INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: ZAO JIAO CI - 皂角刺 - SPINA GLEDITSIAE

Pharmaceutical Latin: Spina Gleditsiae
Common English: Gleditsia Thorn
Chinese Honey Locust Spine

CATEGORY

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing: Herbs that Warm and Transform Cold Phlegm (Warm Antitussives)

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Warm
Liver
Stomach
Lung
(Large Intestine)
3-10g

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Draws out toxicity, discharges pus, invigorates the Blood and reduces swelling

Early-stages of swollen sores to encourage suppuration or to induce those already formed to burst

Expels Wind and kills parasites

Tinea and leprosy

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with open sores.
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Do not take this herb concurrently with any pharmaceuticals as there may be a decrease in absorption and blood concentration of the drug.

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi

Concha Meretricis/Cyclinae
Ge Qiao

Initial stages of abscesses and boils.

Un-ulcerated abscesses or those with difficulty discharging pus.

Acute mastitis - take 30 g of powder in a ratio of 1:10 Zao Jiao Ci to Ge Qiao followed warm grain-based liquor.

Rz. Bletillae
Bai Ji

 

 

Topically for scrofula.

 

 

NOTES

  1. This herb should be boiled into a thick paste to be applied topically. for sores and dermatosis.
  2. This herb draws out toxins and expels Wind-Heat and Wind-toxins from the Blood to treat leprosy.
  3. This herb may be used individually for tonsillitis.
  4. This herb is similar to Fr. Gleditsiae Zao Jiao but is sharper and more directly penetrates to the site of the illness.
  5. It has the ability to ascend and treat disorders of the upper Jiao such as tonsillitis.
  6. It also treats ulcers, caked breasts, eczema, carbuncles, inflammation and fungal infections.
  7. This herb inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
  8. To treat mammary abscess grind 30g of slightly charred Zao Jiao Ci with 3g Anodonta Pulveratum (mussel) to a powder and take 3 g at a time with warm wine.
  9. For serious diseases caused by Wind, falling of the eyebrows and collapse of the nose, char and decoct 1500g Zao Jiao Ci with 3g Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang for oral administration after meals.