Boshou, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried fruit of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle, a plant of the genus Citrus in the Rutaceae family. It has the effects of regulating liver qi, harmonizing the stomach, relieving pain, drying dampness, and resolving phlegm. It is primarily used for liver-stomach qi stagnation, distending pain in the chest and flanks, epigastric fullness and distension, poor appetite and vomiting, and cough with excessive phlegm.
Buddha’s Hand
Boshou, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried fruit of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle, a plant of the genus Citrus in the Rutaceae family. It has the effects of regulating liver qi, harmonizing the stomach, relieving pain, drying dampness, and resolving phlegm. It is primarily used for liver-stomach qi stagnation, distending pain in the chest and flanks, epigastric fullness and distension, poor appetite and vomiting, and cough with excessive phlegm.
Chinese Name : 佛手
Latin Name : Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus
Aliases : Buddha’s Hand, Hand Citrus
Authentic Producing Area : Guangdong, Fujian, Yunnan, Sichuan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Pungent, bitter, and sour in taste; warm in nature; enters the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Regulates the liver and harmonizes qi; soothes the stomach and relieves pain; dries dampness and transforms phlegm.
Indications
Mainly used for liver-stomach qi stagnation, distending pain in the chest and flanks, epigastric fullness and distension, poor appetite and vomiting, and cough with excessive phlegm.
Usage and Dosage
Oral use: Decoct 3–10 g; or steep as tea, or incorporate into pills or powders.
Precautions
Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency with heat or qi deficiency without stagnation.
Chemical Constituents
Citrus reticulata contains essential oils, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and coumarin compounds. Its main constituents include citralactone, limonolactone, naringin, and bucillin (dioemin), among others.
Pharmacological Actions
This herb has effects such as regulating gastrointestinal motility, anti-inflammatory action, relieving asthma, expectorant action, antidepressant effects, and antitumor activity.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Herbal Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan*: Nourishes the liver and warms the stomach; stops vomiting; eliminates cold phlegm in the stomach; treats stomach pain caused by qi stagnation; relieves cold pain in the face; harmonizes the middle burner and promotes qi circulation.
2. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: Boiled with wine and drunk to treat coughs caused by phlegm and qi stagnation. Decocted as a soup to treat epigastric pain.
3. *Benjing Fengyuan*: Specifically dispels stagnant qi. Treats tenesmus following dysentery; use aged specimens for this purpose.
4. *Bencao Zaixin*: Regulates qi and soothes the liver, harmonizes the stomach and transforms phlegm, breaks up stagnation, treats dysphagia and regurgitation, and eliminates masses, masses, and scrofula.
5. *Dietary Spectrum of Suixi Ju*: Revitalizes the stomach, dispels phlegm, wards off foul odors, relieves hangovers, aids digestion, and alleviates pain.
6. *Revised Materia Medica*: Regulates qi in the Upper Jiao to stop vomiting; promotes the absorption of food in the Middle Jiao to strengthen the spleen.
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. For symptoms such as chest and abdominal distension and pain: This herb has a fresh, fragrant aroma and a mild nature. Although it is classified as pungent, bitter, and warm, it lacks the drying and harsh side effects often associated with such properties. It enters the Lung, Liver, Spleen, and Stomach meridians and can be used to treat various forms of qi stagnation. To treat chest tightness caused by stagnation of Lung qi or stagnation of Spleen and Stomach qi, it can be combined with herbs such as Mu Xiang and Zhi Ke;to treat liver qi stagnation and conditions where liver qi invades the stomach, it can be combined with Qingpi and Chuanlianzi;
2. For coughs with excessive phlegm: This herb has a relatively mild effect in resolving phlegm and suppressing coughs, but it also regulates qi and relieves chest congestion. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for chronic coughs with excessive phlegm accompanied by chest tightness and pain. It can be combined with Orange Pith, Luffa Pith, and Loquat Leaves.
Related Compatibility
1. Citron with Dried Tangerine Peel: Citron is bitter, pungent, and warm in nature; it helps soothe the liver, relieve depression, regulate qi, harmonize the middle burner, dry dampness, and transform phlegm. Dried tangerine peel is bitter, pungent, and warm in nature; it regulates qi, strengthens the spleen, dries dampness, and transforms phlegm. Citron has a mild medicinal nature and is effective at regulating liver and stomach qi, while dried tangerine peel has a stronger medicinal nature and is effective at resolving qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach while also strengthening the spleen. When used together, these two herbs enhance the effects of regulating qi, drying dampness, and transforming phlegm.Used to treat spleen-stomach qi stagnation, liver-stomach disharmony, and coughs caused by damp phlegm.
2. Buddha’s Hand combined with Ginger: Buddha’s Hand soothes the liver, regulates qi, dispels dampness, and stops vomiting; ginger warms the middle burner, descends rebellious qi, and stops vomiting. When used together, these two herbs regulate qi, harmonize the stomach, descend rebellious qi, and stop vomiting. Used to treat upward rebellion of stomach qi, vomiting, belching, and similar conditions.
3. Buddha’s Hand combined with Green Orange Peel: Buddha’s Hand primarily promotes the free flow of qi, harmonizes the stomach, and resolves phlegm; Green Orange Peel primarily opens, descends, and disperses stagnation. When combined, these two herbs can soothe the liver, harmonize the stomach, regulate qi, disperse stagnation, and relieve pain. They are used to treat symptoms such as distending pain in the flanks and fullness and oppression in the chest and abdomen caused by liver qi stagnation and disharmony of stomach qi.
4. Buddha’s Hand combined with Wood Fragrance: Buddha’s Hand regulates qi and stimulates appetite, while Wood Fragrance promotes qi circulation and relieves pain. When used together, these two herbs work to promote qi circulation, relieve epigastric fullness, stimulate appetite, and alleviate pain. This combination is used to treat spleen-stomach qi stagnation, epigastric and abdominal distension, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.
5. Buddha’s Hand combined with Atractylodes: Buddha’s Hand primarily soothes the liver and regulates the spleen, while Atractylodes primarily strengthens the spleen and dries dampness. When combined, these two herbs tonify the spleen and stomach, regulate the flow of qi, and dry dampness and turbidity; they tonify without causing stagnation and promote circulation without causing dispersion. They are primarily used to treat poor appetite caused by spleen deficiency with dampness stagnation.
Medicinal Identification
1. Fresh Buddha’s Hand vs. Sliced Buddha’s Hand: Both fresh Buddha’s Hand and sliced Buddha’s Hand have a fragrant aroma and serve to soothe the liver, relieve depression, regulate qi, harmonize the middle burner, dry dampness, and transform phlegm. However, in clinical practice, sliced dried Buddha’s Hand is generally used more frequently than the fresh variety.
2. Buddha’s Hand and Dried Tangerine Peel: Both are pungent and warm in nature, capable of regulating qi, harmonizing the middle burner, drying dampness, and transforming phlegm. They can be used to treat phlegm-dampness coughs, spleen-stomach qi stagnation, and vomiting. However, dried tangerine peel is more potent, while Buddha’s Hand is relatively milder.Dried tangerine peel (Chenpi), with its pungent and bitter properties, disperses and drains to promote lung function; it can also warm and transform cold phlegm to treat coughs caused by cold phlegm. Furthermore, Chenpi’s pungent and warming nature penetrates the lung meridian and travels through the chest, thereby promoting qi circulation, relieving bi syndrome, and alleviating pain—it is used to treat chest bi syndrome, chest qi stagnation, and shortness of breath. Buddha’s Hand enters the Liver meridian and can soothe the liver and relieve depression, making it effective for treating liver depression-induced distension and pain in the flanks.
Related Medicines
Shanhai Dan Capsules, Wujunzhi Dan Tablets, Weisu Granules, Huangdan Hepatitis Pills, Shengxue Diaoyuan Decoction.
Related Prescriptions
Bai Zhu He Zhong Decoction (*Popular Treatise on Cold Damage*).
Medicinal Diet Therapy
Buddha’s Hand Pumpkin Chicken
1. Benefits: Tonifies the middle burner, boosts qi, strengthens the spleen, and nourishes the stomach. Suitable for frail middle-aged and elderly individuals.
2. Ingredients: 10 grams of fresh Buddha’s Hand flowers, 1 mature pumpkin, 750 grams of young chicken meat, 250 grams of edamame,chopped scallions, minced ginger, table salt, Shaoxing wine, glutinous rice wine, MSG, soy sauce, brown sugar, sorghum, Sichuan peppercorns, fermented tofu juice, refined vegetable oil, and rice flour—all to taste.
3. Preparation: First, wash the Buddha’s Hand flower petals. Roast the sorghum and Sichuan peppercorns until cooked, then grind them together into a coarse powder.Wash the chicken and cut it into chunks. Marinate for a while by mixing with chopped scallions, minced ginger, salt, soy sauce, brown sugar, fermented tofu juice, Shaoxing wine, glutinous rice wine, and MSG, then add rice flour and vegetable oil. Remove the skins from the edamame, wash them, and toss with the same seasonings used for the chicken.Scrub the pumpkin clean. Cut a 7-centimeter square opening around the stem, remove the stem to use as a lid, and scoop out the pulp and seeds with a long spoon. Fill the pumpkin with half of the edamame beans and half of the Buddha’s Hand flower petals, then add the chicken chunks. Top with the remaining Buddha’s Hand flower petals and edamame beans, cover with the lid, arrange on a serving plate, and steam until tender.
4. Usage: Serve as a side dish.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate herbal formula.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest in the fall before the fruits turn yellow or just as they begin to turn yellow; cut lengthwise into thin slices, then sun-dry or dry at a low temperature. Those with large slices, green skin, white flesh, and a strong aroma are considered the best.
Processing Methods
Take the raw herb and remove impurities; alternatively, spray with clean water to slightly moisten it, chop it into small pieces, and sun-dry.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a cool, dry place.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
This product consists of thin, subelliptical or ovoid slices, often shriveled or curled, measuring 6–10 cm in length, 3–7 cm in width, and 0.2–0.4 cm in thickness.The apex is slightly wider and often has 3–5 finger-like lobes; the base is slightly narrower, and some specimens may show traces of the fruit stalk. The outer skin is yellowish-green or orange-yellow, with wrinkles and oil spots. The flesh is pale yellowish-white or pale yellow, scattered with uneven linear or punctate vascular bundles. The texture is hard and brittle but becomes pliable when moistened. It has a fragrant odor and a taste that is slightly sweet followed by bitterness.
Properties of Processed Slices
This product consists of subelliptical, ovate thin slices or irregular thread-like strips, often shriveled or curled. The thin slices are 6–10 cm long, 3–7 cm wide, and 0.2–0.4 cm thick; the apex is slightly wider, often with 3–5 finger-like lobes, while the base is slightly narrower, and some may show traces of the fruit stalk.The strips are 0.4–10 cm long, 0.2–1 cm wide, and 0.2–0.4 cm thick. The outer peel is yellowish-green or orange-yellow, with wrinkles and oil dots. The pulp is pale yellowish-white or pale yellow, scattered with uneven linear or punctate vascular bundles. It is hard and brittle, but becomes pliable when moistened. It has a fragrant aroma and a taste that is slightly sweet followed by bitterness.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Buddha’s Hand (Citrus reticulata), a member of the genus Citrus in the family Rutaceae.
Morphological Characteristics
An evergreen small tree or shrub. Mature branches are gray-green; young branches are slightly purplish-red and bear short, stiff thorns. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are short, 3–6 mm long, without wings or joints;the leaf blade is leathery, oblong or obovate-oblong, 5–16 cm long and 2.5–7 cm wide, with a blunt apex, sometimes slightly concave, a nearly rounded or cuneate base, and shallow, wavy, blunt teeth along the margin. Flowers are solitary, clustered, or arranged in racemes; the calyx is cup-shaped, shallowly 5-lobed, with triangular lobes;There are 5 petals, white on the inside and purple on the outside; numerous stamens; the ovary is elliptical, narrowing to a point at the top. The citrus fruit is ovoid or oblong, with the apex split like a palm or spreading like fingertips; the number of lobes corresponds to the number of carpels. The surface is orange-yellow and rough, and the flesh is pale yellow. There are several seeds, which are ovoid with pointed tips and sometimes underdeveloped.Flowering occurs from April to May; fruit ripens from October to December.
Distribution Area
Native to tropical and subtropical regions. Cultivated in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan in China.