Can yew fruit be eaten directly?

Although yew fruits are now used in traditional Chinese medicine, we still need to be cautious when consuming yew. If yew is consumed within a certain range, it can have a health-care effect. On the contrary, if it is consumed improperly, it can cause poisoning or be harmful to the body. In this case, we must not consume it casually. So, can yew fruits be eaten? Here is a detailed introduction to this issue.

The Express once reported that "Taxus berries have no medicinal effect and are toxic if eaten directly", saying that a Ms. Zhang from Hengdian, Dongyang, suffered from acute renal failure after eating yew berries. Director Jiang of the Hematology Department of Zhejiang Provincial Tongde Hospital reminds that yew must be used under the guidance of a doctor, as eating it privately can easily lead to poisoning.

As early as 2002, the "Notice of the Ministry of Health on Further Standardizing the Management of Health Food Ingredients" included yew in the "List of Prohibited Items in Health Foods". In 2006, the Ministry of Health issued a notice strictly prohibiting food production and operation units from producing and selling foods containing yew.

Director Pang of the Oncology Department of Xinhua Hospital of the province said: "The clinical use rate of yew is still quite high. Because paclitaxel extracted from yew bark can act on microtubules on cell walls to break them, thereby inhibiting the growth of tumor cells, but yew fruit has not been used clinically. In theory, its composition is complex and its toxicity is higher than that of bark and leaves."

Many people in the folk like to use yew to make wine, just like making bayberry liquor. Director Pang advises not to do this. Although yew has been used clinically, it is not actually a traditional Chinese medicine, but only a herbal remedy.

After the above detailed introduction about whether yew fruit can be eaten, I believe everyone is mentally prepared for the consumption of yew fruit. Although such food has been used in life, it is only used as medicine, so in daily life, everyone should not use it without authorization.