Yu Gan Zi
StarPhyllanthus emblica L.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Cools the Blood; Strengthens the Spleen and Promotes Digestion; Moistens the Lungs and Stops Cough; Benefits the Throat
Traditional Chinese Uses
Yu Gan Zi (emblic fruit, Indian gooseberry, amla) is a cold, sour-sweet fruit herb used in Chinese medicine to clear Lung Heat, generate fluids, and stop coughing. It is used for Lung-Heat type cough with a dry throat, febrile illness with thirst, and throat irritation. As a food with high ascorbic acid content, it supports general health and has been valued across Asian healing traditions for its nourishing, heat-clearing, and fluid-generating properties.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Phyllanthus emblica L. (syn. Emblica officinalis; Phyllanthaceae), known as amla or Indian gooseberry, is a small to medium deciduous tree 8-18 m tall with smooth, greenish-grey, flaking bark and slender, drooping branchlets that resemble pinnate leaves. The true leaves are small, linear-oblong, light-green, and crowded along the secondary shoots. Inconspicuous, greenish-yellow unisexual flowers in axillary clusters give rise to nearly spherical, six-lobed, pale yellow-green to greenish translucent fruits 1.5-2.5 cm across, with a hard, segmented stone. Native to tropical and subtropical Asia and widely cultivated, the sour-bitter-astringent fruit (Yu Gan Zi) is exceptionally rich in vitamin C and tannins, occupying a central place in Ayurveda as a Rasayana rejuvenative and used in TCM to clear heat and generate fluids.
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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