He Zi (诃子) — Chebule Fruit | TCM Herb Guide

At a Glance

• Herb: He Zi
• Chinese name: 诃子 (Hē Zǐ)
• Latin name: Terminalia chebula fruit
• Nature: Neutral
• Taste: Bitter / Sour / Astringent
• Meridian: Lung / Large Intestine
• Category: Herbs that Stabilize and Bind
• Introduction: He Zi (诃子), Fructus Chebulae, is the dried ripe fruit of Terminalia chebula, a large tree native to South and Southeast Asia. Unique among astringent herbs, it simultaneously astringes and descends qi — binding the lungs and intestines while also clearing heat and benefiting the throat and voice. It is one of the principal herbs for chronic cough, hoarseness, and prolonged diarrhea. Modern research identifies chebulinic acid and gallotannins with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and mucosal-protective properties.

Action

• Astringes the lungs and stops chronic cough
• Binds the intestines and stops diarrhea and dysentery
• Descends qi and benefits the throat and voice
• Clears heat from the lungs and throat (mild)

Clinical Application

• Chronic lung deficiency cough, persistent cough from qi deficiency — combines with Ren Shen, Wu Wei Zi, Bai Bu
• Hoarseness, loss of voice from lung qi deficiency or phlegm-heat — raw form, combines with Jie Geng, Gan Cao
• Chronic diarrhea and dysentery from deficiency — combines with Rou Dou Kou, Gan Jiang
• Prolonged dysentery with blood and pus (deficiency stage) — combines with Bai Tou Weng, Huang Lian
• Uterine prolapse and rectal prolapse from qi sinking — combines with Huang Qi, Sheng Ma

Precautions

• Dosage: 3–9 g in decoction
• Raw form: stronger for clearing heat and benefiting throat
• Roasted form (Wei He Zi): stronger astringent effect for diarrhea
• Contraindicated in acute cough from exterior pathogens or damp-heat dysentery
• Avoid in constipation — astringent nature may worsen
• Contraindicated in early-stage illness when pathogen needs to be expelled

Formula

• Zhen Ren Yang Zang Tang (真人养脏汤): He Zi, Ying Su Ke, Rou Dou Kou, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Mu Xiang, Rou Gui, Zhi Gan Cao — astringes intestines, stops chronic dysentery
• He Zi San (诃子散): He Zi, Jie Geng, Gan Cao — benefits throat, clears heat, restores voice; classic formula for hoarseness
• He Zi Pi San (诃子皮散): He Zi skin, Gan Jiang, Chen Pi — warms middle, astringes intestines, stops cold diarrhea

Combinations

• 党参 (Dǎng Shēn) + 白术 (Bái Zhú) — chronic diarrhea and dysentery from spleen deficiency. 2. 桔梗 (Jié Gěng) + 甘草 (Gān Cǎo) — chronic hoarseness and loss of voice from lung deficiency (诃子汤). 3. 肉豆蔻 (Ròu Dòu Kòu) + 干姜 (Gān Jiāng) — deficiency-cold diarrhea with abdominal pain. 4. 乌梅 (Wū Méi) + 五味子 (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ) — chronic cough from lung deficiency and qi leakage. 5. 黄连 (Huáng Lián) + 木香 (Mù Xiāng) — damp-heat dysentery becoming chronic with deficiency (虚实夹杂). Source: 本草纲目, 医学心悟 (诃子汤).

Pharmacological Effects

• chebulinic acid precipitates intestinal mucosal proteins
  • Antidiarrheal: reduces secretion and increases stool consistency
• Antibacterial
  • broad-spectrum — active against MRSA, E. coli, Salmonella, H. pylori, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • chebulagic acid inhibits β-lactamase
• punicalagin
  • Antiviral: inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase
  • Antiviral: corilagin active against HSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro
• ellagic acid
  • Anti-inflammatory: inhibits NF-κB and MAPK pathways
• astringent tannins
  • Voice restoration: reduce vocal fold edema
  • Voice restoration: improve phonation
• Antioxidant
  • among highest DPPH scavenging capacity of any TCM fruit

Classic Description

• Tang Ben Cao (《唐本草》): ‘Governs cold qi, Heart and abdominal distension and fullness, and promotes food digestion.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Terminalia Fruit: bitter to drain qi and digest food; astringent to secure collapse and stop diarrhea; warm to open the Stomach and regulate the center.’
• Ben Cao Bei Yao (《本草备要》): ‘Bitter, sour, and astringent; astringes the Lung, binds the intestines, descends qi, opens the voice; treats chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, rectal prolapse, Lung deficiency wheezing and cough, and loss of voice.’