zao jiao ci

皂角刺·Gleditsiae Spina

Gleditisia Thorn

About zao jiao ci

Zao Jiao Ci (皂角刺) is the thorn of the gleditsia tree, a legume, recorded as Spina Gleditsiae. It is acrid in flavour and warm in temperature, entering the Lung, Liver and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that transform Phlegm-Cold.

Names

Pinyin	zao jiao ci
Chinese	皂角刺
Latin Name	Gleditsiae Spina
English Name	Gleditisia Thorn
Korean	jogakyeo

Classification

Category: Transform Phlegm Cold
Channels: Lung, Stomach, Liver
Flavour: Acrid
Temperature: Warm
Part used: Thorn
Family: Fabaceae
Species: Gleditsia sinensis
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Draws out toxicity, discharges pus, invigorates Blood, disperses clumps and reduces swelling

Swollen sores, carbuncles and abscesses in the early stage, to bring them to a head or make one that has formed burst

Expels Wind and kills parasites

Tinea
Leprosy
Stubborn skin disease

Combinations

jin yin hua
Abscesses and boils at the initial stage
bai zhi
Abscesses that have not ulcerated or that discharge pus poorly
ge qiao
Acute mastitis, taken as a powder chased with warm grain-based liquor
bai ji
Topically for scrofula.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any	3-10 g	—	—	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Sores that have already opened or are discharging pus; once the sore has ruptured its Blood-moving action works against healing
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy
contraindication Sores that fail to heal because of depletion rather than obstruction, where forcing them open is the wrong direction
caution Deep abscesses, cellulitis and carbuncles can be serious infections that need medical assessment, drainage or antibiotics
caution Not the same herb as Zao Jiao, the pod, which is slightly toxic, used in far smaller amounts and for other conditions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prescription and other pharmaceutical drugs: do not take at the same time, as the herb may reduce how much of the drug is absorbed and reaches the blood