Learn About Chinese Herbs -Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae)-
This product is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. "Shennong's Materia Medica《神农本草经》" is listed as a medium grade.
Other names: Shan Zhi Zi, Hong Zhi Zi, Huang Zhi Zi.
Source: Zhi Zi jasminoides Ellis var. rdicans (Thunb). The dried ripe fruit of Makino, mostly wild, is now cultivated in large quantities.
Origin: Mainly produced in Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Sichuan and other provinces.
Trait identification: This product is spherical or oval, 1.5~4.5cm long, about 1~2cm in diameter. The surface is orange-yellow or dark red, light brown or brown, the skin is thin and leathery, slightly shiny, usually with 6 raised wing-like longitudinal ridges (dorsal sutures), and most of the longitudinal ridges have a distinct longitudinal vein (ventral suture). There are more than 6 calyx lobes at the apex, which are mostly broken. The base is abrupt or acute, with fruit stalk marks. After opening, the inner wall of the peel is pale yellow or yellowish-white, and the seeds are numerous, clustered into round-like clumps, orange-red or orange-yellow. The seeds are oblate and irregularly shaped, similar to chili seeds, which are dyed yellow when immersed in water. The smell is light, and the taste is slightly bitter and sour. It is considered to be of better quality for it to be red, round, and full of seeds.
Main ingredients: containing Zhi Ziside, saffron glycoside, Zhi Zi yellow pigment; It also contains D-mannitol, β sitosterol, etc.
Pharmachologic effect
（1） Antipyretic: inhibits the fever center, the effect is slightly similar to that of Huang Qin and Huang Lian, but the effect is slightly weaker.
（2） Jaundice: choleretic, can enhance bile secretion. Experiments have also proved that for animals after ligation of bile ducts, Zhi Zi can inhibit the increase of bilirubin in the blood, and the active ingredients are cohoancin and cohocytic acid. Zhi Zi fluid can cause the gallbladder to contract.
（3） Hemostasis: After frying black into charcoal (mountain Zhi Zi charcoal), it has a hemostatic effect.
（4） Antibacterial: In vitro test has inhibitory effect on dysentery bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.
（5） Sedation: It has a therapeutic effect on upset and insomnia caused by brain congestion and nerve excitement caused by fever and venereal disease. Experiments have also proved that Zhi Zi flow extract has a sedative effect on mice.
（6） Antihypertensive: Animal studies can lower blood pressure.
In addition, animal experiments have confirmed that this product has an inhibitory effect on ascites tumor cells.
Preparation: Raw, stir-fried or scorched.
Taste: bitter cold.
Meridians: into the heart, liver, lungs, and stomach meridians.
Function: clear away heat and reduce fire, remove annoyance， diuresis, cool blood and detoxify.
Indications: fever, annoyance, jaundice, blood in urine, poor urination, vomiting blood, sores and heat poisoning.
Clinical application
（1） It is used for the treatment of damp heat jaundice (acute infectious hepatitis, serum hepatitis, etc.). Traditional Chinese medicine has used Zhi Zi as the main herb for the treatment of Jaundice. Modern experiments have confirmed that its main effect is to remove jaundice. It is often accompanied by Yin Chen Hao; With Used with bear gall bladder it removes jaundice even faster.
（2） For the treatment of burn infection, fever, polydipsia, irritability and other hot poison symptoms, Zhi Zi can be used to clear the fire and detoxify, but it must be mixed with Huang Bai, Sheng Di, Lian Qiao, etc., and use large dose of Huang Qi to reduce toxin absorption. Such as in the formula Jia Wei Si Shun Qing Liang Yin.
（3） It is used for the treatment of patients with coughing up blood, epistaxis and damp heat syndrome. The use of Zhi Zi charcoal (black Zhi Zi) must be used in combination with other blood cooling hemostatic herbs, such as in formula Ke Xue Fang.
（4） It is used to treat a variety of inflammations. People with liver heat symptoms (red eyes, swelling and pain, tears, bitter taste in mouth, dry mouth, irritability in the heart, restless sleep at night) are more suitable, and Zhi Zi can clear liver fever (anti-inflammatory, sedative). For example, for epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (pink eye), use Zhi Zi 9g, Ju Hua 9g, Gan Cao 3g, decoction in water. For the treatment of pyelonephritis and urethritis, difficulty to urinate use Zhi Zi 9g and Gan Cao 9g to facilitate urination.
（5） It is used for the treatment of bruises, sprains, and contusions. Grind raw Zhi Zis, mix with flour and egg whites (egg whites), and wet compress the swollen area.
In addition, Zhi Zis has other uses. For example, to treat hemorrhoids and pain, use Hei Shan Zhi Zi to grind into powder, mix it with petroleum jelly, and apply it topically to relieve pain.
[Attached]
(1) Zhi Chi Tang formula can cure upset and insomnia after fever. In fact, if the patient already feels chest tightness and phlegm, one can vomit after taking it (stir fry the Zhi Zi will prevent this), and the patient feels more comfortable after vomiting; However, it turns out that those who do not have chest tightness and chest blockage generally do not vomit after taking Zhi Chi Tang formula.
(2) Those who have weak cold and loose stools should avoid using Zhi Zi.
Dosage: 3~9g
Prescription examples
（1） Jia Wei Si Shun Qing Liang Yin: Raw Zhi Zi 9g, Lian Qiao 15g, Fang Feng 9g, Dang Gui 18g, Chi Shao 9g, Qiang Huo 6g, Raw Gan Cao 9g, Raw Huang Qi 45g, Sheng Di 15g, Huang Bai 9g, decoction in water to treat infection and fever after burns.
（2） Ke Xue Fang (from "Danxi Heart Method"): Hei Shan Zhi Zi 9g, Qing Dai Fen 3g (Chong), Gua Lou Ren 12g, Hai Fu Shi 9g, Ke Zi 2.4g, decoction in water, treatment of lung fever and coughing up blood.
Annotations
1. There is still a kind of Shui Zhi Zi, and its fruit is longer and larger. It is about 3~7cm long. Diameter 1~15cm others are similar to Shan Zhi Zis. In the past, it was mostly used as a dye, but now it is commonly used with Shan Zhi Zi. Shui Zhi Zi and Shan Zhi Zi belong to the fruits of the same family. Shan Zhi Zis are mostly found in small hilly areas; Shui Zhi Zis are mostly found next to streams and ditches. The taste is the same as that of the Shan Zhi Zi.
Zhi Zi: It is considered to be of better quality to use the uniform color of the grains and bright red. Yellow Zhi Zi is slightly inferior, and blue-brown is considered the lowest grade. This is mainly determined by the ripeness of the harvest time, with the raw ones being green and the ripe ones being red. At the same time, after the Zhi Zi is harvested, in order to dry it quickly, it is steamed once in a pot and then dried in the sun or directly with fire. In the process of processing, often due to the untimely drying, the phenomenon of discoloration occurs.
2. Sichuan, Guizhou's Shan Zhi Zi kernel, for the Tung family Tung plant light leaf sea tung (also known as oak wood. for small trees). It is granular, irregular and slightly concave polyhedron, and the size of the edges varies, and the thickness is about 3~7mm. The surface is reddish-brown to dark brown with a slight gloss. It is hard and not easy to break. The inside of the section is yellowish-white, when immersed in water, and the water is not dyed yellow. The smell is slight and the taste is extremely astringent. The utility is different from that of the Shan Zhi Zi, which is why it is only sold locally.
Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.