Suan Jiao
Tamarindus indica L.
β― TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Resolves Summer-Heat; Harmonizes the Stomach and dissolves food stagnation; Generates Fluids and Relieves Thirst; Moistens the Intestines and Unblocks the Bowels
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Tamarindus indica is a long-lived, slow-growing evergreen tree in the Fabaceae family reaching 20-30 m tall, with a dense rounded crown and a short, often gnarled trunk up to 1 m in diameter. The bark is rough, grey-brown and fissured. Leaves are pinnately compound, 7-15 cm long, with 10-18 pairs of small oblong leaflets that fold up at night. Pale yellow flowers streaked with red appear in lax racemes and give rise to the characteristic indehiscent pods, 5-15 cm long, brown and brittle-shelled, containing a sticky brown-red sour-sweet pulp surrounding 3-12 hard glossy seeds. Native to tropical Africa, tamarind is now cultivated throughout the tropics for its edible and medicinal pulp.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | β | β | β |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Suan Jiao (Sichuan pepper husk, zanthoxylum) is a warm, strongly pungent herb used in Chinese medicine to warm the Spleen and Stomach, dispel cold and dampness, and kill intestinal parasites. It addresses cold abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea from Spleen-Stomach cold, as well as intestinal parasitic infections. Its characteristic numbing-pungent quality makes it the defining flavoring of Sichuan cuisine and classical formulas for cold-type digestive disorders simultaneously.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.