Terminalia Fruit – 1 lb (454 g)

Terminalia Fruit, known in Chinese as 诃子 (Hēzǐ) and scientifically as Fructus Chebulae, 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 Terminalia Fruit carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Terminalia 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, Terminalia Fruit provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Terminalia 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 Terminalia 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 Helile, Heli, and Suifengzi. It is the mature fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz. or Terminalia chebula Retz. var. tomentella Kurz., plants of the Combretaceae family. It is mainly produced in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other regions. The fruit is harvested in autumn and winter when mature, impurities are removed, then sun-dried or oven-dried.

[Properties] Bitter, sour, astringent in taste; neutral in nature. Enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians.

[Actions] Astringes the intestines and restrains the lungs; clears fire and benefits the throat.

[Applications] 1. Used for chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, and prolapse of the rectum. It can be used alone, for example in the formula Helile San (诃黎勒散). If diarrhea and dysentery are prolonged with accompanying damp-heat, it is often combined with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), etc. If chronic diarrhea is due to deficiency cold, it is combined with Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Yingsuoke (Papaveris Pericarpium), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), etc., as in the formula Kezi Pi San (诃子皮散). If diarrhea and dysentery are prolonged with severe damage to the upright qi, causing incontinence or prolapse, it can be combined with Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Rou Dou Kou (Myristicae Semen), etc., as in the formula Zhenren Yangzang Tang (真人养脏汤).
2. Used for asthma, cough with phlegm, or chronic cough with loss of voice. For prolonged cough with lung qi depletion, shortness of breath, and hoarseness, it can be combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), etc. For chronic cough with throat discomfort, it can be combined with Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), etc. For throat swelling, pain, loss of voice, and hoarseness, it can be combined with Borax, Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Borneol, honey pills, etc., as in the formula Qingyin Wan (清音丸).
Additionally, this herb has effects of securing essence and closing sores, and can be used for kidney deficiency with seminal emission and chronic oral ulcers.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–9 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. For clearing the lungs and benefiting the throat, it is mostly used raw; for astringing the intestines and stopping diarrhea, it is preferably prepared by roasting.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases where external pathogens have not been resolved and there is internal accumulation of damp-heat stagnation.

[Modern Research] 1. Chemical constituents: The fruit contains tannins including chebulic acid, chebulinic acid, 1,3,6-trigalloyl glucose, chebulagic acid, neochebulinic acid, gallic acid derivatives, and others. It also contains triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid, arjunglucoside, chebulic acid derivatives, as well as mangiferic acid, dehydromangiferic acid, quinic acid, arabinose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, rhamnose, and amino acids. Additionally, it contains sennoside A and chebuloside. Young fruits contain higher tannin content than mature fruits.
2. Pharmacological effects: Due to its high tannin content, Fructus Chebulae has astringent and antidiarrheal effects similar to Gallae (Chinese gall). In vitro studies show that decoctions of Fructus Chebulae are effective against various dysentery bacilli, with strong effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, hemolytic streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi. It also has reactive oxygen species scavenging activity; its tannin extracts have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects. Fructus Chebulae significantly inhibits the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice, murine ascitic sarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Chebuloside has papaverine-like antispasmodic effects on smooth muscle.
3. Clinical reports: (1) Gastrointestinal bleeding: Using Fructus Chebulae, Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), and Kufu (Alumen) each 30 g, decocted with 600 ml water to 300 ml, filtered and concentrated to 200 ml, with a small amount of preservative added and bottled for use. A total of 98 cases were treated; 53 cases used endoscopic local spraying with 10–15 ml per spray, achieving immediate hemostasis in 100% and an effective hemostasis rate of 92.5%. Forty-five cases used oral administration, 50 ml twice daily, with an effective hemostasis rate of 86.7%. [Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1991, (5):23] (2) Chronic pharyngitis: Using Fructus Chebulae, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), and white sugar each 15 g. The first two herbs were ground finely and sifted, then mixed with white sugar evenly. Each dose was 4 g taken orally 3–4 times daily. Ten cases were treated, with 7 cured and 3 improved. [Journal of Jiamusi Medical College, 1994, 17(3):57]