Calyx Kaki (Shidi)

Naming
Shi Di(Calyx Kaki)-Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)

Origin
The calyces of Diospyros kaki Thunb.

Location
Sichuan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in China.

Harvest
Collected in autumn and winter when the fruit is ripe.

The true smell and taste
No smell, astringent.

Best quality
Big, fat and red-yellowish.

Processing
Unprocessed.

Property
Bitter and bland; stomach meridian entered.

Actions
Direct qi downward to stop hiccup.

Indications
Hiccup
It is bland in nature and good at directing stomach-qi downward, so it is indicated for hiccup due to adverse rising of stomach qi. For hiccup due to stomach cold, it is usually combined with the herbs of warming middle energizer and checking adverse rise of qi to stop hiccup. For instance it is combined with Flos Caryophylli (Dingxiang) and Sheng Jiang in Shi Di San from Ji Sheng Fang. For hiccup due to deficiency-cold of spleen-stomach, it is combined with the herbs of tonifying qi, warming middle energizer and checking adverse rise of qi. For instance it is combined with Ginseng-(Renshen).shtml" target='_blank' title="Radix Ginseng (Renshen)">Radix Ginseng (Renshen) and Ding Xiang in Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang from Zheng Yin Mai Zhi. For hiccup due to stomach heat, it is combined with the herbs of clearing heat from stomach and checking adverse rise of qi to stop hiccup such as Rhizoma Phragmitis (Lugen) and Zhu Ru. For hiccup due to phlegm-damp accumulation, it is usually combined with the herbs of resolving dampness and checking adverse rise of qi such as Xuan Fu Hua, Dai Zhe Shi and Rhizoma Pinelliae (Banxia).

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 6~10 g.