zhi shi

枳实·Fructus Aurantii Immaturus

Unripe Bitter Orange

About zhi shi

Zhi Shi (枳实) is the unripe fruit of the bitter orange, recorded as Fructus Aurantii Immaturus. It is bitter and acrid in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that regulate Qi.

Names

Pinyinzhi shi
Chinese枳实
Latin NameFructus Aurantii Immaturus
English NameUnripe Bitter Orange
Japanesekijitsu
Koreanjisil

Classification

Category
Regulate Qi
Channels
Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen
Flavour
Acrid, Bitter
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Family
Rutaceae
Species
citrus aurantium|citrus sinensis
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Breaks up stagnant Qi, reduces accumulation, descends Qi, unblocks the bowels and clears food stagnation

  • Stagnant, accumulated Qi with epigastric or abdominal pain and distension, or indigestion with focal distension and wind
  • Food stagnation
  • Constipation with a hard abdomen
  • Dysentery with tenesmus

Transforms Phlegm, reduces distension and resolves hardness

  • Turbid Phlegm blocking the Qi, with focal distension and fullness of the chest and epigastrium
  • Painful obstruction of the chest (Xiong Bi) with Phlegm accumulation, used with herbs that support Heart Qi or Yang

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-10g; Visceroptosis: 12-30g; Tincture: 1-4ml; Essential Oil: 2-3drops3-10 g1-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions