejuvenation and skin care.
• Treat coughing due to phlegm-heat, sore throat, constipation, irritability and thirst.
• Treat dry coughing due to lung fire, sore throat and aphonia, intestinal dryness and constipation.
• Effectively treat diseases like acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, throat burning and acute gastritis.
• The root of this tree can fix ringworm, carbuncle, sore boil, etc.
• The hair of it can be used for wounds.
• Relieve throat infection or cough.
• Prevent heatstroke and cooling the body in hot climates.
I am sure you have seen this in boxes when you walk pass Chinese Herbal shops if you do not know what are these. Safe the trouble you don't even have to prepare this yourself, they sell bottles that cost about $1-$1.20 everywhere. It's an acquired taste but I have been drinking this since I was young. However, I did not know that it has some benefits that are not commonly mentioned. Why am I sharing this here? It's for those who work long hours in front of stoves. I got this information from a canteen cook at my work place. According to her, the heat we stand in front of everyday is not good for our livers and drinking 罗汉果 helps our liver to survive the heat. On top of that, as we cook in front of the stoves and the butter or oil smokes, we breathe in all the greasy oil that has evaporated which are not good for our lungs. Drinking this would also help eliminate whatever greasy air we breathed in at work. To believe, try it yourself. Drink it on a hot day and concentrate on how your lungs feel. Of course purchase a cold one which helps more on a hot day. I have been purchasing cold ones all my life even though room temperature ones are fine for me. If my mom prepares this at home, I'll have to drink this hot.