The source is from the immature fruit of Citrus aurantium L., or Citrus wilsonii Tanaka, family Rutaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang, etc., collected during the period of May and June, dried in the sun, the crude or the one stir-baked with bran can be used. Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians. Actions Break stagnation of qi and remove food retention, resolve phlegm and eliminate mass. Application 1. It is indicated for the treatment of indigestion, constipation due to accumulation of heat and dysentery. For indigestion and fullness and pain in the chest and up-per abdomen, it is used together with Shanzha (Fructus Crataegi), Maiya ( Fructus Hordei Geminatus ), and Shenqu ( Massa Medicata Fermentata), etc.; for constipation due to accumulation of heat, abdominal mass, and fullness and pain in the epigastrium, it can be combined with Houpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis ), Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) , Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), such as Da Chengqi Tang (Decoction); for stagnation of dampness and heat with dysentery and tenesmus, combined with Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), and Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), etc., such as Zhishi Daozhi Wan (Pill). 2. It is used for turbid phlegm obstructing qi activity with fullness in the chest and epigastrium. For the syndrome due to deficiency of stomach-yang and accumulation of cold-phlegm, it can be combined with Xiebai (Bulbus Allii Macrostemi ), Guizhi ( Rarnulus Cinnamomi ), and Gualou (Fructus Trichosanthis), etc., such as Zhi-shi Xiebai Guizhi Tang (Decoction); for stagnation of dampness-phlegm in the middle energizer, fullness in the epigastric abdomen, poor appetite, combined with Houpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis ), Banxia ( Rhizoma Pinelliae ) , and Baizhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), etc., such as Zhishi Xiaopi Wan (Pill). In addition, it can be used to treat gastroptosis, pro-lapse of rectum and uterus, etc., but it must be combined with Chaihu ( Radix Bupleuri ), Shengma ( Rhizoma Cimicifugae), and Huangqi (Radix Astragali), etc. in order to get good therapeutic effect, and it has the action of raising blood pressure as well. Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use and a large dosage is 15 g. Notes It is used with caution in the cases with deficiency of the spleen and stomach and pregnant women. Explanation Zhike (Fructus Aurantii) is nearly mature fruit of Citrus aurantium L., which is collected in autumn and removed of the pulp, the stir-baked with bran for medication or the crude being used. Its nature and flavor, meridian tropism, actions and administration are the same as Zhishi ( Fructus Aurantii Immaturus), yet it has less powerful effect. It is mainly used to regulate qi, comfort the middle energizer and relieve distention.
