Fructus Quisqualis (Shijunzi)

Naming
Shi Jun Zi (Fructus Quisqualis)-Kai Bao Ben Cao (Materia Medica In Kai-Bao Reign)

Origin
The dry ripe seed of the deciduous lianoid shrub lianoid machaka of Quisqualis indica L. of family Combretaceae.

Location
Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces in China.

Harvest
Collected in September and October when the peel turns purplish black.

The actual smell and taste
Sweet without unpleasant smell.

Best quality
Dry, large, full and round without oily looking, and pale yellow.

Processing
Dried in the sun; husked, unprocessed or stir-baked fragrant.

Property
Sweet, warm; spleen and stomach meridians entered.

Actions
Kill parasites and promote digestion.

Indications
Ascariasis and enterobiasis

This herb is sweet in flavor, fragrant and warm in nature and enters spleen and stomach meridians, as an important herb to expel roundworms for its action of expelling and killing roundworms and mild purgation, especially for children. It can be chewed and swallowed for mild illness, and combined with other parasites-expelling herbs to enhance effect for severe cases. For instance it is reinforced by Ku Lian Pi, Semen Arecae (Binglang), in Shi Jun Zi San from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng. For infantile malnutrition with accumulation manifested by sallow complexion, emaciation with distended abdomen and abdominal pain with parasites, it is combined with digestion-promoting and stomach-invigorating herbs. For instance it is combined with Massa Medicata Fermentata (Shenqu), Fructus Hordei Germinatus (Maiya), in Fei Er Wan from Yi Zong Jin Jian. For children five organs malnutrition, expansion of gastric and abdomen and anorexia, it is combined with qi-moving herbs. For instance it is combined with Hou Po, Chen Pi and so on in Shi Jun Zi Wan from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. For enterobiasis, it is also combined with Bai Bu, Bing Lang and Da Huang.

Dosage and Administrations
Smash it and decoct 9~12g; stir-bake it fragrantly. Take 6~9g when chewed and swallowed. Take 1~1.5 pieces of the seeds per year of age. The total amount should not exceed 20 pieces daily. Take with empty stomach, once a day for 3 consecutive days.

Cautions
Large dosage or taking with hot tea can cause hiccup, vertigo, vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore it should not be taken with hot tea.