He Zi - 訶子 - Fructus Chebulae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Chebulae |
| Common English: | Chebgium Chebula Myrobalan Fruit Terminalia |
Category
Herbs that Stabilize and Bind (Astringents)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Sour Astringent | Neutral (Warm) | Lung Stomach Large Intestine (Spleen) (Kidney) | 3-10g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Astringes the Intestines and stops diarrhea | Chronic diarrhea and dysenteric disorders (both Heat and Cold patterns) Intestinal Wind with hemafecia |
Contains leakage of Lung Qi, stops coughing, improves the condition of the throat (Descends Lung Qi) and relieves Qi Stagnation in the diaphragm and chest | Chronic coughing, wheezing, and especially loss of voice Coughing due to Phlegm-Fire Obstructing the Lungs (in combination) |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Galla Chinensis | Per. Papaveris | Rz. Coptidis |
Purulent bloody stools associated with dysenteric disorders. | Severe diarrhea due to Deficiency Cold. | Chronic dysenteric disorders with Heat. |
| Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae | Rx. Ginseng | Rx. Saposhnikoviae |
Chronic diarrhea. | Long-term dysenteric disorders that have seriously injured the normal Qi leading to a prolapsed rectum. | Intestinal Wind where Fire and Wind stoke each other marked by bleeding of fresh Blood from the rectum. |
| Pumex | Rx. Platycodi | Fr. Schisandrae |
Chronic coughing and blood streaked sputum due to Lung Yin Deficiency. | Chronic hoarseness and loss of voice. | Chronic, incessant coughing and hoarseness due to Lung Yin Deficiency. |
Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Borax | Per. Papaveris |
Hoarse voice. | Chronic hoarseness with a swollen, painful throat. (made into honey pills) | Binds Intestines and stops diarrhea. |
Alumen | Gecko | Bul. Lilii |
Internally as a powder for chronic, recalcitrant diarrhea in the elderly. | Lung Qi Deficiency with chronic coughing, dyspnea ad asthma. | Chronic coughing. |
Fr Mume | Sm. Myristicae | Fr Mume |
Chronic laryngitis and pharyngitis with loss of voice. | Chronic diarrhea due to Deficiency and Cold. | Chronic dysentery. |
Rz. Coptidis | Rx. Saposhnikoviae | Per. Citri Reticulatae |
| Chronic diarrhea caused by Damp-Heat. | Bloody diarrhea. | Descends Qi. |
Rx. Ginseng | ||
Nourishes the Lungs and relieves coughs. |
Notes
- Recently, this herb has been used to treat depression.
- Its downward-draining action is stronger than its astringent action.
- Used unprepared, it treats the Lungs; baked, it treats the Spleen.
- Decocted and taken as a drink on its own, it can treat chronic cough that has led to loss of voice.
- For hemorrhoids and postpartum vaginal pain, it can be mixed with vinegar and burned so the smoke reaches the area while the patient squats above it. A decoction can also be used to steam and wash the area.
- He Zi and Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi both astringe the Lungs, stop cough, and treat chronic dysenteric disorders and diarrhea. He Zi descends Fire to unbind the voice and is the better choice for Spleen Deficiency with Cold producing chronic, unrelenting diarrhea. Wu Wei Zi generates Yang Fluids to moisten the Lungs and is better for daybreak diarrhea from Kidney Deficiency. The two are frequently combined.
- He Zi and Fr. Mume Wu Mei are both sour and astringent; both restrain Lung Qi to stop chronic cough from Lung Qi Deficiency, and both enter the Large Intestine to treat long-term diarrhea and dysenteric disorders. Wu Mei generates fluids, strengthens the Stomach and expels roundworms, none of which He Zi can do. Conversely, He Zi is the stronger astringent, so it directs Qi downward to benefit the throat and unbind the voice, something Wu Mei cannot do.
- Chebula Flesh He Zi Rou shares the properties of He Zi but is more effective.
- Dry-fried Chebula Chao He Zi is warm and less sour and astringent. It is better at harmonizing the Stomach and transforming Phlegm and Food Stagnation. When baked, it warms the Middle, stabilizes the Spleen, astringes the Intestines and stops diarrhea. It is used for chronic diarrhea or dysenteric disorders from Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold with rectal prolapse and watery vaginal discharge. In mild cases, it can be used alone for these conditions.
- Fr. Chebulae Immaturus (Tibetan Blue-Green Fruit) Zang Qing Guo benefits the throat and restores the voice, and is commonly used for swollen sore throat, hoarseness and loss of voice.
- Dui Yao pair with Chen Pi: for a hoarse voice or loss of voice, and chronic cough with loss of voice and Phlegm in the throat.
From Class
- Da Zao (palm dates) / Terminalia chebula (He Zi): Daoists imprint dates with intention for healing/trauma and energizing fasting pills; Terminalia chebula is the 'king of medicines' in Tibet. (Johnson)