☯ TCM Properties
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bi Cheng Qie (Fructus Litseae) is the small aromatic fruit of Litsea cubeba (may chang, mountain spice tree). Contrary to a "clearing Heat" classification, it is a pungent, aromatic and warm herb of the interior-warming group, entering the Spleen, Stomach, Kidney and Bladder channels. It warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, moves stagnant Qi and descends rebellious Stomach Qi, relieving Cold-type epigastric and abdominal pain, distension, poor appetite, hiccups, belching, nausea and vomiting.
It also warms the Kidney and Bladder to disperse lower-Jiao Cold, addressing turbid, cloudy or difficult urination (a "gao lin"-type stranguria) and cold hernial pain. Acrid and drying, it is often paired with warming, Qi-regulating herbs such as Gao Liang Jiang or Xiang Fu. Because it is warm and dispersing, it is contraindicated in Yin deficiency with Heat signs.
Botanical Description
Litsea cubeba, known as may chang or mountain pepper, is a small deciduous to semi-evergreen aromatic tree of the Lauraceae family native to southern China and across much of subtropical Southeast Asia. The tree typically grows five to ten meters tall with a slender trunk, greyish-brown smooth bark, and a thinly spreading crown; all parts of the plant are strongly fragrant of lemon when crushed. Leaves are alternate, narrowly lanceolate to oblong, eight to twelve centimeters long, with entire margins, a pointed apex, and a pleasantly citrus-scented essential oil. Small pale-yellow flowers appear in clusters on bare branches in early spring before the new leaves, the plant being dioecious. Female trees produce abundant small pepper-like spherical drupes about five millimeters across, ripening through green to glossy black, with a strong lemony aroma.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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