Jīn Yīng Zǐ (金樱子), known in English as Cherokee rose fruit (Rosa laevigata), is a neutral, sour, astringent and sweet Chinese herb from the Stabilise & bind category. It enters the Kidney, Bladder and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: astringes Kidney, secures Jing.
| Pinyin | Jīn Yīng Zǐ (Jin Ying Zi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 金樱子 |
| English | Cherokee rose fruit |
| Botanical name | Rosa laevigata |
| Category | Stabilise & bind |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sour, Astringent, Sweet |
| Channels | Kidney, Bladder, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 6–12g |
| Cautions | Excess patterns; early-stage exterior illness |
Actions
- Astringes Kidney, secures Jing
- Astringes intestines, stops diarrhoea
Indications
- Kidney deficiency spermatorrhoea, urinary incontinence, leucorrhoea
- Chronic diarrhoea
How to remember Jīn Yīng Zǐ
Stabilise & bind herbs are mostly astringent and sweet, and most enter the Kidney channel.
- You can work these out
- Astringent, Sweet: like most Stabilise & bind herbs
- Kidney channel: from its action “Astringes Kidney”
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “Astringes intestines”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: Stabilise & bind herbs vary in nature
- Sour: unusual for Stabilise & bind herbs (most are astringent or sweet)
- Bladder channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Stabilise & bind herbs
- Wǔ Wèi Zǐ
- Shān Zhū Yú
- Qiàn Shí
- Lián Zǐ
- Fú Xiǎo Mài
- Wū Méi
- Ròu Dòu Kòu
- Hē Zǐ
- Chì Shí Zhī
- Chūn Pí
- Fù Pén Zǐ
- Sāng Piāo Xiāo
- Hǎi Piāo Xiāo
- Lián Xū
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Jīn Yīng Zǐ?
Jīn Yīng Zǐ is neutral and sour, astringent and sweet.
Which channels does Jīn Yīng Zǐ enter?
Jīn Yīng Zǐ enters the Kidney, Bladder and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Jīn Yīng Zǐ?
Astringes Kidney, secures Jing; Astringes intestines, stops diarrhoea.
What is Jīn Yīng Zǐ used for?
Kidney deficiency spermatorrhoea, urinary incontinence, leucorrhoea; chronic diarrhoea.
Practise Jīn Yīng Zǐ 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.