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Taste is sweet, nature is warm. Non-toxic.
Bencao states: It primarily wards off evil influences, kills ghostly essences and objects (referring to pathogenic evils or parasites), treats warm malaria (a type of malaria characterized by fever), gu poison (poisoning caused by insect toxins), epilepsy, expels three types of intestinal parasites, dispels pathogenic factors, and prevents nightmares. Long-term use connects the spirit, lightens the body, and prolongs life. It grows in Zhongtai River Valleys.
Yuxi states: According to the Book of Liang, Suhe Xiang (Styrax) is produced in Central India; it is a decoction of various aromatic juices, not a single natural substance.

Nature is warm, taste is pungent and bitter. The scent is strong while the substance is light; it belongs to Yin containing Yang. It is purely Yang in nature and non-toxic.
Li Gao (Xiang) states: It cures tenesmus with miraculous effect. Its nature is heavy like iron or stone, capable of driving other herbs to the lowest extremities of the body. It should be pounded into fine powder for use.
Wang Haogu (Xin) states: Bitterness breaks stagnation, pungency disperses pathogens; it specifically breaks down stagnant Qi and directs it downward.
Zhang Yuansu (Zhen) states: It breaks Qi stagnation and drains the highest Qi in the chest.
Bencao states: It primarily aids digestion, promotes water metabolism, removes phlegm retention (phlegm-fluid retention under the ribs), expels three types of intestinal parasites, eliminates Fu Shi (latent dead blood or parasites), and treats Taenia saginata (tapeworm).

Nature is cold, taste is slightly bitter. Taste is bitter, nature is greatly cold, scent is thin; it belongs to Yin containing Yang. Non-toxic. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.
Li Gao (Xiang) states: It treats mental restlessness, ao nao (inner vexation and discomfort) leading to insomnia, extreme mental confusion, blood stasis, and difficult urination. It should be pounded into fine powder for use.
Wang Haogu (Xin) states: It clears guest-heat from the heart, removes irritability, and is used together with Dou Chi (Fermented Soybean).
Zhang Yuansu (Zhen) states: It stops thirst and removes mental restlessness and irritability.
Bencao states: It primarily treats pathogenic factors within the five zang organs, heat in the stomach, red face, rhinophyma (rosacea), white leprosy, red leprosy, and sores/ulcers. It treats hot red painful eyes, excessive heat in the chest, heart, large and small intestines, mental vexation, and stomach heat. Zhang Zhongjing uses Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit) to treat vexation because the chest is the highest region of the body. Thus, Yi Lao (Zhang Yuansu's pseudonym) says: Light and floating, it resembles the Lung; red in color, it resembles Fire; therefore, it can drain Fire from the Lungs. Bencao does not mention vomiting, but Zhang Zhongjing used it as an emetic. Zhi Zi itself is not an emetic; rather, when pathogens are in the upper jiao, the body rejects them, causing vomiting, allowing pathogens to exit. The Classic states: "For those high up, induce evacuation from above," which refers to this principle. Some use Zhi Zi to promote urination, but this is actually clearing the Lungs. When Lung Qi is clear and transforms properly, the Bladder (the reservoir of fluids) allows urine to be excreted through Qi transformation. The Classic of Materia Medica states it treats heat in the large and small intestines. Pungency combines with Geng Metal, also combines with Bing Fire, and can drain Wu Earth (Stomach), because it first enters the Middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach). It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Zhizi Chi Tang treats vexation and agitation; "fan" (vexation) relates to Qi, and "zao" (agitation) relates to Blood. Qi governs the Lung, Blood governs the Kidney. Therefore, Zhi Zi is used to treat Lung-related vexation; Xiang Chi is used to treat Kidney-related agitation. Agitation manifests as ao nao and inability to sleep. For shortness of Qi and deficiency-type fullness, add Gan Cao (Licorice Root); if there is hiccups or vomiting, add Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Ju Pi (Tangerine Peel). After purgation, if abdominal fullness and vexation occur, use Zhizi Houpo Zhishi Tang; after purgation, if slight fever and mild vexation occur, use Zhizi Gancao Ganjiang Tang. Large and long Zhi Zi are dyed and unsuitable for medicinal use. Those with thin skin, round shape, and seven to nine ridges are called Shan Zhi Zi (Mountain Gardenia), also known as Yue Tao.
Kou Zongshi (Yanyi) states: Zhang Zhongjing treated Shaoyang syndrome (Shanghan), where after sweating, vomiting, or purging, deficiency-vexation and insomnia occurred. If severe, the patient would toss and turn repeatedly with inner vexation, treated with Zhizi Chi Tang for deficiency-vexation. Da Huang (Rhubarb Root) is not used because of its cold toxicity. Although Zhi Zi is cold and non-toxic, treating stomach heat, once blood and body fluids are depleted, the zang-fu organs lose nourishment, generating internal deficiency-heat, which cannot be cleared without this herb. Additionally, for retained heat in the Heart Meridian and dark, scanty urination, remove the skin of Shan Zhi Zi (fire-roasted), equal parts of Da Huang, Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit), and Gan Cao (honey-fried), grind into powder. Decoct 3 qianbi in water; administration is invariably effective.
In Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold Damage and works of ancient and modern famous physicians, yellowing (jaundice) is treated using equal parts of Zhi Zi, Yin Chen (Artemisia Capillaris Herb), Xiang Chi, and Gan Cao, decocted as a drink. Also, for recurrence of illness due to overexertion after major diseases, formulas containing Zhi Zi and Rat Droppings are used, promoting urination for recovery. There are too many such formulas to list completely. Using the kernel clears heat from the heart and chest; using the peel clears heat from the muscle surface.