Gardenia
Other Names : Gardenia jasminoides, Shanzhizi, Zhi Zi
Gardenia is a popular ornamental shrub found worldwide; there are more than 200 varieties in Asia and Africa alone. The shrub consists of glossy, deep green leaves; white or cream flowers that turn yellow as they age; and orange-colored berry-like fruits that contain a sticky pulp.The flowers contain a distinct, pleasant odor. The fruits are used in most herbal preparations. They are harvested in autumn and winter, and used either raw or after being fried and parched.
Special Precautions of Gardenia
The American Herbal Products Association has given gardenia a class one rating, meaning that it can be consumed safely when used appropriately. However, because gardenia may lower blood pressure, it can increase the effect of anesthetics and negate the effects of hypertension medications. It should also not be used in cases of loose stools or loss of appetite due to cold.As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking gardenia or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
Benefits and uses of Gardenia are
- According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, gardenia is bitter, cold and dry, and acts on the Heart, Lung, Stomach and Triple Warmer (san jiao) meridians. It purges heat; dispels damp heat; disperses fire; and cools blood. For yin deficiency disorders. In sum, gardenia is used for "all forms of febrile diseases, frenetic movement of hot blood, damp-heat jaundice, and damp-heat strangury (obstructed urination)."
- Bitterness and cold may clear heat and descend fire. Gardenia can gently and slowly direct heat downwards from the upper burner. It can also promote urination and leach out heat from the heart and lung. It can be used for heat accumulation in the chest, irritability, restlessness, sensations of tightness in the chest, and insomnia.
- Raw gardenia (simple, dried fruit, as commonly used; shengzhizi) drains fire
- Stir-fried gardenia (chaozhizi) and charred gardenia (zhizitan) stanch bleeding
- Gardenia husk (gardenia fruit without seeds; zhiziyi) clears heat from the lung and the surface
- Gardenia seed (zhiziren) clears internal heat and eliminates heart vexation
- In Western medical terms :
- lowers the blood pressure
- effective in stopping bleeding
- treating insomnia, irritability, restlessness, sensations of tightness in the chest.
- delirium
- urinary tract infections
- has mild antiseptic properties.
- Topically, gardenia relieves swelling and bruises due to trauma, and can alleviate pain associated with some sprains and abscesses
