Shi Jun Zi
StarQuisqualis indica L.
☯ TCM Properties
Expels Parasites; Resolves Accumulation; Strengthens the Spleen to relieve childhood nutritional impairment
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shi Jun Zi (quisqualis fruit, rangoon creeper fruit) is a sweet, warm herb used in Chinese medicine primarily as a gentle, safe antiparasitic for children. It expels roundworms and other intestinal parasites without harming the child's digestive Qi. As one of the most palatable antiparasitic herbs — often described as tasting like fried seeds — it has been a preferred remedy for intestinal parasites in pediatric Chinese medicine for centuries.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps (syn. Quisqualis indica L., Combretaceae), the Rangoon creeper, is a woody perennial climbing vine native to tropical Asia, reaching 4-8 m on supports, with opposite ovate leaves and showy fragrant tubular flowers that open white and turn pink then deep red. It produces ellipsoid five-angled fruits about 3 cm long, brown when ripe, each containing a single seed. The medicinal Shi Jun Zi is the dried mature fruit, harvested in autumn, brown-black externally with longitudinal ridges, enclosing the oily seed used internally for the active constituents. The seeds contain quisqualic acid (an excitatory amino acid analogue), fatty oil, trigonelline, and sucrose. In traditional Chinese medicine, Shi Jun Zi is sweet and warm, entering the spleen and stomach channels; it kills parasites, particularly roundworm (Ascaris) and pinworm, and strengthens the spleen to reduce childhood food accumulation, used especially in pediatric formulas. Overdose causes hiccups, nausea, and dizziness.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poultice | As needed | 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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Shi Jun Zi.
No notes yet.