Gardenia Fruit — Classic Formulas
Zhi Zi · Fructus Gardeniae
Primary Actions
- Drains fire and relieves irritability - Zhi Zi is a classic bitter-cold fruit for agitation, vexation, insomnia, and heat disturbing the chest or Heart.
- Clears damp-heat - it is widely used for jaundice, dark scanty urination, and heat lodged in the Liver-Gallbladder or lower burner.
- Cools blood and stops bleeding - traditional indications include nosebleed, hematuria, and blood-heat rashes or macules.
- Clears toxicity and reduces traumatic swelling externally - poultice or wash use extends to sprains, bruises, and hot painful swelling.
Classic Formulas
- Zhi Zi Chi Tang - classic constrained-heat formula pairing Zhi Zi with Dan Dou Chi for irritability and chest vexation.
- Yin Chen Hao Tang - damp-heat jaundice formula using Zhi Zi to drain heat through the urine.
- Huang Lian Jie Du Tang - major fire-toxin formula in which Zhi Zi clears heat from the triple burner.
Classical Text References
- Materia medica sources such as TCM healing-herb references describe Zhi Zi as bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Liver, Stomach, and Lung to purge fire, cool blood, relieve toxicity, and clear damp-heat.
- Me and Qi highlights Shan Zhi Zi as an alias and emphasizes classic use for febrile irritability, jaundice, bleeding from heat, and externally applied swelling.