Gardenia Fruit
치자 (梔子) · Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis
Heat-purging, fire-draining herb
Cold
Bitter
Heart, Lung, Stomach
NatureCold
TasteBitter
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Stomach
Part usedFruit
FamilyRubiaceae
CategoryHeat-purging, fire-draining herb
Overview
Gardenia fruit is familiar in Korean kitchens as a natural yellow food dye (chija-mul), but the Donguibogam records it primarily as a fire-draining medicine for heat lodged in the chest and heart, prized for settling the restless, sleepless irritability that comes with internal heat.
In the Donguibogam
東醫
寶鑑
寶鑑
性寒, 味苦, 無毒. 主胸心大小腸大熱, 胃中熱氣, 心中煩悶. 去熱毒風, 利五淋, 通小便, 除五種黃病, 止消渴. 治口乾, 目赤腫痛, 面赤, 酒皰, 齄鼻, 白癩, 赤癩, 瘡瘍, 殺蟅蟲毒.
Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)
TranslationIts nature is cold, its taste bitter, and it is non-toxic. It mainly treats great heat of the chest, heart, and large and small intestines, heat qi in the stomach, and vexation and oppression in the heart. It removes heat-toxin wind, benefits the five stranguries, unblocks urination, clears the five kinds of jaundice, and stops wasting-thirst. It treats dry mouth, red and swollen painful eyes, redness of the face, wine-flush papules, red nose, and both pale and red forms of scaling skin disease, sores, and counters the toxin of the zhezhong insect.
Traditional functions
- Drains fire, especially of the heart and lungs
- Clears heat-toxin
- Relieves vexation and insomnia
- Promotes urination, resolves jaundice
Traditional applications
- Restlessness and insomnia from internal heat
- Red, swollen, painful eyes
- Jaundice
- Mouth sores and dry mouth from heat
Traditional preparation
Decoction 4–12g; the seed and the skin are traditionally used for slightly different purposes.
Cautions
Caution: Cold and purging in nature; not suited to those with a cold, weak spleen and stomach or loose stool. Consult a professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same gardenia used as a yellow food dye?
Yes — the same fruit used for chija-mul (gardenia water dye) is recorded in the Donguibogam as a fire-draining medicine, primarily for heat-related restlessness and insomnia.
What is gardenia's main traditional use?
Draining heat from the heart and chest — the classics single out restless, sleepless vexation (心中煩悶) as its signature use, alongside red eyes, jaundice, and heat-toxin skin conditions.
Sources
- 동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)
DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.