zao jiao

皂荚·Fructus Gleditsiae

Gleditsia Fruit

Slightly toxic

Toxicity graded by American Dragon.

About zao jiao

Zao Jiao (皂荚) is the pod of the gleditsia tree, a legume, recorded as Fructus Gleditsiae. It is acrid in flavour and warm in temperature, entering the Lung and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that transform Phlegm-Cold and marks it toxic.

Names

Pinyinzao jiao
Chinese皂荚
Latin NameFructus Gleditsiae
English NameGleditsia Fruit
Japanesesokaku
Koreanjogak

Classification

Channels
Lung, Large Intestine
Flavour
Acrid
Temperature
Warm
Part used
Fruit
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Gleditsia sinensis
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Forcefully dispels Phlegm

  • Stubborn Phlegm that stops Lung Qi descending: cough or wheezing, with thick, sticky sputum that is hard to bring up
  • Chest congestion with laboured breathing
  • Phlegm nodules

Opens the orifices and revives the Spirit

  • Sudden collapse into unconsciousness from excess Phlegm, with clenched jaw, pallor and obstructed breathing
  • Facial paralysis or seizures from excess Phlegm; it treats only the branch, so combine it with herbs for the root

Dissipates clumps and reduces swelling

  • Boils and abscesses in their early stage, before they ulcerate
  • Abscesses that will not discharge their pus

Unblocks the bowels and expels roundworms (as a suppository)

  • Constipation or intestinal obstruction from roundworms

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 1-5g; Powder: 0.6-1.5g; Tincture: 0.25-1.5ml1-5 g0.25-1.5 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions