Herb

Li Zhi He

Lychee nut | 荔枝核

Also known as:

Lychee Nut

Li Zhi He

Product appearance may vary from images shown

Properties

Qi-regulating herbs (理气药) · Warm

Traditionally supports*

Hernia Support Stomach Pain Relief Menstrual Pain Relief Lower Abdominal Pain Relief

Parts Used

Seed (种子 zhǒng zǐ / 子 zǐ / 仁 rén)

*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.

Select Product Type

Select Supplier

Select Size

Quantity

$29.00 ($0.29/g)
For shipments to: United States Change
Standard Shipping (3-5 business days): $4.99
Express Shipping (1-2 business days): $9.99
Free shipping on orders over $75

About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

Lychee seed is the dried pit of the lychee fruit, used in Chinese medicine primarily for pain in the lower abdomen, groin, and testicles caused by Cold and stagnation. It gently warms the body, moves stuck Qi, and breaks up nodules, making it especially useful for hernias, testicular discomfort, stomach pain, and menstrual cramps related to Cold conditions.

Herb Category

Qi-regulating herbs (理气药)

Main Actions

  • Moves Qi and Dissipates Nodules
  • Dispels Cold and Alleviates Pain
  • Soothes the Liver and Regulates Qi
  • Warms the Middle Burner and Stops Pain

How These Actions Work

'Regulates Qi and dissipates nodules' means this herb breaks up stagnation where Qi has become stuck and formed masses or swellings along the Liver channel. This is why it is a go-to herb for conditions like hernias and testicular swelling, where Cold has caused Qi to congeal in the lower abdomen and groin. In classical thinking, the seed's shape even resembles a testicle, reflecting the traditional principle of 'treating like with like' (取象比类).

'Dispels Cold and stops pain' refers to the herb's warm nature, which drives out Cold that has lodged in the Liver channel and lower body. When Cold blocks the flow of Qi and Blood, it causes cramping, sharp pain in the lower abdomen, or aching in the testicles. Li Zhi He's warmth unblocks these pathways and relieves the pain. This is the action behind its use in menstrual cramps and postpartum abdominal pain caused by Cold stagnation.

'Soothes the Liver and regulates Qi' means it gently moves stuck Liver Qi, which can manifest as flank pain, stomach discomfort, or emotional tension that leads to digestive problems. When the Liver fails to ensure smooth Qi flow and this affects the Stomach, Li Zhi He can help restore harmony between these two organs, easing bloating and epigastric pain.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Li Zhi He 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 Li Zhi He addresses this pattern

Cold Stagnation in the Liver channel occurs when pathogenic Cold invades and blocks the Liver's pathway, which runs through the groin and wraps around the genitalia. This causes contraction, knotting, and severe pain in the lower abdomen and testicles. Li Zhi He is warm in nature and enters the Liver channel, giving it direct access to this territory. Its Qi-moving and Cold-dispersing actions unblock the congealed Qi, relieve the contraction, and dissolve the nodular swelling that characterises this pattern.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Hernia

Hernia pain in the groin worsened by cold

Orchitis

Testicular swelling and pain

Abdominal Pain

Cold pain in the lower abdomen radiating to the scrotum

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bitter (苦 kǔ), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels Entered
Liver Kidneys
Parts Used

Seed (种子 zhǒng zǐ / 子 zǐ / 仁 rén)

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 Li Zhi He seeds are large, plump, and full-bodied with a smooth, glossy surface that is reddish-brown to purplish-brown in colour. The surface should have slight depressions and fine wavy lines, with a clearly visible round yellowish-brown hilum (seed scar) at one end, about 7mm in diameter. The seed should feel very hard and solid. When cut, the two cotyledons inside should be brownish-yellow. The aroma is faint, and the taste is mildly sweet, slightly bitter, and astringent. Avoid seeds that are small, shrivelled, dull in colour, insect-damaged, or mouldy.

Primary Growing Regions

Primarily produced in Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces in southern China. Guangdong (especially Maoming and Zhanjiang) and Fujian (especially Putian, known as 'Lychee City') are considered the premium producing regions (dao di yao cai). Lychee is also cultivated in Hainan, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Taiwan, as well as in tropical regions of Southeast Asia and India.

Harvesting Season

Summer (June to August), when the lychee fruit is fully ripe. Seeds are collected after eating or processing the fruit flesh, then washed and sun-dried.

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

5–10g

Maximum

Up to 15g in severe cold-stagnation pain, under practitioner supervision. Classical formulas sometimes use the seed individually (one whole seed, charred) for acute conditions.

Notes

The standard dosage of 5–10g is used in decoction for hernia pain and cold abdominal pain. For enhanced effect on the Liver and Kidney channels (such as testicular pain and inguinal hernia), salt-processed Li Zhi He (yan li zhi he) is preferred. The seeds must be crushed or broken before decoction to release the active components. In classical practice, the seed was sometimes charred (burned to retain its properties, 'shao cun xing') and ground to fine powder, then taken with warm wine for acute pain, typically one seed per dose.

Processing Methods

Processing method

The raw lychee seeds are crushed, then stir-fried with salt water until dry (盐水炙法).

How it changes properties

Salt processing guides the herb's action downward toward the Kidneys and lower body (lower Jiao), enhancing its ability to target the Liver and Kidney channels. This strengthens its pain-relieving effects on the lower abdomen, testicles, and groin area. The thermal nature remains warm, but the directional focus is sharpened downward.

When to use this form

The salt-processed form is preferred for hernia pain, testicular swelling, and lower abdominal Cold pain where the clinical focus is clearly in the lower body. It is the standard dispensary form when a prescription simply calls for Li Zhi He.

Toxicity Classification

Non-toxic

Li Zhi He is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and in classical texts such as the Ben Cao Gang Mu, which explicitly states it is 'sweet, warm, astringent, non-toxic' (甘，温，涩，无毒). It does not contain known toxic compounds at standard dosage. The active compound alpha-methylene cyclopropyl glycine (found in lychee seeds) has hypoglycemic properties, so very large doses could theoretically cause low blood sugar in susceptible individuals. At standard medicinal dosages (5-10g in decoction), no toxicity concerns have been reported.

Contraindications

Caution

Not suitable for people without cold-damp Qi stagnation. As the classical text Ben Cao Cong Xin states, those without cold-dampness and stagnant Qi should not take this herb. Using it when there is no cold pattern may worsen Heat conditions.

Caution

Use with caution in Yin-deficient or Heat-excess constitutions. The warm nature of Li Zhi He may aggravate internal Heat or dry up Yin fluids in people with Yin deficiency or excess Heat patterns.

Caution

Use with caution in patients with damp-Heat patterns. The warming, Qi-moving nature of this herb is designed for cold stagnation and may worsen damp-Heat conditions.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

No specific pregnancy contraindication is recorded in classical texts for Li Zhi He. However, as a warm, Qi-moving herb that acts on the Liver channel, it should be used with caution during pregnancy. Its Qi-moving properties could theoretically stimulate uterine activity. Pregnant women should consult a qualified practitioner before use and it should generally be avoided in the absence of a clear cold-stagnation indication.

Breastfeeding

No specific contraindication for breastfeeding is recorded in classical or modern sources. Li Zhi He is non-toxic and generally considered low-risk. However, as with most medicinal herbs, it should only be used during breastfeeding under practitioner guidance. There is no data on whether its active components transfer into breast milk.

Pediatric Use

Li Zhi He is occasionally used in paediatric practice for conditions such as childhood hernia (shan qi), but the dosage should be reduced proportionally to the child's age and weight (typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose). It should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Not generally recommended for very young children without specific indication.

Drug Interactions

Hypoglycemic medications: Pharmacological research has demonstrated that lychee seed extracts have significant blood-sugar-lowering effects. Patients taking oral hypoglycemic agents (such as metformin or sulfonylureas) or insulin should exercise caution, as concurrent use may potentiate the hypoglycemic effect and risk excessively low blood sugar. Blood glucose should be monitored closely if this herb is taken alongside diabetes medications.

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: No specific interaction has been documented, but as Li Zhi He moves Qi and Blood, theoretical caution is warranted in patients on warfarin or similar medications.

Dietary Advice

When taking Li Zhi He for cold-stagnation pain, avoid cold and raw foods, iced drinks, and cooling fruits, as these may counteract the herb's warming, Qi-moving effect. Warm, easily digestible foods are encouraged. If being used for Liver Qi stagnation conditions, also reduce intake of greasy, heavy foods and alcohol that burden the Liver.

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.