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.

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

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

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