Charred Gardenia Fruit
- Chinese
- 焦山栀
- Pinyin
- Jiao Shan Zhi
- Latin
- Fructus Gardeniae Praeparata
Known in TCM as Jiao Shan Zhi (焦山栀), this bitter, slightly cold herb enters the Heart, Liver, Stomach, and Lung. Traditionally, it cools blood and stops bleeding ... Jiao Shan Zhi is the processed Gardenia fruit form used when heat drives bleeding such as hematuria, uterine bleeding, or other blood-heat loss, most often applied for hematuria, abnormal uterine bleeding, and jaundice. Modern research has identified Geniposide among its active constituents.
Part used: Fruit
Also Known As
Latin: Fructus Gardeniae Praeparata | Pinyin: Jiao Shan Zhi | Chinese: 焦山栀
TCM Properties
- Taste
- bitter
- Temperature
- slightly cold
- Channels
- Heart, Liver, Stomach, Lung
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Cools blood and stops bleeding ... Jiao Shan Zhi is the processed Gardenia fruit form used when heat drives bleeding such as hematuria, uterine bleeding, or other blood-heat loss.
- Clears residual fire and relieves irritability ... it retains Gardenia's heat-clearing identity but with less strongly draining force than the raw fruit.
- Clears damp-heat in a moderated way ... the charred preparation can still be chosen in jaundice or dark hot urine when a somewhat less harsh Gardenia form is preferred.
Secondary Actions
- Compared with raw Sheng Shan Zhi, the charred form is classically shifted toward hemostatic use and away from the strongest fire-draining action.
- This page should remain distinct from the broader standard Zhi Zi page ... Jiao Shan Zhi is a processing-specific bleeding and moderated-heat record.
Classic Formulas
- Cooling-blood hemostatic pairings with Ce Bai Ye Tan or Di Yu Tan ... traditional strategy when blood-heat bleeding needs both cooling and restraint.
- Yin Chen Hao Tang modification logic ... processed Gardenia can be selected when damp-heat jaundice overlaps with bleeding or middle-burner weakness.
- Zhi Zi Chi Tang variation logic ... when irritability remains but the practitioner wants less harsh draining than the raw fruit.
Classical References
- Traditional processing notes distinguish raw Shan Zhi from charred Jiao Shan Zhi by therapeutic emphasis ... raw for stronger fire-draining, charred for more bleeding control.
- Gardenia fruit remains fundamentally a bitter-cold heat herb even after processing, so pattern accuracy still matters.
- PREPARATION NOTE: this page is specifically for the darker roasted or charred fruit form and should not be merged back into the raw record.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Geniposide ... the signature iridoid glycoside of Gardenia fruit
- Gardenoside and related iridoids ... important quality-control and pharmacology-linked constituents
- Crocins and Gardenia pigments ... carotenoid-derived compounds relevant to antioxidant research
- Polysaccharides and flavonoids ... broader fractions discussed in food-medicine reviews
Studied Effects
- Review literature summarizes Gardenia fruit phytochemicals, processing methods, and health-promoting effects, highlighting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity across raw and processed materials (PMID 37882781).
- A chemistry and bioactivity review detailed iridoids, carotenoids, and broader anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and neuroactive research directions for Gardenia jasminoides fruit (PMID 28911543).
- Modern publications usually index Gardenia fruit generally rather than Jiao Shan Zhi specifically, so processed-form claims remain largely grounded in traditional paozhi reasoning (PMID 40582668).
PubMed References
- Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) fruit: a critical review of its functional nutrients, processing methods, health-promoting effects, comprehensive application and future tendencies. (2025)
- Chemistry and bioactivity of Gardenia jasminoides. (2017)
- Preparation technologies, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities and applications of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis polysaccharides: A review. (2025)
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Loose stool or weak digestion without true heat
- Cold deficiency patterns that would be worsened by a bitter-cool fruit
Cautions
- The processed form is gentler than raw Gardenia fruit but still bitter and cooling enough to aggravate diarrhea or abdominal discomfort in weak patients.
- Processing identity matters clinically ... Jiao Shan Zhi is not interchangeable with raw Sheng Shan Zhi when strong fire-draining is required.
- MSK page not found ... drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Charred Gardenia Fruit used for?
Charred Gardenia Fruit is traditionally used to Cools blood and stops bleeding ... Jiao Shan Zhi is the processed Gardenia fruit form used when heat drives bleeding such as hematuria, uterine bleeding, or other blood-heat loss., Clears residual fire and relieves irritability ... it retains Gardenia's heat-clearing identity but with less strongly draining force than the raw fruit., Clears damp-heat in a moderated way ... the charred preparation can still be chosen in jaundice or dark hot urine when a somewhat less harsh Gardenia form is preferred.. Research has investigated its effects on: Review literature summarizes Gardenia fruit phytochemicals, processing methods, and health-promoting effects, highlighting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity across raw and processed materials (PMID 37882781).; A chemistry and bioactivity review detailed iridoids, carotenoids, and broader anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and neuroactive research directions for Gardenia jasminoides fruit (PMID 28911543)..
What are other names for Charred Gardenia Fruit?
Charred Gardenia Fruit is also known as Prepared Gardenia Fruit, Charred Cape Jasmine Fruit, Gardenia. In TCM: 焦山栀 (Jiao Shan Zhi); Fructus Gardeniae Praeparata.
Is Charred Gardenia Fruit safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Charred Gardenia Fruit during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Charred Gardenia Fruit?
Charred Gardenia Fruit should not be used in: Loose stool or weak digestion without true heat; Cold deficiency patterns that would be worsened by a bitter-cool fruit. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.