Chinese Lantern (Physalis calyx/fruit) jǐn dēng lóng · 锦灯笼

Safety. A member of the nightshade family: unripe fruit and other green parts of Physalis species contain solanine-type glycoalkaloids, and the ripe fruit is the part eaten as food. Do not eat unripe berries or brew the leaves. Traditional texts contraindicate it in pregnancy — treat that seriously, since the plant is pharmacologically active and there are no human safety data. Breastfeeding and childhood use should also be avoided. Bitter and cold, so people with weak digestion or loose stools may not tolerate it. Clinical evidence for the traditional indications is limited and this page makes no benefit claim; painful or difficult urination, in particular, is a symptom that needs a proper diagnosis rather than a diuretic herb.