WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

 It is the immature fruit of Citrus aurantium L. and its cultivated varieties or Citrus sinensis Osbeck, family Rutaceae. The fallen fruits are collected betwwen May to June. After the impurities are removed, they are sliced and dried in the sunshine or in low temperature. The raw or stir-baked with bran can be used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Bitter, pungent, sour and warm; relate to spleen and stomach meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Break qi, remove food retention; resolve phlegm and dissipate mass.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Foodretention syndromes     For abdominal pain and constipation due tofood retention, it is usually combined with Houpo and Dahuang, such as Xiaochengqi Decoction; for indigestion and eructation with fetid smell, with Shanzha, Maiya and Shenqu; for accumulation of damp-heat with dysentery and tenesmus with Dahuang, Huangqin and Huanglian , such as zhishi Daozhi Pills.

2. Chest impediment, epigastric stuffiness     For inner obstruction by phlegm-turbidity and yang-qi deficiency in chest causing chest impediment, it is usually combined with Gualou, Xiebai and Guizhi, such as Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction; for spleen deficiency with phlegm retention and coexistence of cold and heat resulting in epigastric fullness and distension and poor appetite, usually with Houpo, Banxia and Baizhu, such as Zhishi Xiaopi Pills; for relapse of disease due to overstrain, hot feeling of the body,epigastric stuffiness, with Zhizi and Douchi, such as Zhishi Zhizi Chi Decoction.

In addition, it also treats gastrectasis, gastroptosis, prolapse of rectum and uterus. Reports in recent years show its action of raising blood pressure.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 3-9g, no more than 30g. The raw effectively break qi and resolve phlegm. The stir-baked remove food retention and eliminate mass.

[ Precautions ]: It is used with caution for spleen and stomach deficiency and for pregnant women.

[Annotation ]: Zhiqiao       Its the dried immature fruit of Citrus aurantium L.and its cultivated varieties, with pulp removed. The raw or stir-baked with bran can be used for medication. It is bitter, pungent, sour, warm and relates to spleen and stomach meridians. With actions of regulating qi to comfort the middle energizer and promoting digestion to relieve distension, it usually treats qi stagnation in chest and hypochondrium, swelling pain, indigestio due to food retention, phlegm retention, gastroptosis, prolapse of rectum and uterus. The dosgae is 3-9g. it is used with caution for pregant women.

枳实为芸香科植物酸橙Citrus aurantium L．及其栽培变种或甜橙 C．sinensis Osbeck的干燥幼果，主产于四川、江西、福建、江苏等地。5～6月间采集自落的果实，自中部横切为两半，晒干或低温干燥,较小者直接晒干或低温干燥。用时洗净、闷透，切薄片，干燥。生用或麸炒用。