Medicinals
chuān liàn zǐ / 川楝子 / 川楝子 / toosendan [fruit]
Latin pharmacognostic name: Toosendan Fructus
Alternate English names:
Alternate Chinese names: 金铃子 jīn líng zǐ;练实 liàn shí; 仁枣 rén zǎo; 川楝肉 chuān liàn ròu; 苦楝子 kǔ liàn zǐ; 楝实 liàn shí; 楝子 liàn zǐ
Origin: Plant
Use: medicinal
Category: Qì-rectifying agents
Properties: Bitter; cold; mildly toxic.
Channel entry: liver, stomach, small intestine, and bladder channels.
Indications:
- Moves qì and relieves pain: Pain from liver depression transforming into fire.
- Additional uses: chuān liàn zǐ may be used for liver-stomach disharmony causing rib-side pain, as well as for mounting (shàn) pain ascribed to heat in the liver channel. For these conditions, it is combined with chái hú (柴胡 Bupleuri Radix, bupleurum [root];), bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]), and zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange). Kills worms and treats lichen: Abdominal pain from worm accumulation; lichen (e.g., tinea capitis).
Dosage & Method:
Oral: 3–10g in decoctions; also used externally. Stir-frying moderates its cold nature.
Warning:
Chuān liàn zǐ possesses toxicity and hence should not be used continuously or in excessive quantities.
Product Description:
The dried fruit is spherical or oval, 1.7–3 cm long and 1.7–2.3 cm in diameter. The exterior surface is yellowish brown, with a slight sheen, and with indentations due to shrinkage. At one end is the stalk trace, and at the other is an indented stele trace. The exocarp is leathery, and often separated from the thick, soft, light yellow flesh contained within. Amidst the flesh is an earth-colored spheroid or ovate drupe, truncated at both ends, and bearing 6–8 longitudinal ridges. Inside, this is divided into 6–8 loculi, each containing 6–8 seeds. The endosperm of the seeds is cream-colored and oily.
Quality:
Golden fruits with thick light-colored flesh are the best.
Product Area:
Sìchuān.
Etymology:
The name chuān liàn zǐ 川楝子 literally means ""Sìchuān chinaberry seed."" The commonly used alternate name jīn líng zǐ 金铃子, ""golden bells,"" is descriptive of the color and form.