Fo Shou (佛手) — Finger Citron | TCM Herb Guide

At a Glance

• Herb: Fo Shou
• Chinese name: 佛手 (Fó Shǒu)
• Latin name: Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis fruit
• Nature: Warm
• Taste: Acrid / Bitter / Sour
• Meridian: Liver / Spleen / Stomach / Lung
• Category: Herbs that Regulate Qi
• Introduction: Fo Shou (佛手), Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis, is the dried fruit of Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, whose unusual finger-like segments give it its name (‘Buddha’s hand’). A fragrant citrus herb, it soothes liver qi, harmonizes the stomach, and gently transforms phlegm-dampness in the lungs. Its volatile oils and flavonoids relax gastrointestinal smooth muscle, reduce inflammation, and produce a mild antidepressant effect — making it especially suitable for stress-related digestive disorders.

Action

• Soothes liver qi and relieves depression
• Harmonizes the stomach and relieves pain
• Dries dampness and transforms phlegm
• Relieves chest oppression

Clinical Application

• Liver qi stagnation invading the stomach: flank pain, epigastric distension, belching, poor appetite — combines with Chai Hu, Bai Shao, Chen Pi
• Spleen-stomach qi stagnation: nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating — combines with Mu Xiang, Chen Pi, Sha Ren
• Phlegm-damp cough with chest oppression — combines with Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Chen Pi
• Emotional stress with digestive complaints — used alone as tea or combines with Mei Gui Hua, Xiang Fu

Precautions

• Dosage: 3–9 g in decoction; also used as herbal tea
• Mild and gentle — suitable for long-term use and sensitive patients
• Contraindicated in yin deficiency with dryness or internal heat
• Use with caution in qi deficiency patterns
• Often used in dietary therapy — can be eaten as preserved fruit or candied

Formula

• Fo Shou San (佛手散 variant): Fo Shou, Xiang Yuan, Chen Pi, Mu Xiang — moves liver and stomach qi, relieves distension
• Fo Shou Hua Tan Yin (佛手化痰饮): Fo Shou, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, Sheng Jiang — dries dampness, transforms phlegm, harmonizes stomach
• Fo Shou Mei Gui Cha (佛手玫瑰茶): Fo Shou + Mei Gui Hua as tea — gentle daily formula for stress, liver qi stagnation, and emotional eating

Combinations

• 香附 (Xiāng Fù) + 郁金 (Yù Jīn) — liver qi stagnation with emotional depression, hypochondriac pain, and chest tightness. 2. 陈皮 (Chén Pí) + 半夏 (Bàn Xià) — phlegm-qi obstruction with nausea and epigastric fullness. 3. 白术 (Bái Zhú) + 党参 (Dǎng Shēn) — spleen qi deficiency with qi stagnation and poor appetite. 4. 玫瑰花 (Méi Guī Huā) — emotional constraint with liver qi stagnation and irregular menstruation. 5. 桑白皮 (Sāng Bái Pí) + 瓜蒌 (Guā Lóu) — phlegm-qi in the lung causing cough and chest pain. Source: 本草纲目, 随息居饮食谱.

Pharmacological Effects

• limonene and hesperidin
  • Spasmolytic: relax gastrointestinal smooth muscle
  • Spasmolytic: reduce colonic contractility and relieve IBS-type cramping
• linalool
  • Anxiolytic: modulates GABA-A receptors
  • Anxiolytic: limonene reduces corticosterone — consistent with traditional use for emotional depression
• hesperidin
  • Anti-inflammatory: inhibits NF-κB, COX-2, and histamine release
  • Antidiabetic: improves insulin receptor sensitivity and reduces HbA1c
• volatile oils thin bronchial secretions
  • Expectorant: relax airway smooth muscle
• pectins
  • Hypolipidemic: reduce cholesterol absorption
  • Hypolipidemic: diosmin improves venous tone

Classic Description

• Dian Nan Ben Cao (《滇南本草》): ‘Tonifies the Liver and warms the Stomach, stops vomiting, dissolves stomach cold phlegm, treats stomach qi pain, stops facial cold pain, and harmonizes the center and moves qi.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Decocted in wine and drunk, treats phlegm-qi cough; decocted in water, treats qi pain below the Heart.’
• Ben Cao Bian Du (《本草便读》): ‘Regulates qi and opens the diaphragm; if there is no phlegm stagnation, should not be taken in excess; acrid disperses, bitter descends, and aromatic moves — an herb for the qi aspect of the four channels: Spleen, Stomach, Liver, and Lung.’