Qi-Moving Herbs
Finger Citron (Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis)
Naming
Fo Shou (Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis)——Dian Nan Ben Cao (Materia Medica of Diannan)
The Processing of Fo Shou
Origin
The fruit of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle. of family Rutaceae.
Location
Sichuan, Guangdong, Fujian, provinces in China.
Harvest
Collected in autumn when the fruits have not or just turned to yellow.
The true smell and taste
Strongly fragrant, bitter and slightly sweet.
Best quality
Equal size, smooth, green pericarp and white pulp, strongly fragrant.
Processing
Unprocessed.
The Effect of Fo Shou
Property
Pungent, bitter, warm; liver, spleen, stomach and lung meridians entered.
Actions
Soothe liver and regulate qi, move qi and regulate middle energizer, dry dampness and resolve dampness.
Indications
A. Syndrome of liver depression and qi stagnation
It is good at dispersing stagnant liver qi, moving qi and alleviating pain. For syndrome of liver-qi stagnation manifested as hypochondriac pain and oppression in chest, it is usually combined with the liver-soothing and qi-regulating herbs such as Chai Hu, Yu Jin and Xiang Fu.
B. Syndrome of qi stagnation of spleen and stomach
It is fragrant in smell, enters stomach and spleen meridians and acts for promoting flow of qi and regulating middle energizer. For syndrome of qi stagnation of spleen and stomach manifested as gastric and abdominal distending pain, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, it is usually combined with Mu Xiang, Chen Pi and Zhi Qiao.
C. Cough with profuse sputum due to phlegm-damp accumulation in lung
It can not only dry dampness and resolve phlegm but also move qi and soothe chest. For cough with profuse sputum due to phlegm-damp accumulation, oppression in chest, or pain in chest and hypochondrium, it is usually combined with the phlegm-resolving and qi-moving herbs such as Ban Xia, Gua Lou and Chen Pi.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 3~10 g.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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