zhi zi

栀子·Fructus Gardeniae

Gardenia Fruit

About zhi zi

Zhi Zi (栀子) is the fruit of gardenia, recorded as Fructus Gardeniae. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Lung, Liver, Stomach and San Jiao channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Fire.

Names

Pinyinzhi zi
Chinese栀子
Latin NameFructus Gardeniae
English NameGardenia Fruit
Japaneseshishi
Koreanchija

Classification

Category
Drain Fire
Channels
Lung, Stomach, Heart, San Jiao, Liver
Flavour
Bitter
Temperature
Cold
Part used
Fruit
Family
Rubiaceae
Species
Gardenia Jasminoides
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, drains Fire, relieves irritability in the San Jiao and calms the Spirit

  • Excess Heat affecting the Heart, Liver and Stomach: high fever, restlessness, irritability, a stifling chest, sleeplessness or delirious talk
  • Eye problems, anger and jaundice from Excess Heat

Clears Heat and drains Damp-Heat

  • Lin syndrome: painful urination from Lower Jiao Damp-Heat
  • Liver and Gallbladder Damp-Heat causing jaundice
  • San Jiao Damp-Heat
  • Damp-Heat rising through the Gallbladder and San Jiao channels to the face, with eye or nose problems or sores around the mouth and face

Cools the Blood, resolves toxicity and stops bleeding

  • Blood Heat causing nosebleed, bloody vomit, or bleeding in the stool or urine; for bleeding the herb is partly charred

Reduces swelling and invigorates Blood

  • Blood stagnation from trauma, applied topically, classically mixed with egg white and vinegar

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-12g; Tincture: 2-4 ml (less cooling, more sedating)3-12 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions