Zhi Zi - 栀子 - Fructus Gardeniae

Properties: Bitter and cold

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart, Liver, Stomach and Lung

Traditional Actions/Indications:

Clears Heat, reduces Fire and eliminates irritability in the San Jiao
Excess Heat in the Heart, Stomach and Liver with high fever, irritability, restlessness, a stifling sensation in the chest, insomnia or delirious speech, eye problems, anger, jaundice
Clears Heat and resolves Dampness (Drains Damp-Heat)
Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with painful urinary dysfunction (Lin Syndrome)
Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder with jaundice
Damp-Heat in the San Jiao
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder and San Jiao channels of the face affecting the nose and eyes or causing sores in the mouth or facial region
Cools the Blood and relieves toxicity (stops bleeding by astringing)
Heat in the Blood with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemafecia or hematuria (partially charred)
Reduces swelling and invigorates the Blood
Blood Stagnation due to trauma (topical)

Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.

Cautions: Being strongly bitter in flavor and cold in nature, it is not good for deficiency-cold syndrome because it can easily impair spleen and stomach. It is contraindicated in case of loose stool due to spleen deficiency.

Notable Constituents:

Geniposide
Iridoid glycoside with several medicinal properties including neuroprotective, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant-like, cardioprotective, antioxidant, immune-regulatory, antithrombotic and antitumoral activity through modulating several proteins and genes that are associated with inflammatory and oxidative stress processes. However, it has also shown hepatotoxicity through an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities (at 320 mg/kg) and oxidative stress due to decreased total superoxide dismutase activity and an increase of malondialdehyde concentration at high doses (>574 mg/kg) in rats. Acute nephrotoxicity was also observed at high doses (1.2 g/kg) on jaundiced rats. Safe dosage was 24.3 mg/kg. It is also notable as a marker for saffron adulteration as gardenia is often used to adulterate saffron due similarity of the flavonoids and crocines present but geniposide is present only in gardenia and not in Crocus sativus.
Crocin
Diester present in gardenia and Crocus sativus responsible for giving them their colour. It is used as an antioxidant, a food colouring and a histological dye and has been investigated for the treatment of hyperglycemia, metabolic Syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia.

Appears in 92 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)

An Gong Niu Huang Wan (Calm the Palace Pill with Ox Gallstone)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)

Ba Zheng San (Eight Herb Powder for Rectification)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)

Can Shi Tang (Silkworm Droppings Decoction)
From: Discussion of Sudden Turmoil Disorders (1862) by Wang Shi-Xiong

Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang (Bupleurum Decoction to Clear the Liver)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

Chai Qin Cheng Qi Tang (Beuplurum and Scutellaria Decoction to Order the Qi)
From: Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine by Xue et al. (July 2005)

Chan Hua San (Cicada Flowers Powder)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)

Chu Shi Wei Ling Tang (Eliminate Dampness by Combining Calm the Stomach and Five Ingredient Powder with Poria)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San (Ligusticum powder to Take With Green Tea)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)

Da Huang Xiao Shi Tang (Rhubarb and Saltpeter Decoction)
From: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Da Tou Wen Tang (Massive Febrile Disorder of the Head Decoction)
From: Medical Collectanea of Kong Bo-Hua (1988) by Kong Bo-Hua

Dang Gui Long Hui Wan (Tangkuei, Gentian and Aloe Pill)
From: Formulas from the Discussion Illuminating the Yellow Emperor's Basic Questions (1172) by Liu Wan-Su

Di Yu San (Sanguisorba Powder)
From: Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine (c. 1970) by Shanghai College of TCM

Die Da Jiu (Trauma Liniment)
From: A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth (2004) by Tom Bisio

Dun Sou San (Long-Bout Cough Powder)
From: Time Tested Formula (unknown date) by Unknown

Fang Feng Tong Sheng San (Saposhnikovia Powder that Sagely Unblocks)
From: Formulas from the Discussion Illuminating the Yellow Emperor's Basic Questions (1172) by Liu Wan-Su

Gua Lou Zhi Shi Tang (Trichosanthes Fruit and Unripe Bitter Orange Decoction)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)

Hua Gan Jian Tang (Transform the Liver Decoction)
From: Collected Treatises of Jing-Yue by Zhang Jie Bin / Zhang Jing Yue (1624)

Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction to Resolve Toxicity)
From: Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library by Wang Tao (752)

Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan (Coptis Pill to Cleat the Upper [Jiao])
From: Nationwide Collection of TCM Patent Formulas (1962)

Jia Jian Ba Zheng San (Modified Eight Herb Powder for Rectification)
From: Essential Teachings of Dan-Xi by Zhu Dan-Xi (1732)

Jia Jian Dao Chi Xie Xin Tang (Modified Guide Out the Red and Drain the Heart Decoction)
From: Selected Formulas for Warm-Heat Pathogen Diseases (c. 1900)

Jia Jian Liang Ge San (Modified Cool the Diaphragm Powder)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

Jia Wei Wu Lin San (Augmented Powder for Five Types of Urinary Dribbling)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (Augmented Rambling Powder)
From: Summary of Internal Medicine (Ming dynasty)

Jin Gu Die Da Wan (Sinew and Bone Injury Pills)
From: Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2000)

Jin Hua Jiu (Golden Flower Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various

Jin Hua Wan (Golden Flower Pills)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)

Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang (Schizonepeta and Forsythia Decoction)
From: Wondrous Lantern for Peering into the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases (1773) by Shen Jin-Ao

Ke Xue Tang (Coughing of Blood Formula)
From: Essential Teachings of Dan-Xi by Zhu Dan-Xi (1732)

Lian Po Yin (Coptis and Magnolia Drink)
From: Discussion of Sudden Turmoil Disorders (1862) by Wang Shi-Xiong

Lian Qiao Bai Du Pian (Forsythia Fruit Tablet for Removing Toxin)
From: Unknown, probably a modern patent

Liang Ge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver)
From: Medical Formulas Collected and Analysed by Wang Ang (1682)

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver)
From: Precious Mirror of Health by Luo Tian-Yi (Yuan Dynasty)

Nei Liu Huang Lian Tang (Internal Flow [Promoting] Decoction with Coptis)
From: Collection of Writings on the Mechanism of Disease, Suitability of Qi, and the Safeguarding of Life as Discussed in Basic Questions (1186)

Nei Shu Huang Lian Tang (Internal Dispersing Decoction with Coptis)
From: Collection of Writing on the Mechanism of Illness, Suitability of Qi and the Safeguarding of Life as Discussed in the Basic Questions (1186)

Niu Huang Cheng Qi Tang (Ox Gallstone Decoction to Order the Qi)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)

Niu Huang Shang Qing Wan (Ox Gallstone Pill to Cleat the Upper [Jiao])
From: Nationwide Collection of TCM Patent Formulas (1962)

Qi Bao Qing Xin San (Seven Treasures Powder to Clear the Heart)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)

Qing Dan Xie Huo Tang (Clear the Gallbladder and Drain Fire Decoction)
From: Integrated Chinese and Western Medical Treatment of the Acute Abdomen (1973)

Qing Fei Tang (Clear the Lung Decoction)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)

Qing Gan Da Yu Tang (Clear the Liver and Thrust Out Constraint Decoction)
From: Revised Popular Guide to the Discussion of Cold Damage by Yu Gen-Chu, Revised by He Bing-Yuan (Qing dynasty)

Qing Gan San (Clear the Liver Powder)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)

Qing Liang Yin Zi (Cooling and Clearing Drink)
From: Symptoms, Causes, Pulse and Treatment (Ming dynastry)

Qing Shang Fang Feng Tang (Clear the Upper [Burner] Decoction with Saposhnikovia)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)

Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Clear Epidemics and Overcome Toxicity Drink)
From: Achievements Regarding Epidemic Rashes (1794)

Qing Xin Li Ge Tang (Clear the Heart and Enable the Diaphragm Decoction)
From: Indispensable Tools for Pattern Treatment by Wang Ken-Tang (1602)

Qing Xin Liang Ge San (Clear the Heart and Cool the Diaphragm Powder)
From: Warp and Weft of Warm Diseases by Wang Shi-Xiong / Wang Meng-Ying (1852)

Qing Yan Li Ge Tang (Clear the Throat and Enable the Diaphragm Decoction)
From: Precious Collection for Throat Diseases (Qing dynasty)

Qu Feng Zhi Bao Dan (Greatest Treasure Special Pill to Dispel Wind)
From: Wondrous Lantern for Peering into the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases (1773) by Shen Jin-Ao

Ren Shen Xie Fei Tang (Ginseng Decoction to Drain the Lung)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

San Huang Shi Gao Tang (Three Yellow Gypsum Decoction)
From: Indispensable Tools for Pattern Treatment by Wang Ken-Tang (1602)

San Jiao Zhu Shi Chen Liao Yang Cao Yao Fang (Triple Heater Pig Time Recuperative Herbal Prescription)
From: Treatise on Armament Technology by Mao Yuanyi (1621)

Sang Xing Tang (Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernal Decoction)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)

Shi Gao Tang (Gypsum Decoction)
From: Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library by Wang Tao (752)

Shi Gao Tang (Gypsum Decoction)
From: Six Texts on Cold Damage (1445) by Tao Hua

Shi Hui San (Ten Partially Charred Substances Powder)
From: Miraculous Book of Ten Remedies for Consumption (1348)

Shuang Jie Jia Cong Chi Tang (Double Releasing Decoction with Spring Onion and Prepared Soybeans)
From: Comprehensive Medicine According to Master Zhang (1695) by Zhang Lu-Yu / Shi-Wan

Shuang Jie San (Double Releasing Powder)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)

Shuang Jie Tong Sheng San (Double Releasing Powder Powder that Sagely Unblocks)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

Suan Zao Ren Shi Mian Yu (Sour Jujube Seed Insomnia Bath)
From: Shen-nong.com

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Drink)
From: Deriving New Treatments for Patterns of Miscellaneous Disorders in Chinese Internal Medicine (1958)

Wan Shi Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan (Wan's Ox Gallstone Pill to Clear the Heart)
From: Essential Teachings about Pox and Rashes Passed Down in Medical Lineages (1568)

Wen Qing Yin (Warming and Clearing Drink)
From: Song Family Secret Texts on Women's Disorders (1612)

Wu Lin San (Powder for Five Types of Urinary Dribbling)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)

Xi Di Tou Ying Tang (Rhinocerous and Rehmannia Decocotion for Venting the Nutritive Level)
From: Selected Formulas for Warm-Heat Pathogen Diseases (c. 1900)

Xi Gan Ming Mu San (Wash the Liver to Clear the Eyes Powder)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)

Xi Gan San (Liver Washing Powder)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)

Xiao Ji Yin Zi (Small Thistle Drink)
From: Formulas to Aid the Living by Yan Yong-He (1253)

Xiao Yu Gao (Minor Stasis Ointment)
From: Complete External Therapies of Chinese Drugs by Xu Xiangcai

Xie Gan San [Tian Xing Chi Yan] (Drain the Liver Powder [Epidemic Red Eye])
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)

Xie Gan Tang (Drain the Liver Decocotion)
From: Selections from the Clinical Experience of Guan You-Bo (2006) by Guan You-Bo

Xie Huang San (Drain the Yellow Powder)
From: Craft of Medicines and Patterns for Children by Qian Yi (1119)

Xie Qing Wan (Drain the Green Pill)
From: Craft of Medicines and Patterns for Children by Qian Yi (1119)

Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin (Magnolia Flower Drink to Clear the Lungs)
From: Orthodox Lineage of External Medicine by Chen Shi-Gong (1617)

Xuan Bi Tang (Disband Painful Obstruction Decoction)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)

Xuan Yu Tong Jing Tang (Diffuse Constraint and Unblocks the Channels Decoction)
From: Fu Qing-Zhu's Women's Disorders by Fu Qing-Zhu (1826)

Yi Qi Qing Jin Tang (Augment the Qi and Clear the Metal Decoction)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)

Yin Chen Hao Tang (Virgate Wormwood Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Yue Ju Wan (Escape Restraint Pill)
From: Essential Teachings of Dan-Xi by Zhu Dan-Xi (1732)

Zhi Shi Zhi Zi Chi Tang (Bitter Orange, Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Bai Pi Tang (Gardenia and Phellodendron Bark Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Chi Tang (Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Da Huang Tang (Gardenia and Rhubarb Decoction)
From: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Gan Cao Chi Tang (Gardenia, Licorice and Fermented Soybean Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Gan Jiang Tang (Gardenia and Dried Ginger Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Hou Po Tang (Gardenia and Magnolia Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zhi Zi Luo Bo Gao (Gardenia and Chinese Radish Ointment)
From: Categorised Essentials of Repairing the Body by Xue Ji (1548)

Zhi Zi Qin Ge Tang (Gardenia, Scutellaria and Kudzu Decoction)
From: Unwilting Formulas (Qing Dynasty)

Zhi Zi Sheng Jiang Chi Tang (Gardenia, Fresh Ginger and Fermented Soybean Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)

Zi Shen Ming Mu Tang (Enrich Kidneys and Improve Vision Decoction)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)

Zi Shui Qing Gan Yin (Enrich Water and Clear the Liver Drink)
From: Externally Contracted Patterns from Xitang (1725)

Research Links & References: (click to display)

Individual Herbs Notebook

栀 子  Zhi Zi

Pharmaceutical: Fructus Gardeniae
Taxonomy: Gardenia jasminoides

Other names: Gardenia Fruit

Category: Herbs that Clear Heat

Research Links:

Reference Notes: