Shi Liu Pi石榴皮
Granati Pericarpium · Pomegranate Rind
Overview
The dried rind of the pomegranate: sour, astringent and warm, and used to bind an intestine that has been leaking for a long time — chronic diarrhoea, long-standing dysentery, rectal prolapse after prolonged loose stools — as well as to check bleeding and to expel intestinal worms. It is a genuinely astringent herb, so timing matters more than with most: it holds things in, and holding in an active pathogen makes matters worse. The batch data marks it toxic, and that is the right reading — the alkaloids concentrated in the rind, and far more so in the root bark, are harmful in overdose, so it is only used at the dose a practitioner sets.
Nature & Flavor
Sour, astringent · WarmChannels
Large IntestineTypical Dosage
3–10 g in decoctionActions
3 core actions
- Binds the intestines, stops chronic diarrhoeaLong-standing diarrhoea and chronic dysentery once the active pathogen has cleared; rectal prolapse following prolonged loose stools.
- Restrains bleedingPersistent uterine bleeding and blood in the stool where the pattern is one of failure to hold; the charred form is preferred for this.
- Expels intestinal wormsTraditionally used against tapeworm and roundworm — this is the use most closely tied to its toxicity, and it belongs strictly to practitioner-directed treatment.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Shi Liu Pi
No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Chronic diarrhoea and long-standing dysentery
- Rectal prolapse after prolonged loose stools
- Persistent uterine bleeding, blood in the stool
- Intestinal worms (practitioner-directed only)
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
Regarded as toxic: the rind contains pelletierine-type alkaloids — and the root bark far more of them — which in overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, visual disturbance and, at high intake, serious systemic effects. Never take it as a self-directed deworming remedy, never exceed the prescribed dose, and never substitute root bark for rind. It is also strongly astringent, so it must not be given while diarrhoea or dysentery is still acute, or where food stagnation or damp-heat is unresolved, since it traps the pathogen inside.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: Avoid during pregnancy.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
3. 《中华本草》.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.