Pinyin: Wu Zhu Yu  Chinese: 吴茱萸
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Evodiae
Taxonomy: Evodia rutaecarpa
English: Evodia Fruit

Tastes: Pungent, bitter, hot, mildly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen, Stomach and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, promotes the movement of Qi (relieves Stagnation in the Liver channel) and alleviates pain
   Stomach or Liver Channel Cold or Phlegm, with headache, epigastric pain with nausea, drooling, reduced taste, a pale tongue with a wiry or weak pulse
   Cold bulging disorders in the area traversed by the Liver channel and dysmenorrhea
   Disharmony between the Liver and Stomach
2. Spreads the Liver, descends rebellious Qi and stops vomiting
   Acid regurgitation and vomiting - can be used for either Hot or Cold disorders depending on the other herbs with which it is combined
3. Warms the Spleen, stops diarrhoea and expels Damp-Cold
   Diarrhoea from Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
   Damp-Cold Leg Qi
4. Leads Fire downward
   Mouth and tongue sores (grind into a powder, mix with vinegar and place on the soles of the feet)
5. Kills the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it kills the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Standard Dosage: 1.5-4.5g in decoction.
Cautions: It is not suitable to be taken in large dosage for a long time, and contraindicated for yin deficiency with internal heat.

Pinyin: Cu  Chinese: 醋
Pharmaceutical: Acetum
English: Vinegar / 苦酒 Ku Jiu (Bitter Wine) / 淳酢 Chun Cu (Pure Vinegar) / 醯 Xi (Acyl)

Tastes: Sweet, sour, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and stops pain
   Abdominal pain, due to Blood Stasis or Qi Stagnation (especially with Mu Xiang)
   Assists other herbs to break up masses and tumors in the abdomen (e.g. Da Huang, and also reduces its purgative effects)
   Applied externally with powdered Da Huang and mixed into a paste for early stage boils, first-degree and second-degree burns, or on its own for bruises and contusions due to external trauma
   As a mouthwash to relieve the pain of toothache.
2. Courses the Liver, regulates Qi, and moves Stagnation
   Enhances the Qi-regulating and pain-reducing properties of other herbs (e.g. Xiang Fu, Qing Pi or Xiao Hui Xiang)
   With cooling herbs can treat headaches due to Liver Fire or ascending Liver Yang
3. Relieves Toxicity
   Sore throat (egg white cooked in vinegar)
   As an external wash to prevent insect bites, or as a treatment after an insect bite has occurred
   Clear epidemic toxins from the air and prevent colds and flu
   Used in cooking to remove any toxicity that might be present in meat and fish and to prevent food stagnation
   Diluted in water to relieve the symptoms of hangovers.
4. Expels roundworms
   Especially if lodged in the Gall Bladder

Standard Dosage: 10-30ml in decoction. Usually combined with other herbs by washing them to bring out their Qi and Blood moving aspects, or added to a decoction to enhance these aspects in the entire formula.
Cautions: Overuse can damage the spleen and stomach.