Bitter Orange Fruit – 1 lb (454 g)

Bitter Orange Fruit, known in Chinese as 枳实 (Zhǐshí) and scientifically as Fructus Aurantii Immaturus, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Bitter Orange Fruit carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Bitter Orange Fruit helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Bitter Orange Fruit provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Bitter Orange Fruit has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Bitter Orange Fruit, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Goose Eye Zhishi. It is the immature fruit of plants in the Rutaceae family: Citrus aurantium L. and its cultivated varieties or sweet orange Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces, respectively called “Sichuan Zhishi,” “Hunan Zhishi,” and “Jiangxi Zhishi.” The immature fruits are harvested from May to June or collected after natural shedding, impurities are removed, then the fruit is transversely cut into halves at the middle, and dried in the sun or by low-temperature drying. Smaller fruits are dried directly by sun or low-temperature drying.

[Properties] Bitter, pungent, sour in taste; warm in nature. Enters the spleen and stomach meridians.

[Actions] Breaks Qi stagnation and reduces accumulation; transforms phlegm and dissipates fullness.

[Applications]
1. Used for gastrointestinal food stagnation, epigastric and abdominal fullness and distension; often combined with Magnolia officinalis (Houpo), Pinellia ternata (Banxia), etc. Formulas include Zhishi Xiaopi Wan (枳实消痞丸). If stagnation is accompanied by spleen deficiency, it can be combined with Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), as in Zhishu Wan (枳术丸).
2. Used for constipation due to excess heat, and damp-heat dysentery. The former is often combined with Rheum palmatum (Dahuang), Citrus aurantium pericarp (Houji), etc., in formulas such as Da Cheng Qi Tang and Xiao Cheng Qi Tang; the latter is often combined with Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin), Aucklandia lappa (Muxiang), Areca catechu (Binglang), etc.
3. Used for phlegm-heat chest obstruction and chest impediment with heart pain. For phlegm-heat chest obstruction with epigastric fullness, oppression, and pain, yellow sticky tongue coating, often combined with Trichosanthes kirilowii (Gualou), Pinellia ternata (Banxia), Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), as in Xiao Xian Jia Zhishi Tang (小陷加枳实汤); for chest yang deficiency with phlegm turbidity obstruction and chest impediment with heart pain, often combined with Allium macrostemon (Xiebai), Cinnamon twig (Guizhi), as in Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Tang (枳实薤白桂枝汤); if post-illness fatigue with fever and epigastric fullness, combined with Gardenia jasminoides (Zhizi) and fermented soybean (Douchi), as in Zhishi Zhizi Chi Tang (枳实栀子豉汤).
Additionally, combined with Paeonia lactiflora (Shaoyao), it treats postpartum abdominal pain, as in Zhishi Shaoyao San (枳实芍药散); it also has lifting effects and can treat gastric ptosis, uterine prolapse, and rectal prolapse, often combined with Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi), Codonopsis pilosula (Dangshen), Cimicifuga (Shengma), and Bupleurum (Chaihu).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied topically or heated and used for fomentation.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency and in pregnant women.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Citrus aurantium contains hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringin, synephrine, and N-methyltyramine; Citrus sinensis contains naringin-7-rhamnoglucoside, isosakuranetin-7-rhamnoglucoside, verbascoside, naringin-4’-glucoside-7-rhamnoglucoside, synephrine, and N-methylamide.
2. Pharmacological effects: Zhishi has a dual regulatory effect on gastrointestinal smooth muscle in experimental animals, sometimes inhibitory and sometimes excitatory; decoctions, injections, and active components synephrine and N-methyltyramine have significant pressor effects in anesthetized animals, enhancing myocardial contractility, increasing cardiac output and vasoconstriction, raising total peripheral resistance, left ventricular pressure, and arterial blood pressure, thereby exerting anti-shock effects; decoctions inhibit isolated mouse uterus regardless of pregnancy status, but excite isolated or in vivo rabbit uterus; Zhishi and N-methyltyramine significantly increase urine output, possibly by inhibiting renal tubular reabsorption; also exhibits sedative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-allergic effects.
3. Clinical reports: 1) Peptic ulcer: Zhishi 10 g, Bletilla striata 15 g, decocted and taken morning and evening; prior to decoction, 0.1 g of Litterin taken 30 minutes before, twice daily for one week. Among 43 cases (12 gastric ulcers, 31 duodenal ulcers), cure rate was 91% (Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1983, (4):41). 2) Heart failure: Zhishi injection 40 g added to 250 ml 10% glucose solution, slow intravenous drip (20–30 drops/min) over 3–4 hours; 20 cases treated, showing positive inotropic and diuretic effects (Chinese Herbal Medicine, 1980, (4):171). 3) Hypervolemic vascular headache: Zhishi injection (4 g raw herb/ml) 4 ml intramuscularly daily for 5–10 days, then oral administration; or Zhishi 30 g decocted, taken three times daily for 20 days; 45 cases observed, 32 cured, 10 markedly effective, 3 improved (Shaanxi Medical Journal, 1990, 19(11):20). 4) Refractory migraine: Zhishi 50 g with 200 ml water, decocted to 50 ml, filtered; decocted three times, combined decoctions taken as tea throughout the day; 10-day course per treatment cycle; 60 cases treated, 38 markedly effective, 20 effective, 2 ineffective (Chinese Clinical Doctor, 2002, 30(12):20).

Note: Zhishi and Zhike have similar effects; Zhishi has stronger Qi-moving power and also transforms phlegm and reduces accumulation; Zhike has milder Qi-moving power and is better at regulating Qi and relieving middle burner distension.