When most people see a tree covered in massive, sharp spikes, their first instinct is to stay far away. For the common American honey locust tree, that is exactly the right reaction. However, in traditional Asian medicine, a specific variety of this tree is highly prized. The Chinese honey locust, scientifically known as Gleditsia sinensis, produces thorns that are not considered trash, but rather a potent natural medicine.
In traditional Chinese herbalism, these dried thorns are known as Zao Jiao Ci (or Spina Gleditsiae). For hundreds of years, practitioners have
