Zhī Zǐ (栀子), known in English as Gardenia fruit (Gardenia jasminoides), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Heart, Lung, Stomach, Liver and Triple Burner channels. Its main action: clears Heat, calms agitation and restlessness.
| Pinyin | Zhī Zǐ (Zhi Zi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 栀子 |
| English | Gardenia fruit |
| Botanical name | Gardenia jasminoides |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Lung, Stomach, Liver, Triple Burner |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency diarrhoea; Cold patterns |
Actions
- Clears Heat, calms agitation and restlessness
- Cools Blood, stops bleeding
- Drains Damp-Heat — jaundice
Indications
- Heat with vexation and insomnia
- Jaundice
- Hot painful urinary dysfunction
- Haematemesis from Heat
How to remember Zhī Zǐ
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter, Stomach and Liver channels: like most Clear heat herbs
- Learn by heart
- Heart, Lung and Triple Burner channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Zhī Zǐ
- Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng
- Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān Tāng
- Jiā Wèi Xiāo Yáo Sǎn
- Zhī Zǐ Chǐ Tāng
- Yīn Chén Hāo Tāng
- Bā Zhèng Sǎn
- Yuè Jū Wán
- Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn
- Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán
- Shí Huī Sǎn
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Zhī Zǐ?
Zhī Zǐ is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Zhī Zǐ enter?
Zhī Zǐ enters the Heart, Lung, Stomach, Liver and Triple Burner channels.
What are the actions of Zhī Zǐ?
Clears Heat, calms agitation and restlessness; Cools Blood, stops bleeding; Drains Damp-Heat — jaundice.
What is Zhī Zǐ used for?
Heat with vexation and insomnia; jaundice; hot painful urinary dysfunction; haematemesis from Heat.
Which formulas contain Zhī Zǐ?
Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng, Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān Tāng, Jiā Wèi Xiāo Yáo Sǎn, Zhī Zǐ Chǐ Tāng, Yīn Chén Hāo Tāng, Bā Zhèng Sǎn, Yuè Jū Wán, Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn, Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán and Shí Huī Sǎn.
Practise Zhī 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.