Immature bitter orange (Zhishi)
Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Aurantii
immaturus.
Botanical Name: 1. Citrus aurantium L.; 2. Citrus
sinensis Osbeck
Common Name: Immature bitter orange
fruit.
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong
Bencao Jing
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical
Preparations: The immature fruit is gathered in July or August. The fruit
is halved and dried in the sun, cleaned, soaked in water overnight, cut into
slices and dried again.
Properties & Taste: Bitter, pungent
and slightly cold.
Meridians: Spleen, stomach and large
intestine.
Functions: 1. To disperse stagnant qi
and relieve food retention; 2. To resolve phlegm and relieve fullness sensation.
Indications & Combinations:
1. Retention of food manifested as
epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness and belching with foul odor.
Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) is used with Hawthorn fruit (Shanzha),
Germinated barley (Maiya) and Medicated leaven (Shenqu).
2. Abdominal distension, fullness and
constipation. Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) is used with Magnolia bark
(Houpo) and Rhubarb (Dahuang).
3. Weakness of the spleen and stomach in
transporting and transforming manifested as epigastric and abdominal distension
and fullness after meals. Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) is used with
White atractylodes (Baizhu) in the formula Zhi Zhu Wan.
4. Damp-heat stagnating in the intestines
manifested as dysentery, tenesmus and abdominal pain. Immature bitter
orange (Zhishi) is used with Rhubarb (Dahuang), Coptis root (Huanglian) and
Scutellaria root (Huangqin) in the formula Zhishi Daozhi Wan.
5. Turbid phlegm blocking circulation of qi
in the chest manifested as stifling sensation and pain in the chest, epigastric
fullness and nausea. Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) is used Macrostem
onion (Xiebai), Cinnamon twigs (Guizhi) and Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou) in the
formula Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Tang.
6. Prolapse of the uterus, rectum and
stomach. Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) is used with White atractylodes
(Baizhu) and Astragalus root (Huangqi).
Dosage: 3-10 g, decocted in water for an oral dose.
Cautions & Contraindications:
1. Used with caution in patients with
hypofunction of the Spleen and Stomach.
2. Contraindicated during pregnancy.
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