The Chinese herb umeboshi can be taken in a decoction under a doctor’s supervision.
Umei is effective in astringing the lungs (collecting lung qi) to stop coughing, astringing the intestines to stop diarrhea (relieving diarrhea by enhancing the intestinal astringency), restraining roundworms and relieving pain, and generating fluids to quench thirst. It is mainly used in the treatment of prolonged cough due to lung deficiency, prolonged diarrhea, prolonged dysentery, ascaris lumbricoides (acute abdominal pain and cold limbs (cold limbs, even to the elbows and above the knees) due to ascaris lumbricoides infection), abdominal pain, and vomiting.
The adverse reactions and contraindications of umeboshi are not clear. It is not recommended to take umeboshi if there is any exterior evil (evil on the surface of the muscles) or if there is any solid heat and stagnation within the body.
If you need to use umeboshi to treat diseases, you must use it under the guidance of a medical professional.