Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
西加醋栗 / 锡兰醋栗 / 酸油柑 / 木醋栗 / 醋栗 / 假油柑 — Cicca acida (L.) Merr. (syn. Phyllanthus acidus, Averrhoa acida)
Pinyin: Xījiā Cùlì / Suānyóugān / Mùcùlì · Malay: Cermai / Cerme / Chermai / Cermen / Otaheite Gooseberry / Star Gooseberry / Malay Gooseberry · Family: Phyllanthaceae (叶下珠科 / 叶下珠属 / 醋栗属)
Energetics
Cool to Cold (微寒 / 酸甘微涩微寒)
Flavor
Intensely sour, sweetish, slightly astringent, refreshing (大酸、微甘、微涩、微寒、极酸生津)
Meridians
Lung (肺), Liver (肝), Stomach (胃), Spleen (脾)
Traditional Edict
Otaheite Gooseberry / Star Gooseberry (Cermai / Cerme / Suan You Gan / Xi Jia Cu Li). Clustered star-lobed pale-yellow crisp tart berries. Sovereign for Bilious Heat & Spastic Cough: sour berries engender abundant saliva to extinguish throat fire, liquefy sticky phlegm, lower blood pressure, protect liver.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Avoid eating excessive sour raw fruits on an empty stomach in active gastric hyperacidity or peptic ulcers. Exceptional clinical, dietary, maternal, and pediatric safety profile. Safe in pregnancy.
Clinical Applications
- Acute and chronic pharyngitis and dry vocal strain (immediate salivary and gastric fluid stimulation via Gallic Acid and Organic Acids >= 4.50%), acute bronchitis phlegm cough, essential hypertension, and toxic hepatitis.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Organic fruit acids and gallic acid stimulate gustatory-salivary reflexes and downregulate pharyngeal COX-2. 2. Phyllanthusols promote endothelial eNOS vasodilation, lowering systolic pressure.
Preparation & Dosage
FRESH FRUIT CHEWING PROTOCOL: Masticate 3 to 6 fresh yellow Cermai fruits with a pinch of sea salt (quenches diabetic thirst and cleanses pharyngeal heat). Bronchial cough tea: 15 to 25 g dried fruit boiled with rock sugar. Root/bark decoction: 10 to 15 g in 500 mL water.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Pharyngeal Heat & Chronic Cough Elixir (Cermai & Madu) with raw honey. 2. Bilious Liver-Heat & Hypertension Clearance Tisane with Orthosiphon stamineus (Misai Kucing).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
