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Zhi Shi枳实

Aurantii Fructus Immaturus · Immature Bitter Orange · Unripe Bitter Orange Fruit

Herbs that Regulate the Qi 理气药《神农本草经》

Overview

The young, unripe fruit of the same bitter orange that yields Zhi Ke 枳壳, dried whole or halved. Picked early, it is the stronger and lower-acting of the pair: bitter, acrid and slightly cool, it breaks stuck qi rather than merely moving it, and drives accumulation downward. That is its place inside the purgative formulas for a hard, distended abdomen, and inside Zhi Zhu Wan 枳术丸 for food that will not move. Bran-fried is somewhat gentler and less cold.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, acrid, sour · Warm

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

3–9 g in decoction
枳实Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Breaks up stuck qi, reduces accumulationA hard, distended abdomen with constipation and food stagnation; with Da Huang 大黄 and Hou Po 厚朴 in the purgative formulas.
  • Transforms phlegm, opens the chestPhlegm blocking the chest with fullness and pain, and the tight, blocked feeling below the breastbone.
  • Restores movement inside lifting formulasModern practice uses it in Spleen-lifting prescriptions for gastric and rectal prolapse. Its job is to get things moving again, not to tonify.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Zhi Shi

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Hard abdominal distension with constipation and food stagnation
    - Focal fullness and blockage below the breastbone
    - Chest oppression and pain from phlegm obstruction
    - Prolapse, within Spleen-lifting formulas

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

ConstipationBloatingFunctional dyspepsiaGastroptosis

Contraindications

Cautions

This is the qi-breaking member of the pair, and breaking qi consumes it: it is wrong for a depleted person with a soft, tired abdomen and no real accumulation, and prolonged use will flatten anyone. Used cautiously in pregnancy — it drives downward hard. Do not exceed 9 g a day. Like Zhi Ke it comes from bitter orange and contains synephrine, so mention it to the prescriber if you take cardiovascular or stimulant medication.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Used with caution in pregnancy, and avoided outright where the pregnancy is unstable — it breaks qi and drives strongly downward.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.