Lì Zhī Hé (荔枝核), known in English as Lychee seed (Litchi chinensis (seed)), is a warm, sweet and slightly bitter Chinese herb from the Regulate qi category. It enters the Liver and Stomach channels. Its main action: moves qi, disperses Cold, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Lì Zhī Hé (Li Zhi He) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 荔枝核 |
| English | Lychee seed |
| Botanical name | Litchi chinensis (seed) |
| Category | Regulate qi |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Stomach |
| Dosage | 4.5–9g |
| Cautions | No Cold-stagnation pattern |
Actions
- Moves qi, disperses Cold, relieves pain
- Particularly for hernial and testicular pain
Indications
- Cold hernial pain
- Orchitis
- Cold dysmenorrhoea
- Epigastric Cold pain
How to remember Lì Zhī Hé
Regulate qi herbs are mostly warm or hot, acrid and bitter, and most enter the Spleen and Stomach channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Slightly bitter, Stomach channel: like most Regulate qi herbs
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Regulate qi herbs (most are acrid or bitter)
- Liver channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Regulate qi herbs
- Chén Pí
- Zhǐ Shí
- Mù Xiāng
- Xiāng Fù
- Chén Xiāng
- Qīng Pí
- Fó Shǒu
- Chuān Liàn Zǐ
- Dà Fù Pí
- Wū Yào
- Zhǐ Ké
- Jú Hóng
- Xiè Bái
- Tán Xiāng
- Méi Guī Huā
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Lì Zhī Hé?
Lì Zhī Hé is warm and sweet and slightly bitter.
Which channels does Lì Zhī Hé enter?
Lì Zhī Hé enters the Liver and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Lì Zhī Hé?
Moves qi, disperses Cold, relieves pain; Particularly for hernial and testicular pain.
What is Lì Zhī Hé used for?
Cold hernial pain; orchitis; cold dysmenorrhoea; epigastric Cold pain.
Practise Lì Zhī Hé 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.