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Alternate Chinese names: 没石子 mò shí zǐ; 无石子 wú shí zǐ; 无食子 wú shí zǐ; 墨石子 mò shí zǐ

Kingdom: PlantXXX

Origin in unofficial sources: Quercus infectoria Olivier; Cynips gallae-tinctoriae Olivier

Use: Medicinal

Properties: Bitter; warm; nontoxic*.

Channel entry: Lung, spleen, and kidney channels.

Actions and indications: Secures qì and astringes essence; constrains the lung and stanches bleeding. Treats large intestinal vacuity efflux; persistent diarrhea; bloody stool; seminal emission; cough; expectoration of blood; sweating; bleeding from external injury; sores that fail to heal.

Dosage and method: Oral: Decoct (6–12g); pills, powders. Topical: Apply ground.

Product description: This gallnut is an excrescence that develops in the tissue of the young branches of the tree Quercus infectoria owing to attacks from the parasite Cynips gallae-tinctoriae. It is spherical in shape, 1–2.5 cm in diameter. It has a short stem by which it was attached to the tree. It is gray or grayish brown and with wartlike protuberances. It is hard and does not break cleanly. The cross section is pale yellow and glossy. There is often the dead body of insect, or if the insect flew out, there is a hollow with a hole connecting it to the exterior. This gallnut is crushed before use.

Quality: Large heavy gray unperforated gallnuts are the best.

Production area: Greece, Turkey, Iran.

Etymology: Mò shí zǐ 没食子, literally no eat seed, and alternates wú shí zǐ 无食子, no eat seed, and mò shí zǐ 没石子, no stone seed, may be transliterations of a foreign name for this alien item.

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