Pinyin: Zhizi
Aliases
Yuetiao, Shanzhizi, Huangzhizi, Shanhuangzhi.
Source
1Gardenia jasminoides1. Dried ripe fruit of Ellis.
Botanical Description
Evergreen shrub. Height 1-2 m. Branchlets green, hairy when young, becoming nearly glabrous. Leaves simple, opposite, rarely ternate, with short petioles; stipules 2, located inside the petiole; leaf blade leathery, elliptic, broadly oblanceolate, or obovate, 6-14 cm long, 2-7 cm wide, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate, entire margin, upper surface glossy, lower surface with tufts of short hairs only in the axils of veins; lateral veins pinnate. Flowers large, very fragrant, terminal or axillary, with short pedicels; calyx green, 2-3 cm long, lobes 5-7, linear-lanceolate, usually slightly longer than the calyx tube; corolla salverform, white, turning creamy yellow, base fused into a tube, upper part 6-7-lobed, spirally arranged, apex rounded; stamens equal in number to corolla lobes, inserted at the throat of the corolla, filaments very short, anthers linear, longitudinally dehiscent, 2-celled; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-celled. Fruit deep yellow, obovoid or oblong-ellipsoid, 2-4 cm long, with 5-9 wing-like longitudinal ridges, apex with persistent linear calyx. Seeds numerous, bright yellow, flattened-ellipsoid. Flowering period May to July, fruiting period August to November.
Habitat and Distribution
Born in hilly mountainous areas or on slopes in shrub forests. Distributed in Central and South China, Southwest China, and Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest when the fruit is ripe and reddish-yellow in September to November, remove fruit stems and impurities, steam until steam rises or blanch briefly in boiling water, remove, and dry.
Medicinal Properties
This product is long-ovoid or elliptical in shape, 1.5-3.5 cm long and 1-1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is reddish-yellow or brownish-red, with 6 wing-like longitudinal ribs, often with a distinct longitudinal vein between the ribs and branches. The apex has remaining sepals, the base is slightly pointed with remnant fruit stalks. The pericarp is thin and brittle, slightly lustrous; the inner surface is lighter in color, lustrous, with 2-3 raised false septa. Seeds are numerous, flat-ovoid, clustered into masses, deep red or reddish-yellow, densely covered with small warty protrusions. The odor is faint, and the taste is slightly sour and bitter.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains geniposide, scandoside methyl ester, gardoside, shanzhiside, rutin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, and other components.
Pharmacology
Protects the digestive system; purges; anticonvulsant; sedative; lowers body temperature; lowers blood pressure; increases DNA and protein synthesis in cells; antibacterial; anti-inflammatory.
Properties and Channel Entry
Bitter, cold. Enters the Heart, Lung, and Sanjiao channels.
Functions and Indications
Drain fire and relieve irritability, clear Heat and promote diuresis, cool Blood and resolve toxicity; for external use, reduce swelling and alleviate pain. Used for febrile disease with irritability, Damp-Heat jaundice, painful urinary dribbling, Blood-Heat causing vomiting or epistaxis, red and swollen eyes, fire-toxin sores; external use for sprains and contusions.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoct in water, 5-10 g; or made into pills or powder
Precautions and Contraindications
For those with Spleen deficiency and loose stools or Stomach cold causing pain, use with caution.
Prescriptions
1. For painful urinary dribbling with blood: unprocessed Zhizi (Gardenia jasminoides) powder and Huashi (talcum) in equal parts, taken with green onion decoction. (Jingyan Liangfang/Proven Effective Prescriptions) 2. For urinary retention: 14 Zhizi seeds, a pinch of salt, and 1 single-clove garlic. Pound into a paste, spread on paper and apply to the navel, or apply to the scrotum; after a while, urination will occur. (Puji Fang/Universal Relief Prescriptions) 3. For edema due to Heat: Zhizi 15 g, Muxiang (Saussurea costus) 4.5 g, Baizhu (Atractylodes macrocephala) 7.5 g. Finely cut, decoct in water and take orally. (Danxi Xinfa/Teachings of Danxi) 4. For epigastric pain due to Fire: 7 or 9 Zhizi. Stir-fry until scorched, add one cup of water, decoct to seven-tenths, add fresh ginger juice and drink. (Danxi Zuanyao/Compilation of Danxi)
