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Latin pharmacognostic name: Zanthoxyli Pericarpium

Alternate English names: Sìchuān peppercorn

Alternate Chinese names: 蜀椒 shǔ jiāo; 大椒 dà jiāo; 巴椒 bā jiāo; 南椒 nán jiāo; 汗椒 hàn jiāo; 点椒 diǎn jiāo; 川椒 chuān jiāo; 川花椒 chuān huā jiāo; 大红袍 dà hóng páo; 椒红 jiāo hóng

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.; Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.; Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc.

Use: Medicinal and alimentary

Category: Interior-warming agents

Properties: Acrid; warm.

Channel entry: Spleen, stomach, and kidney channels.

Indications:

• Warms the center and relieves pain: Center cold with abdominal pain, cold-damp with vomiting and diarrhea.
• Expels worms: Abdominal pain from worm accumulation.
• Relieves itching: Eczema, itching, and genital itch.

Dosage & Method: Oral: 2–6g in decoctions; also used externally.

Warnings: Contraindicated in yīn vacuity with effulgent fire; to be used with care in pregnancy.

Product Description: This fruit is a spherical, 3.5–4 mm in diameter. The pericarp is split open on the ventral side into two hemispherical portions, which remain joined at the base. The seeds are often missing. The exterior surface is a rusty red in color, and rough and warty in texture. At the tip are the remains of the stigma, and at the base is a small fruit stalk, and 1–2 undeveloped carpels.

Quality: Clean uniform lustrous bright-red thin-skinned fruits are the best.

Product Area: Sìchuān, Liáoníng, Shānxī.

Etymology: The name huā jiāo 花椒, literally flower pepper, doubtlessly describes the petal-like formation of the opened pericarp.

See also: Jiāo mù (椒目 Zanthoxyli Semen, zanthoxylum seed)

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