從中醫黃色探討香蕉之古今應用及生理功效

The Study on Banana and Its Physiological Functions Based on the Theory of TCM Colour Yellow

物質生活富饒的時代裡，醫療的進步、新藥的不斷開發並沒有讓我們免於疾病的 威脅，癌症及各種慢性病更是高居國人的十大死因。從《黃帝內經》中醫傳承的養生 醫典裡，提及五色對應五臟，《靈樞•五色篇》:「以五色命藏，青為肝，赤為心，白 為肺，黃為脾，黑為腎。」；並在《靈樞•逆順篇》：「上工治未病，不治已病」及《素 問•藏器法時論》：「五穀為養，五果為助」道出中醫強調預防醫學是最好的醫療，並 指出水果在飲食中的重要。藥王孫思邈在其《備急千金要方•食治》:「夫為醫者… 以食治之，食療不愈，然後命藥。」，說明治病應先從飲食著手。本研究主要探討世 界產量最大的水果：「香蕉」，是否與中醫理論黃色入脾相符。藉由研究香蕉的歷史及 古今應用的紀錄，並與近代的醫學文獻作分析，探討香蕉對脾的生理、藥理功效。歷 史上直到清代才有香蕉的名稱出現，在古代被稱為芭蕉、甘蕉。研究中證實，香蕉皮 的營養價值及富含的植化素等均高於果肉，而香蕉皮對糖尿病、平穩血糖亦有幫助製 造肌肉、代謝碳水化合物等功效，符合「黃色、甘入脾」的理論。研究中提及香蕉的 果皮與劑量是兩大關鍵，並提出一天需要吃約 212g 以上的香蕉皮，約 4 根香蕉皮是 較為有效的。未來香蕉的劑量及安全性會繼續探討，希望實現治未病於日常，讓人免 於慢性病的威脅。

Huangdineijing pointed out the five colours correspond with the five viscera. Lingshu Five Colors:「Five colors named five viscera. Colour Qing is liver, Colour Chi is heart, White is Lung, Yellow is Spleen, and Black is Kidney」. The 5 colours are further analyzed to define their true colours. Lingshu Reverse:「The supreme healer cures the illness that is still obscure, will not try to cure the illness」. Preventive Medicine is the best Medical. SuWen Zangqi FaShi Pathology shows the importance of fruit in our daily diet: "grains are as nutrition, and fruits are as sustenance". Sun Simiao's Qianjinyaofang also mentioned that before taking any medicines, the food must be used as dietary treatment first, and if it is not effective, then, medicines could be given afterwards. From the concepts of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), we understand the importance of daily diet which has been regarded as medicines and so has fruit been. The study focuses on the most produced fruits inthe world is banana according to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) 2016 statistics. We studied the histories and footprints of banana, and also how banana is used in traditional health care systems in TCM and also other countries. Phytochemicals of banana are reviewed with their clinical effects, and also analyzed to investigate if they can benefit to its associated organ, spleen, based on the theory of TCM five colours. The results are positive and it brings out two important conclusions: peel and, and dose taking, the discarded part of banana is with higher antioxidant abilities, and 212g of banana peel must be eaten when we would like to eat fruits as preventive dietary medicinesto achieve the goal of "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food", however, the quantity and also the safety will be further discussed and studied.