Cornus, Shan Zhu Yu 山茱萸
Asciatica Cornelian CherryShan Zhu Yu (TCM)
Cornus officinalisAddisonia, 1918
Cornus officinalis(Photo by Alpsdake) (Wikimedia)
Cornus Shan Zhu Yu fruit(Adam, 2017)
Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSIONBotanical name:
Cornus officinalis
Parts used:
Fruit
Temperature & Taste:
Slightly Warm, dry. Sour
Classifications:
2O. ASTRINGENTS
TCM:
R. Astringents
Uses:
1. Stabilises the Kidneys, Astringes the Essence:
-Frequent Urination, Incontinence
-Spermatorrhea, Premature Ejaculation, Leukorrhea
-Lower Back pain from Kidney weakness
-excess Sweating from Kidney or Yin deficiency
-‘arthralgia due to invading pathogenic Cold and Humidity’ (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
2. Astringes to Stop Sweating:
-excess Sweating from Qi or Yang deficiency
3. Tonifies Liver and Kidneys:
-secures Liver Yin to stop formation of Internal (Liver) Wind
-light-headedness, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus
-weakness of the Lower Back and Knees
-Impotence
-tonifies Yang, supports the Yin and astringes the Essence.
-‘reinforces Kidney qi, enhancing male sexuality, hardens the ejaculation and fills in the marrow and essence’. (Zhen Quan)
-‘Long-term use brightens the eye, reinforces physical strength and enables one to enjoy a long life.’ (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
4. Stabilises Menstruation, Stops Bleeding:
-prolonged or excessive Menstruation from deficiency
Dose:
Decoction: 6–12 grams
Powder: 1 ½–4 grams
Substitutes:
Prunus pseudocerasus and Barberry spp. fruit were apparently classical sources of Shan Zhu Yu (see here)
Main Combinations:
Three Kidney Medicines
Cornus Shan Zhu Yu is often combined with Dioscorea Shan Yao and Rehmannia Shu Di Huang. This trio forms the basis of the most important formulas used to strengthen the Kidneys. Alone, they nourish Kidney Yin and are usually corrected with the addition of Poria Fu Ling, Alisma Ze Xie and Paeonia Mu Dan Pi (as in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, ‘Rehmannia ‘). When combined with Cinnamon (Rou Gui) and Aconitum Fu Zi, it is called Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill) and is used for Yang deficiency.
1. Kidney Yin and Yang deficiency, with Spermatorrhea, Palpitations, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu … available in PRO version
2. Impotence, Urinary frequency, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
3. Excessive sweating from Qi or Yang deficiency Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
4. Spontaneous Sweating, Night Sweats, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
5. Nightsweats from Yin deficiency:
i. Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
ii. Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
6. Hypertension from Liver and Kidney deficiency, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
7. Heavy or prolonged Menstruation from Heat and deficiency, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
8. Profuse pale, thin menstrual bleeding, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
9. Spermatorrhea, weakness and pain of the Lower Back, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu with … available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Shen Qi Wan, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
You Gui Wan
You Gui Yin
Zuo Gui Yin
Cautions:
1. Not used in Damp-heat urinary conditions
2. Cornus Shan Zhu Yu is considered incompatible with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong and Asarum Xi Xin.