Stems and woodsBlood-activatingGleditsiae Spina

Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Thorn)

Q: What is Zao Jiao Ci? Are Zao Jia and the fruit the same?

Official Zao Jiao Ci (皂角刺) is the dried spine of Gleditsia sinensis . The pharmacopoeial name is Gleditsiae Spina . It is also called soap-pod spine. Zao Jia is the fruit: acrid-warm and toxic, dispels phlegm, opens the orifices, disperses nodules and reduces swelling, and is more irritating. Write Zao Jiao Ci. Unsuitable when a sore has already ruptured, and in pregnancy.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Zao Jiao Ci?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Zao Jiao Ci is acrid and warm , enters the Liver and Stomach channels, and acts to reduce swelling, expel toxin, drain pus and kill parasites . It is used for abscess and welling-abscess at the start, or when pus has formed but does not rupture; externally for scabies and leprosy. Acrid, warm and sharp, it suits sores not yet ruptured or pus that will not discharge—not a ruptured deficient sore, and not pregnancy.

Q: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a pus tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g . External use is an appropriate amount, vinegar-steamed and the juice applied. It is not a four-season “gleditsia pus tea.” Once ruptured, further use only consumes. Abscess needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace surgical assessment.

Q: How do you choose and store Zao Jiao Ci?

Choose main spines and branches, purple-brown, a yellow-white woody cut face, a loose pale red-brown pith, brittle, a faint odor and a bland taste . Moldy, dirty or spineless lots are discarded. Store dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Zao Jiao Ci; do not replace reducing swelling, expelling toxin, draining pus and killing parasites with the fruit by equal weight.

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

View Herb Profile →

Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Gleditsiae Spina
Chinese Name & Pinyin	皂角刺 · Zao Jiao Ci
Medicinal Part	Stems and woods
The herb	Zao Jiao Ci is the dried spine of Gleditsia sinensis. Zao Jiao is the fruit. Tian Hua Fen is a different official drug.
Nature and channels	Acrid, warm. Enters the Liver and Stomach. Acrid warmth reduces swelling, expels toxin, and discharges pus.
Pharmacopoeia line	Reduces swelling and expels toxin. Discharges pus. Kills parasites. Used for abscess at the start, or pus formed that will not break; externally for scabies, tinea, and leprosy.
Pattern cues	Abscess at the start. Pus that will not break. Swelling and pain.
In this article	Spine versus fruit. Zao Jiao Ci versus Tian Hua Fen and Pu Gong Ying. Expelling toxin versus clearing heat and resolving toxin. Why an abscess needs a clinic. Why pregnancy is a caution. Who should skip it.

What Is Zao Jiao Ci?

Zao Jiao Ci (皂角刺; Zào Jiǎo Cì; Latin: Gleditsiae Spina; English: honeylocust spine) is the dried spine of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. In Chinese medicine it reduces swelling and discharges pus. It is acrid and warm, enters the Liver and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to reduce swelling and expel toxin, discharge pus, and kill parasites. The teaching point is an abscess at the start, or pus formed that will not break. It is not Zao Jiao. The fruit is acrid, salty, and warm, and slightly toxic. It opens the orifices and dispels phlegm, and is fierce. It does not convert to the spine. It is not Tian Hua Fen. Snake gourd root is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly cold. It reduces swelling, discharges pus, and generates fluids. Zao Jiao Ci is acrid-warm. It expels toxin outward. A red swollen abscess with severe pain, or high fever, needs a clinic. Do not discharge pus yourself. Use caution in pregnancy. Qi deficiency with no toxin is a poor match.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Abscess at the start — swollen, not yet broken
Pus formed that will not break — seek care
External use for scabies, tinea, and leprosy — a practitioner guides it

The usual decoction dose is 3–10 g. Acrid and warm, it is not a daily “toxin-expelling spine.” Expelling when there is no abscess and no pus consumes qi.

When heat-toxin binds and pus will not break, local swelling and pain are common. Zao Jiao Ci is acrid-warm. It reduces, expels, and discharges pus, which is why it appears in pus-venting formulas. It moves more than it holds. A sore that has already broken, with insufficient qi and blood, gets more depleted if more is added.

Zao Jiao Ci is not a catch-all swelling or pus spine. With no toxin, or after a sore has broken in qi deficiency, using it alone can consume qi. Whether it belongs in a formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Zao Jiao Ci: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Gleditsiae Spina

Botanical Origin

The dried thorns of Gleditsia sinensis Lam.(Fabaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Hubei, Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thin, clean, without core stem, brownish-purple, brownish-red in the center of slice, and soft pith.

Macroscopic Features

Whole thorn consists of a main thorn and 1~2 accessory thorns. Main thorn is 3~15cm or more, diameter is 0.3~1cm; accessory thorn is 1~6cm long, tip is sharp. Externally purplish-brown or brown. Light in weight, hard texture, hard to break. Slice is 0.1~0.3cm thick, often with sharp and thin tip; xylem is yellowish-white, pith is loose, pale reddish-brown; brittle texture, easily broken. faint odor, tasteless.

Authentic Regions and Quality Identification

While TCM tradition values specific regions, quality is also influenced by the plant variety, harvest time, processing, and storage.

Authentic Regions: The primary growing regions include Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong provinces, known for their long history of cultivation and stable quality. It is also produced in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shaanxi.
Appearance: High-quality Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is sub-cylindrical with branches, purplish-brown or dark brown on the surface, and hard. When broken, the cross-section is yellowish-white with a pale brown pith in the center.
Sensory Profile: It has a faint odor and a bland or slightly acrid taste.
Caution: It is easily distinguished from common substitutes, like wild jujube thorns, which are usually single, unbranched needles and softer in texture.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid; WarmLiverStomach

1. Historical Records

Classical TCM texts have documented its applications for centuries:

Ben Cao Yan Yi noted its ability to treat carbuncles and swellings.
Ben Cao Gang Mu highlighted its use for swellings, breast abscesses, severe skin sores, retained placenta, and killing parasites.
Ben Cao Jing Shu explained that its efficacy stems from its spicy, dispersing, and warm, unblocking nature, which helps clear meridian blockages and drive out pathogens, making it useful for surface discomforts caused by Qi and blood stagnation. These records reflect historical clinical observations, not modern medical conclusions.

2. Evolution of Herbal Understanding

Different TCM practitioners have emphasized various aspects of this herb:

Some focused on its ability to "draw out toxins and discharge pus," considering it ideal for the middle stages of skin sores to help expel the infection.
Others highlighted its "parasite-killing" effects for skin issues like scabies.
Many noted its limitations: despite its unblocking power, its warm nature makes it unsuitable for standalone use by people with Yin deficiency or "empty fire," showing it is not a one-size-fits-all remedy.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Disperses swelling, outthrusts toxin, expels pus, kills worms. Apply to early stage of painful carbuncle or non-burst pus, externally use to scabies and tinea, leprosy.

1. Primary Focus: Discharging Toxins and Reducing Swelling

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the primary function of Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is to unblock Qi and blood, driving toxins outward to relieve red, swollen lumps on the body's surface.

Common Applications: It is highly effective for sores and carbuncles in their early or middle stages (when the skin is red, swollen, hard, and painful but pus hasn't fully formed). It also helps push out pus once it has developed.
Common Pairings: It is frequently combined with heat-clearing and blood-invigorating herbs like Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower), Dang Gui (Angelica Root), or Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root) to enhance its toxin-discharging effects.
Contraindications: Do not use this herb if a sore has already ruptured and is draining heavily, as over-clearing can damage the body's vital Qi.

2. Secondary Focus: Draining Pus and Healing Sores

Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is also used to promote the drainage of pus and encourage the healing of ulcers.

Common Applications: It is ideal for mid-stage sores where pus is trapped, or late-stage sores where drainage is sluggish and the wound struggles to close.
Common Pairings: To support the body's energy in pushing out pus, it is often paired with Qi-boosting herbs like Huang Qi (Astragalus Root) and Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica).
Contraindications: Avoid use if the sore has completely healed and no pus remains, as it may interfere with normal tissue repair.

3. Common Herb Pairing: The Synergy

A classic TCM pairing is Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) with Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale).

The Synergy: Both herbs unblock Qi and blood to discharge pus. Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is warm and dispersing, moving local Qi and blood, while Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) excels at penetrating deep meridian blockages. Together, they create a powerful effect for mid-stage sores with trapped pus.
Caution: This combination requires a professional TCM diagnosis and should never be self-prescribed, especially for those with weak Qi, blood, or Yin deficiency.

Modern Research

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

1. Main Chemical Components

Modern analysis reveals that Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) contains flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins, phenolic acids, and polysaccharides. In test-tube studies, certain flavonoids have shown mild inhibitory effects on the growth of specific bacteria. In animal models, extracts have demonstrated some regulating effects on local tissue inflammation. However, there is currently a lack of robust human clinical trials to confirm these exact therapeutic effects; research remains largely in the laboratory phase.

2. Modern Pharmacological Focus

Current scientific research focuses on isolating components and observing basic pharmacological effects, such as preliminary explorations of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, as well as its potential to regulate local blood circulation. While test-tube experiments show some inhibition of common skin pathogens by certain extracts, these results do not automatically guarantee clinical efficacy in humans. More human studies are needed to verify safety and effectiveness in practical application.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

While scientific exploration is valuable, it cannot fully validate traditional usage:

Lab vs. Human Body: Results from petri dishes and animal models do not perfectly translate to human biology, as human physiological environments and metabolic processes are far more complex.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Modern studies often use isolated single compounds or concentrated extracts. These function differently, have different dosages, and act differently than the traditional method of using the whole, unrefined herb.
Inconsistent Methodologies: Different studies use varying extraction methods and dosages, making it difficult to unify results and establish clear clinical guidelines.
The Big Picture: The effects of Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) are the result of multiple compounds working together. Judging the herb’s overall clinical value based on just one isolated chemical misses the holistic nature of the remedy.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Common Ground

Both Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) and Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) unblock Qi/blood and draw out pus for skin sores. Both also require careful dosage control and are cautioned against for people with Yin deficiency or overall weakness.

2. Core Differences

Nature: Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is warm and spicy (focusing on dispersing and warming), whereas Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) is cool and salty (focusing on deep penetration).
Focus: Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) targets surface-level blockages (early/mid-stage red, swollen lumps). Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) targets deep-seated meridian blockages and stubborn, trapped pus.
Direction of Action: Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) "floats," pushing energy upward and outward to the surface. Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) "travels," penetrating deep into the systemic meridians.
Contraindications: Avoid Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) if you have Yin deficiency (internal heat) or clear pus drainage. Avoid Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) if you are pregnant or severely weak.

3. Summary of Differences

Simply put, Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) clears surface-level blockages to push out toxins, while Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scale) penetrates deep meridians to resolve stubborn stagnation. They are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Zao Jiao Ci

Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin

仙方活命飲

Formula CategoryHeat-Clearing FormulasPrimary PatternDamp-HeatPrimary FunctionClear heat, resolve toxin, reduce swelling, invigorate blood, stop painRelated ConditionsFever·Sore Throat

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Tuo Li Xiao Du Yin

托裡消毒飲

Formula CategoryQi-Tonifying FormulasPrimary PatternQi DeficiencyPrimary FunctionTonify qi, support the interior, resolve toxinRelated ConditionsFatigue & Low Energy·Qi Deficiency Constitution

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Recipes

Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is a medicinal herb, not a standard food ingredient, so its dietary use must be strictly limited.

Recipe 1: Zao Jiao Ci Red Date Tea
- Ingredients: 3g Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine), 2 Red Dates.
- Method: Wash the herb, pit the dates, and steep in boiling water for 10 minutes.
- Use Case: Short-term relief for mild, surface-level red lumps. Max 2 times a week (1 cup per serving).
- Avoid if: You have Yin deficiency (hot flashes/dry mouth) or open sores.
Recipe 2: Zao Jiao Ci Stewed Lean Meat
- Ingredients: 5g Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine), 100g lean pork, 2 ginger slices.
- Method: Blanch the pork, place all ingredients in a stew pot with water, and simmer for 1.5 hours. Add a pinch of salt.
- Use Case: Occasional support for mid-stage sores with trapped pus. Max 2 times a month (half a bowl per serving).
- Avoid if: You are pregnant, a child, or constitutionally weak.

2. Preparation and Brewing

Raw Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) is very hard. At home, soak it separately for about 30 minutes before boiling it with other ingredients to help release its active compounds. Do not attempt to convert clinical dosages into home recipes.

3. Dosage and Cycle

Clinical Dosage: Typically 3–10g (prescribed by a doctor).
Dietary Dosage: Only 1–5g.
Duration: Keep use short-term (1–2 weeks). Stop immediately if symptoms don't improve or worsen. Vulnerable groups must consult a professional before any use.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It?

Yin Deficiency: Those experiencing dry mouth, night sweats, or hot hands/feet should avoid its warm nature.
Healing Sores: Stop use once a sore has ruptured and is draining well.
Pregnant & Nursing Women: Avoid entirely due to a lack of safety data and its strong dispersing nature.
Children & Elderly: Weaker metabolisms require professional guidance.
Liver/Kidney Issues: Only use under strict medical supervision.
Legume Allergies: May cause allergic reactions.

2. Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

While there are no strict food pairings to avoid, Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Spine) may interact with Western medications like blood thinners, blood pressure medications, and diabetes drugs. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are on prescription medications.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

Overdose: Can lead to a dry mouth, sore throat, or "internal heat" symptoms.
Allergies: May cause skin rashes or itching.
Emergency Action: If you experience severe allergic reactions, continuous vomiting, breathing difficulties, or rapid worsening of symptoms, stop use immediately and seek emergency medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Zao Jiao Ci

What is Zao Jiao Ci? Are Zao Jia and the fruit the same?

Official Zao Jiao Ci (皂角刺) is the dried spine of Gleditsia sinensis. The pharmacopoeial name is Gleditsiae Spina. It is also called soap-pod spine. Zao Jia is the fruit: acrid-warm and toxic, dispels phlegm, opens the orifices, disperses nodules and reduces swelling, and is more irritating. Write Zao Jiao Ci. Unsuitable when a sore has already ruptured, and in pregnancy.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Zao Jiao Ci?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Zao Jiao Ci is acrid and warm, enters the Liver and Stomach channels, and acts to reduce swelling, expel toxin, drain pus and kill parasites. It is used for abscess and welling-abscess at the start, or when pus has formed but does not rupture; externally for scabies and leprosy. Acrid, warm and sharp, it suits sores not yet ruptured or pus that will not discharge—not a ruptured deficient sore, and not pregnancy.

How do you choose internal use versus external use? Can Zao Jia replace it?

An abscess at the start, or pus that will not rupture, may take a short internal course. Scabies may be painted with vinegar-steamed juice. The fruit opens the orifices more harshly and is more toxic; it cannot replace expelling toxin and draining pus by equal weight. Commercial soap-pod powder is not equal-weight pieces.

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

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g. External use is an appropriate amount, vinegar-steamed and the juice applied. It is not a four-season “gleditsia pus tea.” Once ruptured, further use only consumes. Abscess needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace surgical assessment.

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

Unsuitable when a sore has already ruptured, and in pregnancy. Use caution in vacuity without an excess pathogen. Stop if abdominal pain, diarrhea or dry throat appears. High fever and a rapidly enlarging sore need medical care. Eating the fruit by mistake can cause strong irritation and needs emergency care.

Can Zao Jiao Ci reduce swelling, expel toxin, drain pus and kill parasites?

It can help an abscess at the start and pus that will not rupture. It joins astragalus, Chinese angelica and chuanxiong in a Tou Nong San type formula. It reduces swelling, expels toxin, drains pus and kills parasites—not a specific for every sore or every skin disease.

Can Zao Jiao Ci be drunk daily as a pus, swelling or parasite tea?

Pus that will not rupture may enter a short formula; a ruptured deficient sore only consumes further. “Spine must drain pus” does not replace surgical assessment. Reducing swelling, expelling toxin and draining pus should name 3–10 g, and say internal or external.

How do you choose among Zao Jiao Ci, Zao Jia, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi?

Gleditsia spine is acrid-warm: reduces swelling, expels toxin, drains pus and kills parasites—abscess at the start and pus that will not rupture. The fruit is acrid-warm and toxic: dispels phlegm, opens the orifices, disperses nodules and reduces swelling—phlegm flooding the orifices, and it is strongly irritating. Honeysuckle is sweet-cold: clears heat, resolves toxin and disperses wind-heat—heat toxin at the start of a sore. Forsythia is bitter and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, reduces swelling and disperses nodules—heat-toxin sores. Angelica dahurica is acrid-warm: releases the exterior, disperses cold, dispels wind, stops pain, opens the nose, dries dampness and stops vaginal discharge—sore swelling with dampness. Pus that will not rupture favors Zao Jiao Ci (Tou Nong San); heat toxin at the start favors Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao; damp swelling favors Bai Zhi; do not replace the fruit with the spine to open the orifices. They may be paired after pattern differentiation; pregnancy and a ruptured sore forbid large Zao Jiao Ci.

Which herbs is Zao Jiao Ci combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Pus that will not rupture joins astragalus, Chinese angelica and chuanxiong in Tou Nong San. Heat toxin at the start may join honeysuckle, forsythia and angelica dahurica after pattern differentiation. Write Zao Jiao Ci 3–10 g; do not replace expelling toxin and draining pus with the fruit by equal weight.

How do you choose and store Zao Jiao Ci?

Choose main spines and branches, purple-brown, a yellow-white woody cut face, a loose pale red-brown pith, brittle, a faint odor and a bland taste. Moldy, dirty or spineless lots are discarded. Store dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Zao Jiao Ci; do not replace reducing swelling, expelling toxin, draining pus and killing parasites with the fruit by equal weight.

Related Products

Hoi Tin Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin Extract Granules

Hoi Tin Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin (Immortal's Life-Prolonging Beverage) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $30.50

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.