Herb Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

Ba Yue Zha

Akebia fruit · 八月札

Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz. · Fructus Akebiae

Also known as: Yu Zhi Zi (预知子), Ba Yue Gua (八月瓜)

Ba Yue Zha (Akebia fruit) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Akebia fruit is a gentle Qi-moving herb that helps relieve pain and tension in the chest, flanks, and abdomen caused by emotional stress or digestive disharmony. It is commonly used for bloating, rib-area pain, menstrual pain, and swollen lymph nodes, and has gained modern attention for its potential supportive role in managing certain tumours.

Category Qi-regulating herbs (理气药)
Therapeutic focus Digestive Health Menstrual Health Lymphatic Health Urinary Health

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels entered

Liver, Stomach

Parts used

Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

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What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Ba Yue Zha does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Ba Yue Zha is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Digestive Health Menstrual Health Lymphatic Health Urinary Health

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Ba Yue Zha performs to restore balance in the body:

Harmonizes the Liver and Stomach Invigorates Blood and Alleviates Pain Dissipates Nodules and Softens Hardness Promotes Urination Eliminates Irritability

How these actions work

'Spreads Liver Qi and harmonizes the Stomach' means Ba Yue Zha helps restore the smooth flow of Liver Qi when it becomes stuck or constrained, often due to emotional stress. When Liver Qi stagnates, it commonly disrupts the Stomach's digestive function, causing symptoms like bloating, flank pain, and belching. This herb gently unblocks that flow. It is one of the milder Qi-moving herbs and is commonly used for pain along the ribcage, upper abdomen discomfort, and hernia-related pain.

'Invigorates Blood and alleviates pain' refers to the herb's ability to promote circulation and reduce pain caused by both Qi stagnation and Blood stasis. In TCM, when Qi is stuck for a prolonged period, Blood circulation also slows down. This herb addresses both layers, making it useful for menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) and amenorrhea related to emotional constraint.

'Softens hardness and disperses nodules' means Ba Yue Zha can help break down abnormal lumps and swellings. In modern clinical practice, this action is applied to conditions like lymph node swelling (scrofula), thyroid nodules, breast lumps, and even certain tumours. It is frequently added to formulas for breast and digestive tract cancers as a supporting herb.

'Promotes urination' means the herb helps the body eliminate excess fluid through the urinary tract, relieving feelings of heaviness or irritability associated with fluid retention. Classical texts note that it can also help with urinary tract stones.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Ba Yue Zha is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Ba Yue Zha addresses this pattern

Ba Yue Zha's bitter taste and Liver channel affinity give it a direct Qi-moving action on the Liver. When Liver Qi stagnates, the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body is disrupted, leading to distending pain in the flanks and chest, emotional irritability, and digestive upset. Ba Yue Zha's gentle, spreading nature restores the Liver's free-coursing function. Because it also enters the Stomach channel, it simultaneously addresses the Stomach disharmony that commonly accompanies Liver constraint, where stagnant Liver Qi 'invades' the Stomach, causing bloating, belching, and poor appetite.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Hypochondriac Pain

Distending pain along the ribs that worsens with emotional upset

Abdominal Pain

Epigastric fullness and bloating relieved by sighing

Amenorrhea

Menstrual pain related to emotional stress

Hernia

Hernia pain aggravated by emotional tension

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Ba Yue Zha is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Liver Qi Stagnation Qi Stagnation

TCM Interpretation

TCM views breast lumps primarily as a consequence of Liver Qi stagnation. The Liver channel traverses the breast area, and when Qi flow becomes blocked (often from emotional stress, frustration, or suppressed anger), it accumulates locally. Over time, stagnant Qi impairs fluid metabolism, allowing Phlegm to congeal and form palpable lumps. This is why breast lumps often worsen premenstrually (when Liver Qi tends to become more constrained) and improve somewhat after the period begins. The pattern is characterised by breast distension and tenderness that fluctuates with mood, sighing, irritability, and a wiry pulse.

Why Ba Yue Zha Helps

Ba Yue Zha directly addresses both layers of this condition's pathomechanism. Its primary action of spreading Liver Qi restores free flow through the Liver channel and breast area, relieving distension and pain. Its secondary action of softening hardness and dispersing nodules targets the Phlegm accumulation that forms the physical lump itself. In modern clinical practice, it is frequently added to Liver-soothing base formulas (such as modified Xiao Yao San) when treating breast masses, often alongside other nodule-dispersing herbs like Xia Ku Cao and Mu Li.

Also commonly used for

Abdominal Pain

Epigastric and abdominal distension

Amenorrhea

Menstrual pain from Qi stagnation and Blood stasis

Amenorrhea

Absent periods due to Qi and Blood stasis

Hernia

Inguinal hernia pain

Reactive Lymphadenopathy

Swollen lymph nodes (scrofula)

Urinary Stones

Ureteral stones with pain

Indigestion

Poor appetite and food stagnation

Dysentery

Acute and chronic dysentery

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels Entered

Liver Stomach

Parts Used

Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Ba Yue Zha — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

9-15g

Maximum dosage

Up to 30-60g in large doses for specific conditions such as urinary stones or tumour-related applications, under practitioner supervision only.

Dosage notes

Standard doses of 9-15g are used for general Liver Qi stagnation, rib-side pain, and digestive discomfort. Higher doses of 30-60g have been used in folk medicine for urinary tract stones (paired with Yi Yi Ren at 60g each) and as adjunctive therapy for tumours and lymphatic masses. For hernia pain and testicular swelling, 30g is commonly used in combination with channel-directing herbs. The herb may also be prepared as a wine infusion (浸酒) for conditions involving pain and Blood stasis. When used for cancer support, it is typically part of a larger formula rather than used alone.

Preparation

No special decoction handling required. The dried fruit is sliced and decocted normally. Some traditional preparations call for blanching the fresh fruit in boiling water before sun-drying to improve storage and prevent mould.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Ba Yue Zha for enhanced therapeutic effect

Xiang Fu
Xiang Fu 1:1 (9-15g each)

Both herbs regulate Liver Qi, but from complementary angles. Ba Yue Zha spreads Liver Qi and disperses nodules, while Xiang Fu is the premier Qi-regulating herb for the Liver that also harmonises menstruation. Together they provide a broader and more powerful Liver Qi-soothing effect with enhanced pain relief.

When to use: Liver Qi stagnation causing rib-area pain, chest tightness, premenstrual breast distension, or dysmenorrhea.

Chuan Lian Zi
Chuan Lian Zi 1:1 (9-12g each)

Chuan Lian Zi is bitter and cold, excelling at draining Liver fire and directing Qi downward, while Ba Yue Zha gently spreads Liver Qi laterally and disperses nodules. Together they address Liver Qi stagnation that has generated Heat, providing both Qi-moving and Heat-clearing actions for pain relief.

When to use: Liver-Stomach Qi stagnation with signs of Heat, such as epigastric or flank pain with irritability, a bitter taste in the mouth, or acid reflux.

Ban Zhi Lian
Ban Zhi Lian 1:1 (15-30g each)

Ba Yue Zha moves Liver Qi and disperses nodules, while Ban Zhi Lian clears Heat-toxin and has demonstrated anti-tumour properties. Together they combine Qi-regulation with toxin-clearing for a synergistic approach to masses and tumours.

When to use: Supportive treatment of breast, liver, or digestive tract tumours, particularly when Liver Qi stagnation and Heat-toxin are both present. This pairing was notably used by the oncology physician Pang Panchi.

Tian Kui Zi
Tian Kui Zi Ba Yue Zha 15g : Tian Kui Zi 30g

Tian Kui Zi clears Heat, resolves toxin, and disperses swelling, while Ba Yue Zha moves Qi and softens hardness. Together they address scrofula and lymph node swelling from both the Qi stagnation and Heat-toxin angles.

When to use: Lymph node tuberculosis (scrofula), cervical lymphadenopathy, or subcutaneous nodules with local tenderness.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Chuan Lian Zi
Ba Yue Zha vs Chuan Lian Zi

Both regulate Liver Qi and treat flank and epigastric pain. However, Chuan Lian Zi is bitter and cold with a stronger Heat-draining action and is the preferred choice when Liver Qi stagnation has transformed into Heat (bitter mouth, irritability, yellow tongue coating). Ba Yue Zha is neutral in temperature and milder, with the added ability to soften nodules and disperse masses, making it more suitable when lumps or tumours accompany Qi stagnation.

Fo Shou
Ba Yue Zha vs Fo Shou

Both gently spread Liver Qi and harmonise the Stomach, and both are mild enough for patients with underlying weakness. Fo Shou is aromatic and warm, better suited when cold and dampness accompany Qi stagnation, and it also helps dry dampness and transform Phlegm in the middle burner. Ba Yue Zha is neutral and bitter, with a unique ability to disperse nodules and masses that Fo Shou lacks entirely.

Qing Pi
Ba Yue Zha vs Qing Pi

Both enter the Liver channel and move Qi. Qing Pi is pungent, bitter, and warm with a much more forceful, breaking action on stagnant Qi, making it effective for severe constraint but also more likely to injure Qi with prolonged use. Ba Yue Zha is gentler and neutral, better suited for milder or chronic Qi stagnation, and it adds the benefit of dispersing nodules that Qing Pi does not possess.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Ba Yue Zha

Ba Yue Zha (the fruit) is sometimes confused with Yu Zhi Zi (预知子, the seed of the same Akebia plants), as classical texts frequently conflate the two. They are distinct medicinal substances with different properties and should be clearly distinguished. In Tibet, the fruit of Wu Feng Teng (五风藤, a related Lardizabalaceae vine) is used as a local substitute. In Sichuan, in addition to the fruit of Bai Mu Tong (white-stemmed akebia, A. trifoliata var. australis), the fruit of the narrow-leaved Ba Yue Gua (狭叶八月瓜) is also sometimes used. Authentication can be confirmed by the characteristic kidney-shaped or oblong fruit with thick, wrinkled skin, white powdery pulp, and numerous reddish-brown seeds.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Ba Yue Zha

Non-toxic

Ba Yue Zha is classified as non-toxic in classical sources. The Shi Xing Ben Cao states it is "cold, without toxicity" (寒，无毒), and the Si Chuan Zhong Yao Zhi similarly records it as having "no toxicity." No toxic components have been identified at standard dosages. The fruit pulp is traditionally eaten as food in many regions of China, further confirming its safety profile. At standard decoction doses (9-15g), no adverse reactions are expected in patients without the listed contraindications.

Contraindications

Situations where Ba Yue Zha should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Spleen deficiency with diarrhea (脾虚泄泻). The Ben Cao Jing Shu specifically warns against use in patients with Spleen deficiency causing loose stools, as the herb's Qi-moving and slightly cold nature can worsen this condition.

Caution

Pregnancy. Classical sources advise caution during pregnancy due to the herb's Qi-moving and Blood-activating properties, which may stimulate uterine activity.

Caution

Excessive or prolonged use without Qi stagnation. As a Qi-regulating herb, Ba Yue Zha should not be used long-term or in large doses when there is no actual Qi stagnation, as it may consume Qi over time.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Use with caution during pregnancy. The Ben Cao Jing Shu (本草经疏) classically advises that pregnant women should be cautious with this herb (孕妇慎服). Ba Yue Zha has Qi-moving and Blood-activating properties that could theoretically stimulate uterine activity. While it is not classified as strictly contraindicated (and is traditionally eaten as food in small amounts), medicinal doses in decoction should be avoided during pregnancy unless specifically prescribed by a qualified practitioner.

Breastfeeding

No specific classical or modern contraindications have been documented for breastfeeding. The herb is traditionally consumed as food in many regions, suggesting low risk of toxicity through breast milk. However, as with most Chinese medicinal herbs, there is insufficient formal research on transfer through breast milk. Standard caution applies: use only when clearly indicated and under practitioner guidance.

Children

No specific pediatric dosage guidelines exist in classical or modern literature. As the fruit is eaten as food in many regions and is classified as non-toxic, it is generally considered safe for children at appropriately reduced doses. For children, doses should be proportionally reduced based on age and body weight (typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose). Use should still be under practitioner guidance, particularly for young children.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Ba Yue Zha

No well-documented pharmacological drug interactions have been established for Ba Yue Zha in peer-reviewed literature. Modern research has identified triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids as key bioactive compounds, but their interactions with pharmaceutical drugs have not been systematically studied.

As a theoretical precaution: given its Blood-activating properties, concurrent use with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (such as warfarin or aspirin) should be approached with caution, as there may be an additive effect on bleeding risk. Patients on such medications should inform their healthcare providers.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Ba Yue Zha

Avoid cold, raw foods when using Ba Yue Zha for Liver-Stomach Qi stagnation with digestive weakness, as these can further impair Spleen function. When using it for heat-related stomach conditions (as described in classical sources), avoid greasy, spicy, and heavily fried foods that generate further heat and stagnation. The herb pairs well with a light, easily digestible diet.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Ba Yue Zha source plant

Akebia trifoliata (three-leaf akebia) and Akebia quinata (five-leaf akebia) are vigorous, semi-evergreen to deciduous woody climbing vines belonging to the Lardizabalaceae family. The vines grow by twining and can reach 9 to 12 metres in length. A. trifoliata has compound leaves composed of three ovate, slightly lobed leaflets that are often bronze-tinted when young. A. quinata has leaves with five leaflets. Both species produce fragrant flowers in short pendulous racemes during spring, with larger female flowers and smaller male flowers in the same cluster. The flowers are deep purple to reddish-brown and have a faint chocolate-like scent.

The medicinal fruit is an oblong, sausage-shaped berry, 3 to 9 cm long and 1.5 to 3.5 cm wide, which turns light purple to brownish when ripe. At maturity (August to September in the Chinese calendar), the fruit splits open along its length to reveal white, gelatinous pulp containing numerous small dark seeds. The plants favour semi-shaded conditions in mountainous forests and mixed woodlands, growing well in moist, well-drained loamy soils at elevations up to 2100 metres.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Ba Yue Zha is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

August to September, when the fruit is mature but has not yet split open.

Primary growing regions

Ba Yue Zha is mainly produced in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, which are considered the primary quality-producing regions. It is also distributed across Shaanxi, Shandong, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces. The subspecies A. trifoliata ssp. trifoliata has increased density along the Qinling Mountain range in central China, while A. trifoliata ssp. australis occurs widely in southern China from south of the Yangtze River to Taiwan. In Sichuan, the fruit of the related white-stemmed Akebia (Bai Mu Tong) is also used. The plant grows in mountainous forests and mixed woodlands at elevations up to 2100 metres.

Quality indicators

Good quality Ba Yue Zha fruit is kidney-shaped or oblong, slightly curved, 3-9 cm long and 1.5-3.5 cm in diameter. The surface should be earthy brown to yellowish-brown with prominent wrinkles (coarse wrinkles indicate full ripeness, fine wrinkles suggest early harvest). The fruit peel should be thick, leathery to slightly horn-like in texture. The interior pulp (fruit flesh) is white and powdery. Seeds should be numerous, irregularly shaped, reddish-brown to dark brown with a glossy surface and fine wrinkles. The aroma should be faintly fragrant, with a mildly astringent and bland taste. Prefer specimens that are plump, full-bodied, with prominently wrinkled thick skin. Avoid fruits that appear mouldy, have been piled during drying (which causes heat damage), or show signs of insect damage.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Ba Yue Zha and its therapeutic uses

Cui Yuxi, Shi Jing (崔禹锡《食经》)

Original: 食之去淡（痰）水，止赤白下利。

Translation: Eating it dispels phlegm-fluid and stops red and white dysentery.

Meng Shen (孟诜)

Original: 厚肠胃，令人能食，下三焦，除恶气，和子食之更好。通十二经脉。

Translation: It strengthens the intestines and stomach, promotes appetite, descends through the Triple Burner, and eliminates foul Qi. Eating it together with the seeds is even better. It opens the twelve channels.

Ben Cao Shi Yi (《本草拾遗》)

Original: 利大小便，宣通，去烦热，食之令人心宽，止渴，下气。

Translation: It promotes urination and bowel movement, opens and unblocks, clears vexation-heat. Eating it broadens the chest, quenches thirst, and descends Qi.

Shi Xing Ben Cao (《食性本草》)

Original: 主胃口热闭，反胃不下食，除三焦客热。

Translation: It treats heat-obstruction of the stomach opening, counterflow vomiting with inability to eat, and clears visiting heat from the Triple Burner.

Ben Cao Jing Shu (《本草经疏》)

Original: 凡病人脾虚作泄泻者勿服。

Translation: Those with Spleen deficiency causing diarrhea should not take this.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Ba Yue Zha's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Ba Yue Zha (八月札) literally means "eighth-month split" or "eighth-month cracker," referring to the fact that the fruit naturally splits open when ripe around the eighth lunar month (roughly September). It has numerous folk names across China reflecting its widespread use: Ba Yue Gua (八月瓜, "eighth-month melon"), Ye Xiang Jiao (野香蕉, "wild banana"), Yang Kai Kou (羊开口, "sheep's open mouth," describing the split fruit), and La Gua (腊瓜) in Hunan. Its earliest medicinal records appear in the Tang dynasty, with Cui Yuxi's Shi Jing (Food Classic) and Meng Shen's dietary therapy writings describing it as a food-medicine that strengthens digestion and opens the channels.

It is important to note that Ba Yue Zha (the fruit) and Yu Zhi Zi (预知子, the seed) are historically entangled in classical literature. Both come from the same Akebia plants, but they are distinct medicinal substances with different properties and applications. The seed (Yu Zhi Zi) was recorded separately in the Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao and Kai Bao Ben Cao with its own distinct indications. In modern times, Ba Yue Zha has attracted attention for its use as an adjunctive treatment in cancer care, particularly for liver cancer, breast cancer, and gastrointestinal tumours, where it is valued for its Qi-regulating and mass-softening properties.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Ba Yue Zha

1

Review of phytochemical composition, ethnopharmacological approaches and biological studies of Akebia quinata and Akebia trifoliata (2021)

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021, 280:114486

This comprehensive review examined the botanical, ecological, chemical characteristics and biological activities of Akebia species. It confirmed antibacterial and anticancer (liver and stomach) effects, and assessed their potential use in medicine and cosmetology. The review highlighted that the key bioactive compounds include triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties.

PubMed
2

Akebia saponin E as a novel PIKfyve inhibitor inhibits proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (2021, in vitro study)

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021, 266:113448

This laboratory study isolated Akebia saponin E from immature seeds of Akebia trifoliata and found it could induce cytoplasmic vacuolation in liver cancer cells by inhibiting PIKfyve, a lipid kinase. The compound disrupted cholesterol and lysosome function, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation in cell culture models.

PubMed
3

Akebia trifoliata seed extract inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration and invasion in vitro (2019, in vitro study)

Lu WL et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019, 234:204-215

This laboratory study found that seed extracts of Akebia trifoliata inhibited the migration, invasion, and adhesion of human liver cancer cells in cell culture. The research suggested a potential anti-metastatic mechanism, though this has not been confirmed in human studies.

PubMed
4

The Akebia genus as a novel forest crop: A review of its genetic resources, nutritional components, biosynthesis, and biological studies (2022, review)

Frontiers in Plant Science, 2022, 13:936571

A comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Plant Science covering the genetic resources, nutritional composition, and biological activities of Akebia species. The study noted that Akebia fruits contain flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids with documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, and highlighted the genus's potential as a functional food crop.

Link

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.