Zhi Zi (Shan Zhi Zi) - 栀子 - Fructus Gardeniae - Cape Jasmine Fruit
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Gardeniae |
| Common English: | Cape Jasmine Fruit Gardenia Gardenia Pod |
Category
Herbs that Clean Heat and Drain Fire: Herbs that Clear Heat in the Qi StageProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter (Astringent) | Cold | Heart Lung Stomach Liver Triple Burner (Gallbladder) (Yin Wei) | 3-12g Tincture: 2-4 ml (less cooling, more sedating) Crush before decocting. 6-9g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Clears Heat, reduces Fire and eliminates irritability in the San Jiao | Excess Heat in the Heart, Stomach and Liver with high fever, irritability, restlessness, a stifling sensation in the chest, insomnia or delirious speech, eye problems, anger, jaundice |
Clears Heat and resolves Dampness (Drains Damp-Heat) | Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with painful urinary dysfunction (Lin Syndrome) Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder with jaundice Damp-Heat in the San Jiao Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder and San Jiao channels of the face affecting the nose and eyes or causing sores in the mouth or facial region |
Cools the Blood and relieves toxicity (stops bleeding by astringing) | Heat in the Blood with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemafecia or hematuria (partially charred) |
Reduces swelling and invigorates the Blood | Blood Stagnation due to trauma (topical) |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Sm. Sojae Preparata | Cx. Moutan | Rx. Bupleuri |
| Insomnia and irritability from Deficiency due to Heat lingering in the chest. | Resolves Qi Level Stagnation leading to Heat and Heat in the Blood. Irregular menstruation, headache, red eyes, and thirst due to Liver Qi Heat from Stagnation. Dysmenorrhea, headache, dry, scratchy eyes and intercostal pain due to Liver Blood Deficiency. | Heat from constraint. |
| Rz. Coptidis | Rz. Zingiberis Succus | Talcum |
| Irritability and restlessness with high fever due to Toxic Heat. Carbuncles and furuncles with or without abscesses and ulcerations. | Epigastric pain due to Heat. | Painful urinary dysfunction due to Damp-Heat in the Urinary Bladder. |
| Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae | Cacumen Platycladi | Rz. Imperatae |
Jaundice due to Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder. | Heat induced hemorrhage such as hematemesis and epistaxis. | Epistaxis, hematemesis or hematuria. |
| Sm. Sojae Preparata | Rz, Imperatae | Rz. Coptidis |
High fevers. | Blood Heat causing bleeding. | Boils and carbuncles. |
| Rx. et Rz. Rhei | Fr. Forsythiae | Rx. et Rz. Rhei |
Pancreatitis. | Heat entering the Pericardium. Heat remaining in the Heart channel with sores in the mouth or on the tongue and dark, scanty urine or urinary discomfort. | Gardenia Peel Shan Zhi Pi is combined with the above herbs to treat retained Heat in the Heart channel with darkish urine that is difficult to pass. |
Rx. Bupleuri | Rz. Cyperi | Rx. et Rz. Rhei |
Irritability and a short temper. | Depression with irritability. | Constipation. |
Talcum | Rz, Imperatae | Hb. sive Rx. Cirsii Japonici |
Urinary tract infection. | Hematuria and Blood Lin. | Hematemesis and epistaxis. |
Nodus Nelumbinis | Water | |
Hemoptysis. | Zhi Zi powder with the above ingredients, topically for traumatic or sports injuries with bruising, swelling and pain. |
Notes
- Because it drains Heat from all three Jiaos, and particularly the Lower Jiao, it treats most Damp-Heat problems.
- The pods yield a yellow dye.
- The flowers, Zhi Zi Hua, are prized for their fragrance and are used medicinally to regulate Blood flow, stop bleeding, and act as a contraceptive by increasing menstrual flow.
- The seeds are used for jaundice, rheumatism and twisted muscles.
- According to some sources, this herb treats dysphoria.
- It is regarded as an essential herb for Heat in the chest, clearing Accumulated Heat from the Heart and Lungs by promoting urination.
- Studies indicate that it inhibits the activation of cancer cells.
- It reduces Blood Stasis arising from Heat Accumulation.
- It is reputed to clear inflammation of the Liver and Gall bladder and to improve their function.
- For Stomach pain, it is paired with Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo.
- For difficult urination, pound 2-7 fruits together with a little salt and one clove of garlic and apply the mixture to the navel or scrotum.
- Used raw it clears Heat; dry-fried until black it stops bleeding; roasted in ginger juice it stops nausea; its pulp clears Internal Heat; and its peel clears External Heat.
- Gardenia Kernels Shan Zhi Ren are used for Internal Heat.
- Gardenia Peels Shan Zhi Pi are used for External Heat (in the muscles and flesh).
- Dry-fried Gardenia Chao Shan Zhi Zi is particularly good at reducing rebellious Stomach Qi while clearing Heat agitation.
- Charred Gardenia Shan Zhi Zi Tan is used for Heat from Excess or Fire toxin with epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria or abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- Gardenia Flower Zhi Zi Hua and its extracts are used as contraceptives.
- Dui Yao pair with Suan Zao Ren: for insomnia and excessive dreaming due to Heart Fire, and for nervous prostration and enervation.
From Class
- Xiang Fu (Cyperus) / Zhi Zi (Gardenia): Shao Yang / San Jiao herbs for basophils as mediators. (Yuen)
- Zhi Zi (Gardenia): Ingredient in the Ku Shen heart-pain wine. (Yuen)
- Ku Shen Jiu (Sophora wine) — four-herb version: Alcohol for the nine heart pains: Ku Shen with Long Dan Cao (Gentiana scabra), Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga, the 'ascending root') and Zhi Zi (Gardenia) soaked in alcohol. (Yuen)
- Long Dan Cao, Zhi Zi, Huang Qin (?) / Yin Chen Hao / milk thistle: Clear liver fire in statin users; Yin Chen Hao protects the liver from statin toxicity but can slow drug metabolism; milk thistle reduces liver toxicity.