Evidence supporting the use of: Gardenia jasminoides
For the health condition: Jaundice (adults)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Gardenia jasminoides (commonly known as gardenia or "zhizi" in Traditional Chinese Medicine) has been traditionally used in East Asian medicine to support liver health and treat symptoms associated with jaundice, particularly in adults. Classic Chinese medicinal texts, such as the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and subsequent materia medica, reference its use for clearing "heat" and resolving "dampness" — terms in TCM that are often associated with conditions like jaundice, where yellowing of the skin and eyes is interpreted as an accumulation of damp heat in the liver and gallbladder.

In TCM, gardenia fruit is frequently included in herbal formulas (e.g., Yin Chen Hao Tang) prescribed for jaundice. These historical practices form the main basis for its use. While preclinical studies indicate that certain constituents of Gardenia jasminoides, such as geniposide, may have hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and choleretic (bile-flow promoting) effects in animals, robust clinical evidence in humans is lacking. Limited small studies and case reports exist, but they do not provide high-quality evidence for its efficacy in treating jaundice specifically.

Overall, the use of Gardenia jasminoides for jaundice is primarily justified by traditional use rather than rigorous scientific validation, and the evidence supporting its effectiveness is modest (rated 2/5), mostly based on historical precedent rather than modern clinical trials.

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