Peach, Prunus or Amygdaluspersica
Peach Tree, or Amygdalus or Prunuspersica is a non-native fruit tree well adapted to Texas and the South. Nothing tastes better than biting into a peach that is warm from the Texas sun, letting the explosion of juices drip down your face and grabbing another off the tree.
Rosaceae Family of Plants. This medicinal plants are known in Herbal Medicine as what herbalist Michael Moore called YARFAs--yet another rose family Astringent--except that this one is also quite moist---ahh the dual nature of plants.
Historically you can see that peach leaf was used to treat digestive upsets, nausea and inflammation in the GI tract. King Dispensatory also notes that Hydrocyanic acid can be obtained from all parts of the tree(lending to the cooling effect in small dosages). Many Rose family plants(Apples) have similar cautions. To avoid this ever becoming an issue, it has been recommended that you use fresh peach leaf, not dried.
The gentle astringency would explain the tonification it gave to the gi tract, while the bitter cooling properties would alleviate the heat and drain energy down through the digestive tract
I learned about Peach Leaf as a remedy from Matthew Wood. I can't say enough about it as I use it regularly try to keep from melting in a very long hot dry summers in Texas. You can read more on peach here Wood lists it as an "indispensable cooling remedy". There is a pleasant cherry like taste to the leaf preparations with undertones of bitter, leading again to the idea that it cools and drains. Peach leaf is one of my tastiest remedies.
I tried making both tincture and glycerite(for pregnant women who tend to avoid tincture) but I have to say I feel like the glycerin takes away from the taste of the peach. Instead, I like the peach leaf in plain old vodka, though I am trying it out in a new mix you can read about here for Texas Summer SAD.
I have started using Peach leaf in my testing kit with clients. I find for the right client--those that are holding heat and tension in their digestive or cardiovascular system, it usually generates a smile and a sort of deep breath that upon relaxation seems to spread throughout the entire body from the top down. I noted with one client that the slightly reddened look to her face was reduced by about 30-40 % in intensity after just one drop. I am still getting to know the plant, so as I use it more I will offer more observations