Herb

Ba Yue Zha

Akebia Fruit | 八月札

Also known as:

Akebia Fruit

Ba Yue Zha

Product appearance may vary from images shown

Properties

Qi-regulating herbs (理气药) · Neutral

Traditionally supports*

Digestive Health Menstrual Health Lymphatic Health Urinary Health

Parts Used

Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Currently Out of Stock

All variants of this product are currently out of stock. Please check back later or browse our other products.

About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

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.

Herb Category

Qi-regulating herbs (理气药)

Main Actions

  • 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 that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Ba Yue Zha is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.

The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.

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

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels Entered
Liver Stomach
Parts Used

Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page

Product Details

Manufacturing, supplier, and product specifications

Product Type

Granules

Quantity Description

Loading quantity information...

Concentration Ratio

Loading concentration information...

Fabrication Method

Loading fabrication information...

Supplier Certifications

Loading certifications information...

Botanical & Sourcing

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.

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.

Harvesting Season

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

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

Loading supplier information...

Loading supplier attributes...

Miscellaneous Info

No additional information available

Usage & Safety

How to use this herb and important safety information

Important Medical Disclaimer

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. This herb is a dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking other medications. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions.

Recommended Dosage

Loading dosage information...

Instructions for safe storage and consumption

Loading storage and consumption information...

Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

9-15g

Maximum

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

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.

Toxicity Classification

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

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

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.

Pediatric Use

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

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

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.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this formula is typically safe for most individuals, it may cause side effects in some people. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, postpartum women, and those with liver disease should use the formula with caution.

As with any Chinese herbal remedy, it is advisable to seek guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning treatment.