Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing Herbs(TCMHH)

Cold-Phlegm-Warming and Resolving Herbs

Zhu Ya Zao (Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruit)

Zhu Ya Zao Fructus Gleditsiae Abnormalis 豬牙皂 Zao Jiao 皂角 Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruit
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
Zhu Ya Zao (Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruit)
Zhu Ya Zao (Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruit)
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Zhu Ya Zao

Naming

Zao Jia (Fructus Gleditsiae Abnormalis)

The Effect of 猪牙皂

Property

Pungent, salty, warm, slightly toxic; lung and large intestine meridians entered.

Actions

Dispel phlegm, open orifice and blockage, dispel wind and kill worms.

Indications

Stubborn phlegm obstruction of lung, cough and dyspnea with profuse phlegm, apoplexy, phlegm syncope, epilepsy, inflammation of throat with excessive phlegm, sore and swelling not ulcerated, skin tinea.

Dosage and Administrations

Mostly made into pill and powder and take l~l.5 g. A suitable dose for external application.

Cautions

Do not overuse orally to avoid vomiting and diarrhea. It has drastic pungent, strong property of pungent, distracting and moving and use with cautions for stubborn syndrome and strong body. Prohibited for pregnant women, qi and yin deficiency and who tends to bleed.

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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.

Spotted an error or a better source? Tell us — corrections are logged on our editorial policy page.

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