Individual Herbs Notebook

山茱萸 / 山萸肉 Shan Zhu Yu / Shan Yu Rou

Pharmaceutical: Fructus Corni
Taxonomy: Cornus officinalis

Other names: Dogwood Fruit

Category: Herbs that Stabilize and Bind


Properties: Sour, slightly warm

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Kidney
Extraordinary Vessels: Chong, Yin Qiao

Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Stabilizes the Kidneys and astringes Jing and Body Fluids
    Leakage of fluids due to weak Jing with urinary frequency, incontinence, spermatorrhea and excessive sweating
  2. Stops excessive sweating and supports that which has collapsed
    Collapse of Qi with excessive sweating and shock
    Devastated Yang with excessive sweating and shock
    Sweating mistakenly induced as a treatment
  3. Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin and strengthens Kidney Yang
    Lightheadedness, dizziness, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees or impotence due to Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency
  4. Stabilizes the menses and stops bleeding
    Excessive uterine bleeding and prolonged menstruation due to Deficiency (weak effect)
  5. Aids fasting
    Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
  6. Removes the Three Worms
    Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes 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.

Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.

Appears in 43 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
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