Ba Yue Zha
English Name: akebia fruit
Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Akebiae
Medica Category: Qi-Regulating Herbs
Properties: Ba Yue Zha enters Liver and Stomach channels; it is bitter in nature and neutral in temperature.
What is Ba Yue Zha?:
The Chinese Herb Ba Yue Zha is the dried fruit that comes from the akebia (or clematis) vine—Akebia quinate (Thunb.) Koidz; and 2 other variants). The edible fruits of this vine are picked as they turn violet (just before ripening fully) and are sliced and dried for use as medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Ba Yue Zha:
Ba Yue Zha spreads the Liver (regulates qi) to address hypochondriac, chest, epigastric, and hernial pain.
Ba Yue Zha disperses abdominal and breast masses that are the result of qi stagnation and phlegm accumulation.