從《黃帝內經》赤色入心探討蘋果之古今應用及生理功效

A Study of Apple and Its Physiological Functions Based on the HuangdiNeijing Theory of Five Colours - Chi (Red)

醫療進步、新藥不斷開發的富饒時代，並無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。《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」。《靈樞•逆順篇》：「上工治未病，不治已病」及《素問•臟器法時論》：「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。「一天一蘋果醫生遠離我」蘋果的好深入人心，本研究主要探討世界第二大的水果「蘋果」，與中醫理論赤色入心的關聯性。從研究蘋果的歷史、古今應用及近代的醫學文獻作分析，而蘋果一詞的使用直到明代才出現。研究中證實，蘋果能降低心血管及冠狀動脈等疾病，與「赤色、入心」的理論相呼應。研究證實蘋果皮的抗氧化力高於果肉，且蘋果的果皮與食用劑量是兩大關鍵，一天六顆的劑量比一顆或三顆較能降低乳癌或是腫瘤的發生率。本研究的提出，以食物蘋果為出發，提倡食藥同源來治未病，而食用劑量及方式亦是未來一研究重心。

Huangdineijing pointed out the five colours correspond with the five viscera. Lingshu Five Colours: ''Five colours named five viscera. Colour Qing is liver, Colour Chi is heart, White is Lung, Yellow is Spleen, and Black is Kidney.'' 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 theories, we understand the importance of daily diet which has been regarded as medicines and so have fruits. This study focused on one of the most produced fruits in the world: apple, because of a famous proverb ''An apple a day, keeps a doctor away''. The histories of apples, and also how apples were used in traditional health care systems, and phytochemicals of apple are reviewed and the results are positive which brings out two important conclusions: apple peel, the discarded part, is with higher antioxidant abilities, which must be taken when eating fruits as preventive dietary medicines and it also meets the Five Colour - Chi theory, the red which benefits to the heart. And the studies also reveal the importance of dosage that 6 apples extract per day is with better tumor prevention results than 1 or 3 apple(s) per day. From the study, we would like to promote fruits as preventive dietary medicines to achieve the goal of ''Let food be thy medicine'' however, the dose quantity and also the safety will be further discussed and studied.