Medical Value of Gardenia
Let me share some personal experiences about the medicinal plant Gardenia, its medicinal value is as follows:
The flowers, fruits, leaves, and roots of Gardenia can all be used as medicine. They have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing internal heat and relieving irritability. The flowers are effective for treating heat-induced cough in the lungs, and the leaves can treat boils. The fruit of Gardenia has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, eye-clearing, hemostatic, thirst-relieving, and diuretic effects, and can be used to treat jaundice and severe heat-related restlessness, as well as for hemoptysis. Ground Gardenia mixed with flour and egg whites into a paste applied to the affected areas of sprains and contusions can reduce swelling and relieve pain. The roots of Gardenia have the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, and detoxifying.
(1) Used for symptoms such as fever due to heat diseases and restlessness. Gardenia is good at purging fire and heat to relieve irritability. In the early stage of the qi aspect of heat diseases caused by exogenous factors, with symptoms such as fever, chest tightness, and irritability, Gardenia can be used in combination with fermented soybeans to expel pathogenic factors and clear heat, relieve irritability and resolve depression. In cases of high fever and restlessness, delirium, and other symptoms due to excessive heat and fire, Gardenia can be used in combination with Coptis chinensis to purge fire and clear heat.
(2) Used for symptoms such as hemoptysis, epistaxis, hematuria, redness and swelling of the eyes, and boils due to heat-toxin and excessive fire. Gardenia also has the effects of cooling blood and stopping bleeding, clearing heat and detoxifying. For treating blood heat with abnormal behavior, it is often combined with Rehmannia glutinosa,侧柏叶 (Toona sinensis leaves), and Moutan cortex. For treating redness and swelling of the eyes, it can be combined with Chrysanthemum morifolium and Haliotis diversicolor; for treating boils and carbuncles, it can be used with Coptis chinensis, Honeysuckle, and Forsythia suspensa.
(3) This product can also promote diuresis and clear dampness, and can be used for symptoms such as jaundice, yellowing of the face and skin, fatigue, and reduced appetite caused by damp-heat stagnation. It is often used with Phellodendron chinense and Capillaris. Ground Gardenia mixed with flour and yellow wine can reduce swelling and activate collaterals, and can be used for sprains, contusions, and skin bruising and pain. It is commonly used as a "ligament medicine" in folk remedies, especially for muscle and tendon injuries near the limbs and joints.
(4) Gardenia, also known as mountain Gardenia, has a light and ascending nature, can purge lung fire, and remove heat from the muscle surface. In the case of heat diseases with heat both inside and outside the body, it can have a dual-resolution effect. This product has a bitter and cold nature, can purge the fire of the triple burner, cool blood, and clear heart heat, and can be used for symptoms such as restlessness due to heat diseases, abnormal blood heat, and hematuria due to heat. Therefore, mountain Gardenia can clear both the qi aspect and the blood aspect of heat. As for promoting diuresis and clearing dampness, it can be used to treat jaundice, which is one of its special features. Combined with Scutellaria baicalensis, it can purge lung fire; combined with fermented soybeans, it can double the effect of resolving heat inside and outside the body; combined with Scutellaria baicalensis, it can purge the fire of the triple burner and clear heart heat; combined with Rehmannia glutinosa and Moutan cortex, it can cool blood and stop bleeding, treating abnormal blood heat, hemoptysis, and hematuria; combined with Phellodendron chinense and Capillaris, it can clear heat and promote diuresis, treating damp-heat jaundice. In the past, there were uses of Gardenia bark to remove muscle surface heat and Gardenia seed to clear heart heat in clinical applications, but now in the Shanghai area, it has been simplified, and the whole Gardenia is used without distinguishing between the bark and the seed.
The detailed explanation of the medicinal value of Gardenia provided above, I hope this article can bring you some help in green plant management!