Gardeniae Fructus
Aliases：Huang Zhizi、Shan Zhizi、Huang Guoshu、Hong Zhizi, etc.
Huangzhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), also known as Zhizi, is a Chinese medicinal. It is the dried ripe fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, a plant of the Rubiaceae family (genus Gardenia).
Efficacy & Actions
Drain fire and relieve vexation, clear heat and drain dampness, cool the blood and resolve toxin, reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Indications
1. Febrile disease with vexation: Used for vexation, depression, restlessness, and irritability caused by pathogenic heat disturbing the interior in febrile diseases. 2. Damp‑heat jaundice: Clears damp‑heat from the liver and gallbladder. Used for jaundice, dark yellow urine, etc. 3. Bleeding due to blood heat: Cools the blood to stop bleeding. Used for hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria, etc., caused by reckless movement of blood heat. 4. Red, swollen and painful eyes; sores and toxic swellings: Clears heat, resolves toxin, and reduces swelling. Used for red, swollen and painful eyes, as well as fire‑toxin sores and swellings. 5. Strangury with painful urination: Clears heat and promotes diuresis. Used for strangury (lin syndrome) due to damp‑heat pouring downward, such as painful urination. 6. External use: Applied topically to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Used for sprains, contusions, and traumatic injuries.
Modern Pharmacology
Hepatobiliary protection: Promotes bile secretion, reduces serum bilirubin, and exerts hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. Anti‑inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic: Inhibits various inflammatory responses, lowers fever, and relieves pain. Antimicrobial: Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects: Exhibits sedative, antihypertensive, and hemostatic actions. Hypoglycemic: Regulates blood glucose levels.
Ingredients
Iridoid glycosides: Main active components, such as geniposide, genipin‑1‑β‑D‑gentiobioside, etc. Pigments: Contain crocin, crocetin, and other yellow pigments, which are natural food coloring sources. Organic acids: Such as chlorogenic acid, ursolic acid, etc. Others: Volatile oils, flavonoids, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Internal use: 6–10 g in decoction. External use: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied as a paste, or decocted for washing the affected area.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in cases of spleen deficiency with loose stools: Gardenia fruit is cold in nature, which may easily damage the spleen and stomach. It should not be used by those with spleen deficiency and loose stools. Use with caution during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
1. For febrile disease with vexation, irritability and restlessness (Source: Treatise on Cold Damage, “Zhizi Chi Tang” – Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit (Zhizi), fermented soybean (Dandouchi). Decoct in water and take orally. For febrile disease with exuberant fire‑toxin, severe heat in all three burners manifesting as high fever, irritability, delirium (Source: Waitai Miyao, “Huanglian Jiedu Tang”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Scutellaria (Huangqin), Coptis (Huanglian), Phellodendron (Huangbai). Decoct in water and take orally. 2. For jaundice due to damp‑heat stagnating in the liver and gallbladder (Source: Treatise on Cold Damage, “Yinchenhao Tang”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Artemisia capillaris (Yinchen), Rhubarb (Dahuang). Decoct in water and take orally. For jaundice (Source: Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, “Zhizi Baipi Tang”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Phellodendron (Huangbai). Decoct in water and take orally. 3. For painful strangury with hematuria or heat strangury (Source: Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, “Bazheng San”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Akebia stem (Mutong), Plantain seed (Cheqianzi), Talc (Huashi). Decoct in water and take orally. 4. For hematemesis and epistaxis due to reckless movement of blood heat (Source: Shiyao Shenshu, “Shihui San”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Imperata rhizome (Baimaogen), Rhubarb (Dahuang), Biota twig (Cebaiye). Grind into fine powder and take orally or apply externally. For hematemesis and epistaxis caused by exuberant triple burner fire forcing blood to extravasate (Source: Waitai Miyao, “Huanglian Jiedu Tang”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Scutellaria, Coptis, Phellodendron. Decoct in water and take orally. 5. For red, swollen and painful eyes due to liver‑gallbladder fire flaring upward (Source: Shengji Zonglu, “Zhizi Tang”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Rhubarb (Dahuang). Decoct in water and take orally. 6. For fire‑toxin sores with redness, swelling, heat and pain Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Honeysuckle (Jinyinhua), Forsythia (Lianqiao), Dandelion (Pugongying). Decoct in water and take orally. For carbuncles and sores (Source: Puji Fang, “Suodu San”) Ingredients: Gardenia fruit, Angelica dahurica (Baizhi). Grind into powder and apply topically as a paste.
Daily Consumption
1. Gardenia Infusion Take 1–3 g of Gardenia fruit, steep in boiling water, and drink as tea. Helps relieve irritability and oral sores caused by heart fire hyperactivity. 2. Gardenia Congee Decoct 3–5 g of Gardenia fruit to obtain the liquid, then cook with japonica rice to make congee. Used as an adjunct for vexation in febrile diseases and red, swollen and painful eyes.
Medicinal Parts
dried ripe fruit
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from mold and insects.