Zhizi Fructus Gardeniae
The source is from a fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis var. radicans (Thunb.) Makino, family Rubiaceae. The producing areas are maily in all provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. The medicinal material is collected in autumn and the crude or the one stir-baked to brown or the carbonized can be used.
Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the heart, liver and triple energizer meridians.
Actions Purge sthenic fire to relieve vexation, clear away heat and remove dampness, cool blood and remove toxic materials, subside swelling to alleviate pain.
Application
1. It is used for febrile disease with irritability and can clear away fire from the triple energizer and heart, and relieve vexation. For febrile diseases with irritability, it is often combined with Dandouchi (Semen Sojae Praeparata), such as Zhizi Chi Tang (Decoction) ; for overabundance of heart-heat with high fever, irritability, coma and delirium, usually used together with Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis ) , Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ) , Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri ) and others that can clear away heat and purge fire, such as Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Decoction).
2. For stagnation of dampness and heat in the liver and gallbladder manifested as jaundice, fever and oliguria with brownish urine, it is often combined with Yinchen ( Herba Artemisiae Scopariae ), Dahuang ( Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), etc., such as Yinchenhao Tang (Decoction).
3. For bleeding due to blood-heat manifested as hematemesis, epistaxis, and hematuria, etc.. It is often combined with Baimaogen (Rhizoma Imperatae), Shengdihuang ( Radix Rehmanniae ), and Huangqin ( Radix Scutellariae ) , etc..
4. It is used for pyocutaneous disease with swelling and trauma. For the former due to heat-toxin with reddish swelling and heat pain, it is often combined with Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae ) , Lianqiao ( Fructus Forsythiae ), and Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci); for the latter, or trauma with local swelling and pain, the crude one can be ground into powder, which is mixed with egg white for local application.
Usage and Dosage 6 - 9 g is used in decoction for oral use, the crude one is used for purging fire, the carbonized one for stopping bleeding.
Notes It is not suitable for loose stool due to spleen- deficiency.
