What is Zhi Zi Gardenia Fruit In TCM?

Health Benefits Of Zhi Zi 

• Clears Heat: Zhi Zi is known for its ability to clear heat from the body, making it useful for conditions related to excess heat or inflammation, such as fevers, irritability, and redness.
• Detoxifies: It helps in detoxifying the body, particularly the liver, and is used to alleviate symptoms of toxicity, such as jaundice.
• Promotes Urine Production: The fruit is often used as a diuretic to promote urine production and alleviate symptoms of fluid retention or urinary difficulties.
• Supports Liver Health: Zhi Zi is believed to support liver function and is used to address liver-related issues such as liver Qi stagnation.
• Calms the Mind: It is also used for its calming effects, helping to soothe the mind and alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Traditional Uses Of Zhi Zi 

• Heat Disorders: Zhi Zi is traditionally used in TCM to treat conditions associated with internal heat, such as high fever, sore throat, and skin eruptions.
• Digestive Health: It is employed to support digestive health, particularly in cases of gastrointestinal discomfort related to heat.

Herbal Information for Gardenia Fruit in Powder Form

Common Name:   Gardenia Fruit, Cape Jasmine Fruit, Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis, Happiness Fruit

Botanical Name:   Gardenia jasminoidis fructus

Channels/Meridians:   Heart, Liver, Lung, stomach, triple warmer

Pin Yin Name:    Zhi Zi 

Other Ingredients: None, nothing has been added to this product.

Package Size:   500 Grams   ( 1.1 pounds)

Form: Cut / Sliced - sizes vary    

Dosage: Follow doctors instructions on how to use this herb.

Origin: China

Brand: Plum Flower, species - authenticated herbs

Cautions: Do not use if pregnant or nursing.

California Prop 65 

Naturally Occurring  Components:  gardenoside, geniposidic acid, chlorogenic acid, jasminoidin, D-mannitol

Summary of Gardenia Fruit

• Clears Heat
• Drains Fire
• Drains Damp Heat

Product Properties: Bitter, Cold, Non-toxic

Here are some of the main medicinal properties associated with gardenia fruit:

- Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects - Gardenia contains compounds like crocin and crocetin that demonstrate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in studies. This can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

- Antioxidant effects - The colorful carotenoid pigments in gardenia give it excellent antioxidant activity. This helps combat oxidative stress and free radical damage in the body.

- Liver protecting effects - Research shows gardenia has hepatoprotective effects, meaning it can help protect the liver from toxins and damage. This is attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

- Anti-anxiety effects - Some studies have found gardenia extracts to have anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects in animal models, possibly related to modulation of GABA receptors in the brain.

- Antidepressant effects - Linked to its anti-inflammatory and monoamine-modulating activities, some early studies suggest gardenia may have antidepressant-like effects.

- Antipyretic effects - Gardenia demonstrates antipyretic activity, meaning it can help reduce fevers. This is likely related to its anti-inflammatory properties.

- Digestive benefits - Gardenia has traditionally been used to promote digestion and relieve stomach irritation. This is due to its antispasmodic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects in the gut.

So in summary, gardenia fruit contains a variety of bioactive compounds that give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, liver-protecting, and pain-relieving medicinal properties based on preliminary research. More human studies are still needed.

Check out our How to Use Bulk Herbs page to see how to use herbs correctly. Our web page is constantly expanding, as of today we have articles on:

• How to make salves, poultice, tinctures, teas, capsules, gargles, and foot bathes
• How to make a citrus facial splash
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• Citrus potpourri basket       

About Plum Flower Quality Herb Powders

Plum Flower is an established worldwide manufacturer of high-quality Chinese herbs, and innovative Chinese medicinal herbs and products. Plum Flower uses sulfur-free herbs and laboratory tests its products for contamination and heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and pesticides.            

• Made at GMP internationally certified facilities (Good Manufacturing Practices) Quality control tests are done at the manufacturing site and at third party labs to confirm results.
• Manufactured using Unsulfured, Chlorine free, Aluminum Phosphate free herbs when possible.
• Microbials and heavy metals tested. No preservatives. 

Traditional Chinese Herbs 

Chinese Traditional herbs should be regarded as an added feature to modern western healthcare, and not as a replacement. Chinese traditional herbs (Teas) emphasize harmony, and balance.          

 References:

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/gardenia#:~:text=The%20fruit%20of%20gardenia%2C%20Gardenia,%2C%20hepatic%20disorders%2C%20and%20hypertension.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241929/

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/gardenia.htm

https://garfieldconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/R_SCHOOL17_February-2017-Plant-Highlights.pdf

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b00739