Herb Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

Ya dan zi

Java Brucea Fruit · 鸦胆子

Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. · Bruceae Fructus

Also known as: Lao Ya Dan (老鸦胆), Ku Shen Zi (苦参子), Ya Dan Zi (鸦蛋子),

Ya Dan Zi (Java Brucea Fruit) is a bitter, cold herb used in traditional Chinese medicine primarily for severe dysentery with blood and mucus, and for malaria. It is also applied externally to remove warts and corns. Due to its toxicity, it must be used with caution and under professional guidance.

Category Heat-clearing herbs that resolve Toxicity (清热解毒药)
Therapeutic focus Digestive health Parasitic infections Skin health Malaria

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels entered

Large Intestine, Liver

Parts used

Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Ya dan zi does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Ya dan zi is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Digestive health Parasitic infections Skin health Malaria

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Ya dan zi performs to restore balance in the body:

Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity Dries Dampness Stops Dysentery Stops Malaria Kills Parasites Externally Corrodes Warts

How these actions work

Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity means this herb eliminates pathological heat and toxic substances from the body, particularly from the Large Intestine and Liver channels. This is why it is used for heat-type dysentery with blood and pus, and for toxic skin lesions. Dries Dampness refers to its ability to absorb and eliminate excess dampness, which contributes to diarrhea, dysentery, and skin conditions. Stops Dysentery is its specific effect on dysenteric disorders, whether acute heat-toxin type or chronic dysentery with damp-heat. Stops Malaria indicates its effectiveness in treating malaria parasites and the alternating fever and chills. Kills Parasites refers to its action against intestinal parasites and external parasites. Externally Corrodes Warts means it can be applied topically to burn off warts, corns, and other skin growths due to its corrosive property.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Ya dan zi is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Ya dan zi addresses this pattern

Ya Dan Zi's bitter, cold nature enters the Large Intestine channel, directly clearing damp-heat that has accumulated there. Its ability to dry dampness and resolve toxicity makes it a specific remedy for damp-heat dysentery, where it stops diarrhea, eliminates pus and blood, and relieves tenesmus. This herb is particularly indicated when damp-heat is severe, leading to toxic damage to the intestinal lining.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Dysentery

Diarrhea with mucus and blood

Tenesmus

Urgent, painful, incomplete bowel movements

Abdominal Pain

Cramping abdominal pain

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Ya dan zi is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, amoebic dysentery is seen as an invasion of damp-heat and toxic pathogens into the Large Intestine. This disrupts the intestine's function, causing diarrhea with blood and mucus, tenesmus, and abdominal pain. The presence of blood indicates that heat is damaging the blood vessels, while mucus reflects dampness.

Why Ya dan zi Helps

Ya Dan Zi's bitter, cold nature directly clears damp-heat from the Large Intestine. Its specific anti-parasitic action targets the amoeba, while its toxin-resolving property helps heal the damaged intestinal lining. The herb's ability to dry dampness reduces mucus and stops diarrhea.

Also commonly used for

Bacillary Dysentery

Resolves damp-heat and stops bacterial dysentery

Corns

External application softens and removes corns

Hemorrhoids

Taken internally or applied externally for hemorrhoid swelling and pain

Cancer

Modern oil emulsion used as adjunctive therapy for certain cancers

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels Entered

Large Intestine Liver

Parts Used

Fruit (果 guǒ / 果实 guǒ shí)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Ya dan zi — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

0.5–2 g per day (kernel only, de-shelled), wrapped in Longan fruit pulp or packed in capsules. Not given as a decoction.

Maximum dosage

Do not exceed 2 g per dose. Toxic effects begin around 12 seeds (approximately 0.6–1.2 g of kernel) in adults; severe poisoning can occur at 3–4 g. All doses above 2 g require practitioner supervision.

Dosage notes

Because of severe gastrointestinal irritation, the kernel must never be chewed or swallowed directly. It should be wrapped in sweet, warm Longan fruit pulp (龙眼肉) or placed in capsules to protect the stomach. For external use, mash the kernel into a paste and apply only to the lesion, with surrounding healthy skin protected by adhesive tape or petroleum jelly. The dosage for malaria is often 10–15 seeds (about 1–1.5 g) divided into three daily doses, wrapped in Longan pulp, for 5 days. For dysentery, a similar dose is used. Old, cold dysentery may require combined oral and retention enema.

Preparation

For internal use: remove the hard outer shell, take only the kernel. Then either wrap the whole kernel in Longan fruit pulp and swallow without chewing, or make into a frost (制霜) by lightly roasting and repeatedly pressing to remove most of the oil, then take the dry powder in capsules. The frost method reduces irritation. The herb is not traditionally decocted because heat degrades some active quassinoids and does not eliminate toxicity. For external use: mash the fresh kernel into a paste and apply directly, protecting normal skin.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same herb can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Ya dan zi does

Processing method

Remove the outer shell, leaving the intact kernel. No further processing.

How it changes properties

The raw kernel retains full bitterness, coldness, and toxicity. It has stronger action in clearing heat, relieving toxicity, stopping dysentery, and interrupting malaria, but is more irritant to the gastrointestinal tract.

When to use this form

Used for acute patterns when a rapid, strong effect is needed, especially for malaria and hot dysentery. Always wrapped in Longan pulp or capsules.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Ya dan zi for enhanced therapeutic effect

Huang Lian
Huang Lian Ya Dan Zi 0.5–1g (wrapped in Long Yan Rou), Huang Lian 3–6g

Ya Dan Zi clears heat-toxin, dries dampness, and stops dysentery with its specific anti-parasitic action, while Huang Lian drains fire, dries dampness, and stops dysentery. Together they powerfully clear damp-heat from the Large Intestine and stop bloody dysentery.

When to use: Acute dysentery with fever, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and bloody stools due to damp-heat in the Large Intestine.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Bai Tou Weng
Ya dan zi vs Bai Tou Weng

Both clear heat and stop dysentery, but Bai Tou Weng is specifically for heat-toxin dysentery with blood and is safer for internal use. Ya Dan Zi also stops malaria and kills parasites, and is used externally for warts, but is more toxic and requires careful dosing.

Huang Lian
Ya dan zi vs Huang Lian

Both clear damp-heat and stop dysentery, but Huang Lian is a broad-spectrum heat-and-dampness clearer used in many patterns. Ya Dan Zi has stronger anti-parasitic and anti-malarial actions and is used externally, but is more toxic and less commonly used for simple damp-heat without parasites.

Chang Shan
Ya dan zi vs Chang Shan

Both stop malaria, but Ya Dan Zi also treats dysentery and is used externally for warts. Chang Shan is primarily for malaria and often causes vomiting, while Ya Dan Zi can cause gastrointestinal irritation if not properly prepared.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Ya dan zi

Slightly toxic

Toxicity is due to water-soluble quassinoid glycosides (especially bruceoside, 鸦胆子苷) concentrated in the shell and seed. These are classified as protoplasmic poisons that inhibit the central nervous system, damage liver and kidney parenchyma, and cause vasodilation of visceral arteries leading to hemorrhage. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, GI bleeding, dizziness, weakness, decreased urine output, fever, conjunctival congestion, limb numbness, coma, and respiratory depression. As few as 12 whole fruits can cause serious poisoning in adults. Proper processing (de-shelling, defatting by frosting) and wrapping the kernel in Longan fruit pulp significantly reduce irritation and toxicity. Do not exceed the recommended dose.

Contraindications

Situations where Ya dan zi should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Pregnancy — may stimulate uterine activity or affect fetal development; use only under strict practitioner supervision.

Avoid

Spleen and Stomach deficiency with weakness (e.g., chronic loose stools, poor appetite, no signs of heat) — the bitter cold nature will further injure the middle burner.

Avoid

Active gastrointestinal bleeding — may increase bleeding tendency due to visceral artery dilation.

Avoid

Liver or kidney disease (including insufficiency) — hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic with prolonged or high-dose use.

Caution

Children and infants — safety not established; use with extreme caution, and avoid in children under 6.

Avoid

Topical use near eyes, mucous membranes, or large open wounds — highly irritant and corrosive to normal tissue.

Caution

Long-term or high-dose internal use — leads to cumulative toxicity, especially nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Use with caution — listed as 慎用药 in both the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and standard Materia Medica textbooks. May stimulate uterine contraction due to its bitter cold, Blood-cooling, and toxin-resolving nature, which is disruptive to the static, nourishing environment needed for fetal development. No human teratogenicity data exist, but animal toxicity studies suggest fetal risk. Avoid use during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary and under strict practitioner supervision.

Breastfeeding

No specific data available. Given its known toxicity, potential for gastrointestinal irritation, and effects on liver and kidney, breastfeeding women should avoid using Ya Dan Zi.

Children

Not recommended for children. Chinese medical guidelines list Ya Dan Zi as 慎用 for children. No established pediatric dosage; the narrow therapeutic index and high toxicity risk make it unsuitable for this population.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Ya dan zi

No confirmed pharmacokinetic interactions are documented. However, Ya Dan Zi is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic; concomitant use with other hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., paracetamol, NSAIDs, some antibiotics) may increase the risk of organ damage. Its quassinoids may inhibit CYP450 enzymes, potentially altering the metabolism of some pharmaceuticals. Ya Dan Zi oil emulsion has been shown to enhance the cytotoxic effect of certain chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., gemcitabine, paclitaxel) and reverse multi-drug resistance; thus, dosage adjustment of chemotherapy may be required when used together. It may also potentiate anticoagulants due to its effects on blood vessels. Avoid concurrent use with alcohol or other substances that burden the liver.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Ya dan zi

Avoid cold, raw, or greasy foods while using Ya Dan Zi, as these burden the Spleen and Stomach, which are already challenged by the herb's bitter cold properties. For dysentery patients, a light, bland diet is recommended. Avoid alcohol and spicy foods, which may exacerbate gastrointestinal irritation.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Ya dan zi source plant

Ya Dan Zi is the dried ripe fruit of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., a shrub or small tree from the Simaroubaceae family. It grows 1.5–3 m (occasionally up to 8 m), with yellowish pubescent young branches, leaves, and inflorescences. The leaves are odd-pinnately compound, 20–40 cm long, with 5–11 leaflets; leaflets are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4–11 cm long, apex acuminate, base asymmetrical, margin coarsely serrate, both surfaces soft-hairy. Flowers are small, purple to red-yellow, in axillary paniculate cymes up to 50 cm long. The fruit is an ovoid drupe, about 8 mm long, turning from purple-red to black when ripe, with a hard bony shell covered in raised reticulate wrinkles. The single seed is ovoid, rich in oil, and extremely bitter. It grows in subtropical warm, humid areas, often on hillsides, scrubland, and sunny roadsides, tolerating poor, dry soil.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Ya dan zi is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Autumn (September to October), when the fruit is fully mature and turns black.

Primary growing regions

Guangdong and Guangxi provinces are considered the traditional daodi (道地) regions. Also produced in Yunnan, Hainan, Fujian, and Taiwan.

Quality indicators

Good quality fruit is large, plump, and intact, with a black or dark brown surface and distinct raised reticulate wrinkles. The shell is hard and brittle. When broken open, the kernel should be plump, white or yellowish-white, oily in texture, and exude a fatty sheen when pressed. The taste is extremely bitter, and the odour is slight. Reject fruits that are shrunken, greyish (immature), insect-damaged, or have a rancid smell (oxidised oil).

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Ya dan zi and its therapeutic uses

《本草纲目拾遗》 (Běn Cǎo Gāng Mù Shí Yí), 18th century:
“治痢，痔。” — “Treats dysentery and hemorrhoids.”

《岭南采药录》 (Lǐng Nán Cǎi Yào Lù), early 20th century:
“治冷痢，久泻。又能杀虫。” — “Treats cold dysentery and chronic diarrhea. Also kills parasites.”

《医学衷中参西录》 (Yī Xué Zhōng Zhōng Shēn Xī Lù), early 20th century:
“鸦胆子，性凉，味极苦，为凉血解毒之要药……治热性赤痢，二便因热下血。” — “Ya Dan Zi, cool in nature and extremely bitter, is an essential medicine for cooling Blood and resolving toxins… treats dysentery with red (bloody) stools and bloody stools from heat.”

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Ya dan zi's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Ya Dan Zi first appeared in the materia medica of the Qing Dynasty, in Shēng Cǎo Yào Xìng Bèi Yào (生草药性备要), about 300 years ago. Its name, meaning “crow gall,” likely derives from the black, wrinkled fruit that resembles a gall. Early records describe its potent anti-dysenteric and anti-malarial actions, often used for conditions that did not respond to conventional treatment. The Běn Cǎo Gāng Mù Shí Yí collected several classical formulas, such as Yā Dǎn Wán for dysentery. In the 1970s, Chinese researchers developed the Ya Dan Zi oil emulsion injection, which became widely used in oncology as an adjunctive therapy for lung, gastric, liver, and prostate cancers, giving new life to an old medicine.

Modern Research

3 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Ya dan zi

1

Anti-tumor Mechanisms of Bruceine D: A Review (Systematic review, 2023)

Zhao Y, Long F, Liu XY, et al. Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae, 2023, Vol. 29(12): 274–282.

Review of multiple studies showing that bruceine D, a quassinoid from Ya Dan Zi, inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, blocks metastasis, disrupts glucose metabolism, and enhances chemotherapy sensitivity in lung, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. Clinical use of the oil emulsion injection shows significant benefits in efficacy and safety.

DOI
2

Clinical application of Brucea javanica oil emulsion in tumor treatment: A review (Clinical review, 2013)

Tang XL, Tang M. World Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2013, Vol. 8(4): 430–432.

Review of multiple clinical studies involving Ya Dan Zi oil emulsion injection combined with chemotherapy for various cancers (lung, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, etc.). Overall, the emulsion improved clinical benefit rates, reduced chemotherapy side effects, and enhanced quality of life. For example, chemotherapy + IL-2 + oil emulsion for advanced lung cancer achieved a 78.5% benefit rate and prolonged progression-free survival.

3

The research progress of quassinoids components in Brucea javanica and their pharmacological activities (Systematic review, 2016)

Fu LX, Huang CG, Lin MB, et al. Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin, 2016, 32(11): 1481–1485.

Comprehensive review of quassinoids (bruceine A–H, brusatol, bruceantin) from Ya Dan Zi. Demonstrates anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and hypoglycemic activities. Brusatol showed sub-micromolar IC50 against pancreatic cancer cell lines; bruceantin underwent Phase I/II clinical trials but was discontinued due to toxicity.

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.