Bitter orange (immature) - 枳实 (Zhi Shi)
Immature Bitter Orange
枳实
Zhi Shi·Orange amère (immature)
Aurantii Fructus Immaturus
- Traced and verified origin
- Dispatched within 24/48h, packed to order
- Kept away from light and moisture
According to the classical texts
破气消积 化痰除痞
Pinyin
Po Qi Xiao Ji · Hua Tan Chu Pi
Overview
The young fruits of Citrus aurantium (or Citrus sinensis), still green and small, harvested early in summer — often those that fall naturally from the tree — then cut in half or into quarters and dried.
They come as small half-fruits or quarters, hard and compact, of a blackish green, giving off a very bitter and pungent scent.
Younger than Zhi Ke and richer in essential oils: Zhi Shi is appreciably more assertive and more turned towards the lower body.
Traditional uses
A strongly moving herb for carrying down and moving the Qi that stagnates in the lower region and in the Earth Phase (coupled), particularly when that stagnation makes marked accumulations that hamper the descending movement.
A more powerful action than Zhi Ke, to be handled with discernment.
Preparation and traditional-use quantity
- Decoction: 3 to 9 g, simmer for 25 minutes
- Distinction from Zhi Ke: Zhi Shi (unripe, more powerful): the Qi of the lower region, accumulations; Zhi Ke (ripe): the Qi of the upper region, mild distension
- Da Cheng Qi Tang: a blend of Zhang Zhongjing with Da Huang for marked accumulations
Precautions
Ask a practitioner for advice for use beyond a few days.
