Fruits and seedsAstringentRosae Laevigatae Fructus

Jin Ying Zi (Cherokee Rose Fruit)

A practical guide to Jin Ying Zi: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 29, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Rosae Laevigatae Fructus
Chinese Name & Pinyin	金櫻子 · Jin Ying Zi
Medicinal Part	Fruits and seeds
The item	Jin Ying Zi is the dried ripe fruit of cherokee rose, used raw or salt-processed. It usually goes into decoctions, and in small doses it is cooked into porridge or brewed as tea.
Nature and channels	Sweet, astringent, neutral. Enters the Kidney, Bladder, and Large Intestine. It secures essence, stops emission, binds the intestine, and stops diarrhea.
Pharmacopoeia line	Secures essence and stops emission. Binds the intestine and stops diarrhea. Used for frequent seminal emission, slippery emission, long-term diarrhea, and thin clear leukorrhea.
Pattern cues	Frequent emission. Sore weak lumbar-knees. Long-term loose stools. Thin clear discharge.
In this article	Jin Ying Zi versus Qian Shi. Strong clamping versus spleen-securing. Why the dose stays moderate. Why pregnancy is a caution. Why acute bloody diarrhea needs a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Jin Ying Zi?

Jin Ying Zi (金樱子; Jīn Yīng Zǐ; Latin: Rosa laevigata; English: cherokee rose fruit) in the current pharmacopoeia is the dried ripe fruit of a rose-family evergreen climbing shrub, picked in autumn when the fruits turn red-yellow, brushed free of thorns, cut open and seeded, then dried, used raw or salt-processed. It is sweet, astringent, and neutral, enters the Kidney, Bladder, and Large Intestine channels, and its core actions are to secure essence and stop emission, and to bind the intestine and stop diarrhea. It usually goes into decoctions. The usual amount is 6–12 g. It needs no special cooking order. In home practice it is also cooked into porridges or steeped as a tea in small doses.

It is not Qian Shi. Gordon euryale seed is sweet, astringent, and neutral too, but it secures while strengthening the spleen and draining damp; it does not clamp down as hard on slipping essence. Damp-heat pouring downward — bitter mouth, scanty dark urine, sticky stool — is a poor match. Exterior fever or acute dysentery with blood and pus needs a clinic first. Use caution in pregnancy and lactation. Allergy to rose-family plants is a hard skip.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Frequent seminal emission with sore, weak lumbar-knees
Long-term chronic diarrhea with loose stools
Thin, clear leukorrhea

Sweet, astringent, and neutral, it is not a daily “binding tea” to keep increasing. Securing when there is damp-heat or exterior excess traps the pathogen and dries the bowel.

When kidney qi no longer holds, essence slips away and the bowel drains, bringing frequent emission, long-term loose stools, and thin clear discharge. Jin Ying Zi is sweet and astringent. It secures the essence and binds the intestine, which is why it appears in Shui Lu Er Xian Dan (Water-Land Two Immortals Pill)–type formulas. It holds more than it builds. Damp-heat pouring downward, with bitter mouth and scanty dark urine, gets worse if more is added.

Jin Ying Zi is not a catch-all securing or anti-diarrhea fruit. In damp-heat pouring downward, with exterior fever, or in pregnancy and lactation, using it alone is a poor match. Raw or salt-processed, and whether it belongs in a formula, should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Jin Ying Zi: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Rosae Laevigatae Fructus

Botanical Origin

The dried mature fruit of Rosa laevigata Michx.(Rosaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangxi, Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is large, reddish-yellow, lustrous, and cleaned of all hairy thorns.

Macroscopic Features

Receptacles develop to form a pseudocarp. Inverse egg-like shape; externally reddish-yellow or reddish-brown, with raised brown spots, which are the remnants of fallen hair thorns. Apex has disc-like remnants of calyx, center has yellow base of style, bottom is gradually pointy. Hard texture. After being cut open, inner surface of receptacle has numerous hard small achenes, which have pale yellow fuzz. faint odor, sweet taste, slightly astringent.

Main Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional materia medica and industry experience value the Jiangxi, Hunan, and Zhejiang producing regions, though actual quality also depends on variety, harvest time, processing, and storage. In appearance, good-quality raw Jin Ying Zi should be large, bright red, with thick flesh and few seeds inside, a faint fruity scent, and a firm texture. The processed form, Yan Jin Ying Zi, carries a slight salt taste and a somewhat deeper surface color. The common look-alike is the fruit of the same-genus plant Xiao Guo Qiang Wei (small-fruit rose) — smaller in size, with thinner flesh and more seeds; note the difference.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Sour, Sweet, Astringent; NeutralKidneyBladderLarge Intestine

1. Records in Classic Materia Medica

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: first mentions the medicinal use of Jin Ying Zi, listing it as an upper-grade herb, though without spelling out specific actions.
Ming Yi Bie Lu: records that it "stops leakage and emission" — addressing slippery-loss symptoms such as seminal emission and diarrhea.
Xin Xiu Ben Cao: notes it can treat "li" (dysentery) — the slippery discharge that dysentery brings.
Ben Cao Gang Mu: adds that it "secures slippery essence and stops diarrhea-dysentery," clarifying the specific direction of the securing action.
De Pei Ben Cao: notes — "its nature is astringent and securing; with Long Gu and Mu Li it treats seminal emission; with Qian Shi and Lian Zi it treats diarrhea" — pointing to its use in combinations.
Zhong Hua Ben Cao: organizes the historical experience and defines its core action as securing and binding to stop loss — corresponding to seminal emission, enuresis, and chronic diarrhea.

2. How Views of Its Nature Changed

Different physicians saw it somewhat differently. Some stressed its securing-bind action — calling it a good herb for "securing essence and stopping emission," suiting simple essence loss. Others emphasized its intestine-firming, diarrhea-stopping action, targeting chronic diarrhea. Still others warned of its cautions — that people with excess evil or damp-heat should not use it, to avoid securing the evil in. This difference makes Jin Ying Zi's application more precise and also shows it is not a universal securing herb — it must be used according to the specific situation.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Secures essence and reduces urination, astringes the intestines and stops diarrhea, and stabilizes menses and stops leukorrhea.

1. First Direction: Securing the Essence and Stopping Emission

Traditional action: secure and bind the essence qi, preventing its loss — mainly for the seminal emission and slippery emission of kidney qi insecurity.
Typical signs: the pattern of kidney qi deficiency and essence qi insecurity — frequent seminal emission, slippery emission, sore, weak lumbar-knees, and low spirits, without obvious damp-heat or excess evil.
Usual combinations: often paired with converging, securing herbs such as Long Gu and Mu Li to strengthen the essence-securing effect; with kidney qi insufficiency, with kidney-tonifying herbs such as Tu Si Zi and Gou Qi Zi to also tonify.
Who should not self-use: seminal emission from damp-heat pouring down — damp scrotum, bitter mouth, scanty dark urine — or states with exterior excess evil and fever: do not self-use Jin Ying Zi, to avoid securing the evil and worsening the symptoms.

2. Second Direction: Binding the Intestines and Stopping Diarrhea

Traditional action: secure the intestines and ease diarrhea — mainly for long-term chronic diarrhea from intestinal slippage.
Typical signs: chronic diarrhea from spleen or kidney deficiency — loose stools, many bowel movements, diarrhea easily after meals, hidden abdominal pain, and fatigue, without obvious damp-heat dysentery.
Usual combinations: often paired with spleen-strengthening, diarrhea-stopping herbs such as Qian Shi and Lian Zi Rou; for kidney-deficiency chronic diarrhea, with kidney-warming, diarrhea-stopping herbs such as Bu Gu Zhi and Rou Dou Kou.
Who should not self-use: acute damp-heat dysentery — abdominal pain, tenesmus, pus-and-blood stools, burning anus — or states with exterior fever: do not self-use Jin Ying Zi, to avoid securing the damp-heat and leaving the evil inside the body.

3. Classic Pairing: Jin Ying Zi With Qian Shi

The classic herb pair is Jin Ying Zi with Qian Shi. Both secure-bind to stop diarrhea and secure the essence to stop emission: Jin Ying Zi leans toward convergence and stop-loss; Qian Shi leans toward strengthening the spleen and securing. Together they coordinate, strengthening the securing effect — suiting the traditional patterns of spleen-kidney deficiency: chronic diarrhea, seminal emission, and thin, clear leukorrhea. This pair needs a practitioner's pattern diagnosis; do not pair herbs blindly on your own.

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Main Chemical Constituents

Detected constituents include flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins, polysaccharides, and organic acids. In vitro experiments observed that these constituents may have some inhibitory effect on certain bacteria and viruses; in animal experiments, the extract may regulate intestinal movement and ease diarrhea in animals. No sufficient human clinical study has yet reached a clear clinical efficacy conclusion.

2. Current Research Directions

Current research mainly focuses on the securing-related mechanisms of Jin Ying Zi — such as its protective effect on the intestinal mucosa, its effect on urinary smooth muscle, and the antioxidant activity of its constituents. Studies show the polysaccharide constituents may show some antioxidant capacity in vitro, but these results still need more experiments to verify; animal experiments found the extract may ease diarrhea in mice, but the specific active constituents and mechanism are still unclear. Research on Jin Ying Zi is still at a basic stage — more human studies are needed to verify the clinical effects.

3. Limitations of Current Research

Lab results are not clinical efficacy — in vitro and animal results cannot be directly applied to humans, because animal and human physiological mechanisms differ, and the in vitro environment differs from the internal human environment.
Extracts and monomers are not the same as traditional decoction pieces — modern research commonly uses the extract or single components, while clinical use is the whole dried-fruit slice; the dose, component ratio, and mode of action differ and cannot be equated directly.
Doses and preparation methods vary between studies — different doses and extraction methods across studies make the results differ greatly, and a unified conclusion is hard to reach.
A single component does not define the whole herb — Jin Ying Zi works through many components together; one component's action does not mean the whole herb has the same action — the synergy or antagonism between components must be considered.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. What They Share

Jin Ying Zi and Qian Shi share:

Both have securing and binding to stop loss as a main action.
Both are used for the traditional patterns of spleen-kidney deficiency — chronic diarrhea, seminal emission, and thin, clear leukorrhea.
Both may appear in similar food-therapy or formula regulating scenes, and both need constitution and dose care — no long-term excess use.

2. The Key Differences: Jin Ying Zi vs. Qian Shi

Nature and flavors: Jin Ying Zi is neutral with sweet-astringent flavors, entering the kidney, bladder, and large intestine channels — securing-focused, leaning toward convergence; Qian Shi is also neutral with sweet-astringent flavors, entering the spleen and kidney channels — spleen-strengthening and securing, with some tonifying action, gentler overall.
Focus: Jin Ying Zi's core strength is securing the essence to stop emission and binding the intestines to stop diarrhea — converging the slippery-loss symptoms; Qian Shi's core strength is strengthening the spleen to stop diarrhea and securing the kidney to astringe the essence — and it also tonifies the spleen and dispels damp, taking care of the spleen-stomach function — better for mild slippage with spleen deficiency.
Qi tendency: Jin Ying Zi secures and astringes — mainly converging the slipping essence and intestines, without an obvious tonifying or spleen-regulating action; Qian Shi secures and also tonifies — converging the slippage while strengthening the spleen and dispelling damp, helping the spleen-stomach transport recover — leaning toward "securing with tonifying."
Best fit: Jin Ying Zi suits pure slippage — frequent seminal emission and unceasing chronic diarrhea without obvious spleen-stomach weakness; Qian Shi suits spleen-kidney deficiency with spleen insufficiency — poor appetite, loose stools mixed with undigested food, and fatigue — where spleen-strengthening is also needed.
Not suitable: Jin Ying Zi is not for people with damp-heat or excess evil — bitter mouth, scanty dark urine, sticky stools — to avoid securing the evil; Qian Shi is not for people with damp-heat accumulation — bloating, blocked stools — and because its tonifying action is stronger, people with poor digestion and food stagnation should not use it in excess.
Use scenes: Jin Ying Zi is used more where strong convergence is needed — marked seminal emission, slippery emission, unceasing chronic diarrhea — often the main securing herb in formulas; Qian Shi is used more in daily mild regulation or spleen-strengthening pairings — such as in food-therapy porridges — as an auxiliary securing and spleen-strengthening food ingredient for daily mild body regulation.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Jin Ying Zi leans toward strong convergence and stop-loss — for marked slippage, whereas Qian Shi leans toward spleen-strengthening and securing — also taking care of the spleen-stomach function. Both can be used for the chronic diarrhea and seminal emission of spleen-kidney deficiency, but they are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Jin Ying Zi

Classic Formula 1: Shui Lu Er Xian Dan (Water-Land Two Immortals Pill)

Combination logic: Jin Ying Zi is the lord — mainly securing the essence and stopping emission; the other herb, Qian Shi, is the minister — strengthening the spleen and securing. Together they synergize, strengthening the securing effect. Why not use Jin Ying Zi alone? Because Jin Ying Zi alone converges too strongly; paired with Qian Shi, the spleen is also taken care of — avoiding over-convergence that brings spleen-stomach discomfort, while also strengthening the overall securing effect.

Traditional use: traditionally for the seminal emission, slippery emission, and thin, clear leukorrhea of spleen-kidney deficiency — shown as sore, weak lumbar-knees, fatigue, and low spirits, without obvious damp-heat.

Modern note: in modern practice the formula may be used to regulate corresponding symptoms, but it requires a doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care; do not self-apply just because the formula name relates to a condition — a professional must judge whether it fits.

Classic Formula 2: Jin Ying Zi Gao (Cherokee Rose Paste)

Combination logic: This paste uses Jin Ying Zi as the main component, with a small amount of honey for flavor. Jin Ying Zi is the lord — binding the intestines to stop diarrhea and securing the essence to stop emission; the honey is the assistant-emissary — harmonizing the nature and supplementing fluids. Why not use Jin Ying Zi alone? Because alone it tastes too astringent and its convergence is single; the honey improves the taste while adding moistening, avoiding the intestinal dryness that over-convergence brings.

Traditional use: traditionally for unceasing chronic diarrhea, seminal emission and slippery emission, and the body weakness that loss brings — suiting long-term mild regulation.

Modern note: in modern practice the paste may be used for mild slippage regulation, but it also needs a doctor's pattern diagnosis — do not self-administer long-term, and people with damp-heat are not suited.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is many herbs working together — through combination the natures are adjusted, the effect strengthened, and side effects reduced. A single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effect. The formula's doses and combinations are holistic — different doses and pairings produce different actions; for example, in Shui Lu Er Xian Dan the ratio of Jin Ying Zi to Qian Shi is 1:1, and changing the ratio changes the effect. Readers should be clear: that a herb works inside a formula does not mean taking it alone works the same way — so don't build your own formula from online articles; use it under a doctor's guidance.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Porridge and Tea

Porridge — Jin Ying Zi Qian Shi Zhou: raw Jin Ying Zi 10 g (crushed and seeded), Qian Shi 15 g, Jing Mi 50 g. First boil the Jin Ying Zi in water for 20 minutes, take the liquid and discard the dregs, then add the Qian Shi and rice with water and cook into a thin porridge. Suited to the chronic diarrhea and seminal emission of spleen-kidney deficiency — daily mild regulation, 1–2 times a week. Not for those with damp-heat pouring down (bitter mouth, scanty dark urine) or those with poor digestion and food stagnation. Suggested: no more than 2 times a week; avoid long-term continuous eating.

Tea — Jin Ying Zi Cha: salt-processed Jin Ying Zi 5 g (crushed), Hong Cha 3 g. Put both in a cup, steep in boiling water for 10 minutes, and drink. Suited to mild seminal emission and fatigue — for office workers' daily mild regulation. Not for those with exterior fever or damp-heat. Suggested: once a day, no more than 1 week continuously; avoid long-term drinking.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

The difference between raw and salt-processed Jin Ying Zi: the raw product has a weaker converging action, used more for spleen-strengthening and stopping diarrhea; Yan Jin Ying Zi, stir-fried with salt water, has a stronger securing-bind-stop-loss action, used more for securing the essence and stopping emission. At home, the raw product should be soaked 30 minutes first, then boiled 20 minutes; the salt-processed form can be decocted directly with the other herbs. Jin Ying Zi has no special decocting requirement — no pre-boiling, late addition, or bagging. Different forms cannot be converted directly: the slice dose and the paste or tea dose differ; do not swap them directly.

3. Dosage and Course

The common dose in traditional prescriptions is 6–12 g per use; food-therapy doses are usually smaller — for example, within 10 g in porridge. Long-term continuous use is not advised: a regulating course generally does not exceed 2 weeks; for long-term regulation, consult a doctor or pharmacist. Special groups — children and the elderly — should halve the dose; pregnant and breastfeeding women are not advised to self-use.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Damp-heat pouring down or excess evil — bitter mouth, scanty dark urine, sticky stools, or exterior fever.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — there is no sufficient safety basis yet; not advised.
Children and the elderly — children's organs are tender and the elderly's liver-kidney function is weaker; use under a doctor's guidance.
Liver or kidney impairment — avoid adding burden to the liver and kidney.
Allergy to Rosaceae (rose-family) plants — an allergic reaction may occur.

2. Interactions and Diet Notes

There is no clearly documented interaction between Jin Ying Zi and specific drugs, but its securing action may affect the absorption of some drugs — such as antibiotics and digestive aids. Those taking anticoagulants, blood-pressure medications, blood-sugar medications, or sedatives should consult a doctor or pharmacist before using Jin Ying Zi, to avoid affecting the drug's effect. There is no sufficient evidence for a general "food clash" between ordinary foods, but certain herbs can interact with specific drugs — anyone on medication should consult a doctor or pharmacist first.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risk

Overdose may cause intestinal dryness and constipation, or heat signs — such as dry mouth and bitter mouth. If marked discomfort, allergy signs (rash, itching, breathing difficulty), persistent vomiting, altered consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms appear, stop at once and seek medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jin Ying Zi

What is Jin Ying Zi? Are Fu Pen Zi and Wu Wei Zi the same?

Jin Ying Zi (金樱子) is the dried mature fruit of Rosa laevigata (Rosae Laevigatae Fructus), a common Chinese herb centered on securing essence and reducing urination, securing the menses and stopping discharge, and astringing the intestines to stop diarrhea. Fu Pen Zi benefits the Kidney and secures essence while reducing urination, leaning to Kidney deficiency. Wu Wei Zi astringes and secures while generating fluids, leaning to Lung and Kidney. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Jin Ying Zi. Use caution in excess fire and damp-heat.

What is the composition and traditional use of Jin Ying Zi?

Pharmacopoeial name Jin Ying Zi, Latin Rosa laevigata. Sour, sweet and astringent, neutral; enters the Kidney, Bladder and Large Intestine channels. It acts to secure essence and reduce urination, secure the menses and stop discharge, and astringe the intestines to stop diarrhea. It is used for seminal emission and slippage, enuresis and frequent urination, flooding and spotting with vaginal discharge, and chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Secures essence, reduces urination and astringes the intestines.

How do you choose raw versus prepared? Can Fu Pen Zi replace it?

Thorns and seeds removed and used raw. Fu Pen Zi leans to benefiting the Kidney without specialized intestinal astringing; it cannot replace the formula by equal weight. Commercial products follow regulated processing; do not self-modify.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a securing tea?

Decocted, 6-12 g. Modern use requires a practitioner to name the dose. It is not a four-season “cherokee rose tea.” Excess fire and damp-heat only injure further. Slippage needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace assessment.

What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Not suitable for excess fire, internal damp-heat, or during external contraction with fever. Use caution in constipation. Pregnancy requires practitioner assessment. Stop if constipation or bitter taste appears. Worsening slippage or fever need immediate medical care.

Can Jin Ying Zi secure essence and reduce urination, astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea?

It can help seminal emission and slippage, enuresis and frequent urination, flooding and spotting with vaginal discharge, and chronic diarrhea and dysentery. It secures essence and reduces urination, secures the menses and stops discharge, and astringes the intestines to stop diarrhea—not a specific for every slippage or every chronic diarrhea.

Can Jin Ying Zi be drunk daily as a securing or diarrhea-stopping tea?

Slippage may enter a short formula; excess fire and damp-heat only injure further. “Cherokee rose must secure essence” does not replace assessment. Securing essence and reducing urination, astringing the intestines to stop diarrhea should be named by a practitioner with form and dose.

How do you choose among Jin Ying Zi, Fu Pen Zi, Wu Wei Zi, Shan Zhu Yu and Qian Shi?

Jin Ying Zi secures essence and reduces urination while securing the menses and stopping discharge and astringing the intestines, leaning to seminal emission and chronic diarrhea. Fu Pen Zi benefits the Kidney and secures essence while reducing urination, leaning to Kidney deficiency. Wu Wei Zi astringes and secures while generating fluids, leaning to Lung and Kidney. Shan Zhu Yu tonifies and benefits the Liver and Kidney and secures essence, leaning to Liver and Kidney. Qian Shi benefits the Kidney and secures essence while strengthening the Spleen, leaning to Spleen and Kidney. Slippage favors Jin Ying Zi; Kidney deficiency favors Fu Pen Zi; Lung and Kidney favor Wu Wei Zi; Liver and Kidney favor Shan Zhu Yu; Spleen and Kidney favor Qian Shi. They may be referenced after pattern differentiation; excess fire and damp-heat forbid large Jin Ying Zi.

How is Jin Ying Zi commonly modified? What is the representative use?

Depends on the pattern. Seminal emission may add Qian Shi; chronic diarrhea may add Bai Zhu. Write Jin Ying Zi; do not replace the intestinal-astringing action with an equal weight of Fu Pen Zi.

How do you choose and store Jin Ying Zi?

Choose regulated Chinese medicinal materials with intact fruits. Moldy, damp, or abnormal-smelling lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy “Jin Ying Zi”; do not replace securing essence and reducing urination, astringing the intestines to stop diarrhea with an equal weight of Fu Pen Zi or Wu Wei Zi.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.