fo shou

Name: fo shou
Creator: Bencao Index

佛手·Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis

Buddha’s hand

About fo shou

Fo Shou (佛手) is the fruit of the finger citron, recorded as Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis and known in English as Buddha's hand. It is acrid and bitter in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Liver, Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that regulate Qi.

Names

Pinyin	fo shou
Chinese	佛手
Latin Name	Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis
English Name	Buddha’s hand·Buddha’s hand; finger citron fruit·Finger Citron Fruit
Japanese	bushu
Korean	bulsu

Classification

Category: Regulate Qi
Channels: Lung, Stomach, Spleen, Liver
Flavour: Acrid, Bitter
Temperature: Warm
Part used: Fruit
Family: Rutaceae
Species: citrus medica
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Spreads and regulates Liver Qi

Constrained Liver Qi with pain or distension of the hypochondrium and abdomen, an oppressed chest, belching, hiccups and vomiting; it moves the stagnation well but eases pain only mildly
Emotional problems with Liver Yin deficiency

Harmonises the Stomach, dries Damp and strengthens the Spleen

Stagnant Qi of the Spleen and Stomach: epigastric pain, fullness and distension, poor appetite, belching or vomiting
Liver Qi stagnation invading the Stomach
Stomach Qi stagnation with Yin deficiency

Regulates Lung Qi, transforms Phlegm and stops cough

Lingering subacute or chronic cough from Phlegm-Damp in the chest, with plenty of phlegm, above all when the cough will not settle and the chest hurts
Only mildly Phlegm-resolving; not a choice for the opening days of a cough from an external pathogen

Combinations

xiang fu + yu jin
Boosts its ability to spread Liver Qi
mu xiang + qing pi
Chest, epigastric and abdominal discomfort and fullness with indigestion, anorexia, and vomiting or belching
pi pa ye + si gua luo
Chest pain with a persistent subacute cough
qing pi + chuan lian zi
Liver Qi Stagnation causing epigastric pain
xiang yuan + xiang fu + mu xiang + zhi ke
Qi Stagnation in the Spleen and Stomach
sheng jiang + chen xiang + jiang xiang
Nausea and vomiting.
zhu ru + zi su ye + huang qin
Vomiting and nausea during pregnancy
pi pa ye + si gua luo + yu jin
Chest pain and copious sputum with a lingering cough

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 3-10g; Tincture:1-2ml	3-10 g	—	1-2 ml	—	—

Cautions

caution No Qi stagnation, including Qi deficiency where there is nothing to move
caution Yin deficiency with Heat or Fire, since this warm, aromatic, drying herb uses up Fluids and Yin
contraindication Excess Fire
pregnancy Pregnancy: no specific traditional prohibition, but Qi-moving herbs are best used under professional supervision
caution The fresh peel and its essential oil contain furanocoumarins, which can cause phototoxic skin reactions on contact; this is not documented for the decocted herb

Interactions

Drug interactions

Medicines with a narrow safety margin that CYP3A4 metabolises, such as certain immunosuppressants, statins, antiarrhythmics or calcium-channel blockers: talk to the prescriber first, because the herb contains furanocoumarins (the compounds behind the grapefruit effect); no interaction has been measured

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