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The dried thorn of Gleditsia sinensis (Fabaceae) — the spine of the same plant whose fruit is Zao Jia (Chinese honeylocust fruit). Enters the Liver and Stomach channels. Acrid and warm; disperses swelling, expels pus, pierces fixed masses, and searches out wind to kill parasites, preferred over the parent fruit when the clinical focus is on abscess breakthrough and sore-toxin dispersal.
Reference range for non-pregnant adults. Not a personalized prescription. Pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric use require specialist supervision.
Protective guidance only — when to avoid or use with caution. This block deliberately omits pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric dosing: any such use must be managed by a qualified TCM practitioner or appropriate specialist.
孕妇禁用。痈疽已溃者不宜。
（时珍曰）皂荚刺治痈肿无头者，能引之出头；疮肿已溃者不用。
木部
@misc{bencaodian-zao-jiao-ci,
author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
title = {Zào Jiǎo Cì 皂角刺 (Gleditsia Spine) — Gleditsiae Spina},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/herbs/zao-jiao-ci},
urldate = {2026-04-17},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}© Bencaodian Editorial · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
皂角刺含三萜皂苷、黄酮和鞣质，具抗菌、抗炎、消痈排脓和抗肿瘤作用，为痈肿疮毒常用药。
Zao Jiao Ci contains triterpene saponins, flavonoids, and tannins with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pus-draining, and antineoplastic effects; used for abscess and toxin-sores.
皂角刺辛温，消肿托毒，排脓杀虫。
Acrid-warm; reduces swelling, expels toxin, drains pus, and kills parasites.
This section is provided for academic reference only and does not constitute medical advice.