Cì Jí Lí (刺蒺藜), known in English as Puncture vine fruit (Tribulus terrestris (fruit)), is a warm, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind category. It enters the Liver channel. Its main action: calms Liver, relieves constraint.
| Pinyin | Cì Jí Lí (Ci Ji Li) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 刺蒺藜 |
| English | Puncture vine fruit |
| Botanical name | Tribulus terrestris (fruit) |
| Category | Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Liver |
| Dosage | 6–10g |
| Cautions | Slightly toxic; Blood or qi deficiency; pregnancy (use with caution) |
Actions
- Calms Liver, relieves constraint
- Invigorates Blood, dispels Wind
- Brightens eyes, stops itching
Indications
- Headache and dizziness from Liver Yang rising
- Chest and hypochondriac distension and pain
- Blocked lactation and breast abscess
- Red eyes and corneal opacity
- Urticaria and itching
How to remember Cì Jí Lí
Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind herbs are mostly cool or cold, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Liver channel: from its action “Calms Liver”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: unusual for Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind herbs (most are cool or cold)
- Acrid: Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind herbs vary in flavour
- Bitter: Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind herbs vary in flavour
Other Anchor Yang / extinguish Wind herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Cì Jí Lí?
Cì Jí Lí is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Cì Jí Lí enter?
Cì Jí Lí enters the Liver channel.
What are the actions of Cì Jí Lí?
Calms Liver, relieves constraint; Invigorates Blood, dispels Wind; Brightens eyes, stops itching.
What is Cì Jí Lí used for?
Headache and dizziness from Liver Yang rising; chest and hypochondriac distension and pain; blocked lactation and breast abscess; red eyes and corneal opacity; urticaria and itching.
Practise Cì Jí Lí and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.