Shu Jiao Pericarp
- Chinese
- 蜀椒
- Pinyin
- Shu Jiao
- Latin
- Pericarpium Zanthoxyli
Known in TCM as Shu Jiao (蜀椒), this acrid, warm herb enters the Kidney, Spleen, and Stomach. Traditionally, it warms the middle and relieves cold pain ... Shu Jiao overlaps heavily with Hua Jiao in treating cold abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weak digestive fire, most often applied for abdominal pain, diarrhea, and toothache. Modern research has identified Ethanolic among its active constituents.
Part used: Peel
Also Known As
Latin: Pericarpium Zanthoxyli | Pinyin: Shu Jiao | Chinese: 蜀椒
TCM Properties
- Taste
- acrid
- Temperature
- warm
- Channels
- Kidney, Spleen, Stomach
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Warms the middle and relieves cold pain ... Shu Jiao overlaps heavily with Hua Jiao in treating cold abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weak digestive fire.
- Kills parasites and relieves itching ... it is also used externally for parasite-related or damp-itch presentations.
- Dispels cold from the channels and collaterals ... traditional use includes focal cold pain where a lighter aromatic Zanthoxylum pericarp is desired.
Secondary Actions
- This record should stay distinct from the warmer red-brown `pricklyash-peel` Hua Jiao page ... the local prompt keeps Shu Jiao on the narrower olive-brown Zanthoxylum schinifolium husk lane.
- Clinically the two pricklyash pages are close neighbors, so the difference here is mainly source-species and trade identity rather than a completely separate medicinal category.
Classic Formulas
- Regional warming-middle formulas ... Shu Jiao is used where an aromatic pricklyash husk helps cold abdominal pain and weak digestion.
- Topical tooth and itch preparations ... the pericarp's numbing pungency explains its traditional external use.
- Parasite and cold-damp prescriptions ... Shu Jiao functions as a lighter regional member of the Zanthoxylum warming group.
Classical References
- Traditional medicine places Shu Jiao in the warming, pain-relieving, antiparasitic branch of the pricklyash tradition.
- Its overlap with Hua Jiao is substantial, but source identity still matters when keeping species-specific pages clean.
- As with other acrid warming spices, it is chosen for cold and damp presentations rather than heat or dryness.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Ethanolic pericarp extract fractions ... the main matrix used in comparative bioactivity studies
- Volatile oils and pungent amide-like constituents ... relevant to sensory and anti-inflammatory activity
- Other anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds ... investigated in oral, periodontal, and migraine-related models
Studied Effects
- A 2025 rat study found that Zanthoxyli Pericarpium extracts improved ligature-induced periodontitis and alveolar bone loss, extending modern interest into oral-inflammatory applications (PMID 41154468).
- A 2021 comparative study evaluated bioactivity and safety of fruit and pericarp ethanolic extracts from Zanthoxylum schinifolium, supporting the value of keeping the pericarp lane taxonomically explicit (PMID 34641463).
- A 2021 study on supercritical CO2 extracts of Zanthoxylum schinifolium reported anti-migraine activity, showing a broader pain-focused modern research lane for this species (PMID 34916933).
PubMed References
- Effects of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium Extracts on Ligature-Induced Periodontitis and Alveolar Bone Loss in Rats. (2025)
- Comparative Study of Bioactivity and Safety Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Fruit and Pericarp. (2021)
- Study on the Chemical Constituents and Anti-Migraine Activity of Supercritical CO(2) Extracts of Zanthoxylum schinifolium. (2021)
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Yin deficiency with Heat, significant internal fire, or marked dryness
- Heat-type oral or gastric irritation aggravated by pungent warming substances
Cautions
- Shu Jiao is still a pungent numbing pericarp and can irritate oral or gastric tissue if overused.
- Do not assume the regional species distinction is trivial ... authentication matters when a page is meant to stay on Zanthoxylum schinifolium specifically.
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shu Jiao Pericarp used for?
Shu Jiao Pericarp is traditionally used to Warms the middle and relieves cold pain ... Shu Jiao overlaps heavily with Hua Jiao in treating cold abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weak digestive fire., Kills parasites and relieves itching ... it is also used externally for parasite-related or damp-itch presentations., Dispels cold from the channels and collaterals ... traditional use includes focal cold pain where a lighter aromatic Zanthoxylum pericarp is desired.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2025 rat study found that Zanthoxyli Pericarpium extracts improved ligature-induced periodontitis and alveolar bone loss, extending modern interest into oral-inflammatory applications (PMID 41154468).; A 2021 comparative study evaluated bioactivity and safety of fruit and pericarp ethanolic extracts from Zanthoxylum schinifolium, supporting the value of keeping the pericarp lane taxonomically explicit (PMID 34641463)..
What are other names for Shu Jiao Pericarp?
Shu Jiao Pericarp is also known as Shu Pepper Husk, Olive Pricklyash Peel, Zanthoxyli. In TCM: 蜀椒 (Shu Jiao); Pericarpium Zanthoxyli.
Is Shu Jiao Pericarp safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Shu Jiao Pericarp during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Shu Jiao Pericarp?
Shu Jiao Pericarp should not be used in: Yin deficiency with Heat, significant internal fire, or marked dryness; Heat-type oral or gastric irritation aggravated by pungent warming substances. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.