Eucommia, Du Zhong 杜仲

Du Zhong (TCM)
Stabs seng སྟབས་སེང་, Spyi bzhur  སྤྱི་བཞུར་ (Tibetan)

Eucommia ulmoides tree (Photo by David Stang) (Wikimedia)

Eucommia ulmoides bark (Photo by Kenraiz) (Wikimedia)

Bundles of chopped, wild Eucommia bark for sale at the Chengdu Market.
(Adam, 2017)

Botanical name:

Eucommia ulmoides
In Tibet, E. vyazolifolia is also used.

Parts used:

Bark
The best quality is collected from Sichuan province, especially the wild product.

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Sweet, slightly Pungent
Some classical writers claimed it has a moist nature: “Duzhong is a drug that is purple in color and moistening in function“. (Li Shi Zhen)

Classifications:

3M. ARTHRITICS
D. Clear Wind and Damp
N. Tonics

Uses:

1. Tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens Joints and Bones:
-weak or painful lower back and knees; stiffness and rigidity of the back
-strengthens bones and joints; with suitable herbs for chronic joint diseases
-“Eucommia decoction treats broken bones ” (Tibetan Medicine)
-Fatigue, urinary frequency
-also to nourish Essence and enhance Willpower
-“It moistens Dryness in the Liver, tonifies the debilitated condition of the Liver Channel”. (Wang Hao Gu)
-‘long-term use makes one feel happy and vigorous and able to enjoy a long life’ (Shen Nong Ben Cao)

2. Moves Qi and Blood:
-promotes circulation, especially in the elderly with joint weakness and pain

3. Strengthen the Kidneys, Calms the Fetus:
-bleeding during pregnancy from cold and weak Kidneys
-Threatened Miscarriage; Restless Fetus, Back Pain during Pregnancy, Habitual Miscarriage

4. Settles Wind, Stops Rising Yang:
-Hypertension, Dizziness and light-headedness
-also for Sweating from deficiency
-‘disperses the invading pathogenic Wind’. (Wang Hao Gu)

Dose:

1. It is given with wine or alcohol to more strongly warm and strengthen the Kidneys. This is also better for Lower Back Pain from Cold and Weak Kidneys. It can be decocted in equal parts of water and wine for this effect.
Decoction: 9–15 grams
Powder: 2–5 grams

Preparation:

1. Stir-fried Eucommia Du Zhong:
  It is often dry-fried to break up the white threads inside the bark.
  This makes it more Warming and facilitates powdering.
2. Charred Eucommia Du Zhong:
  The broken bark is stir-fried until scorched and blackened, but not burnt and deformed. This still tonified Kidneys and Liver, but also helps stop Bleeding, thus being better for Uterine Bleeding, long Menstrual periods, or Bleeding during Pregnancy due to Kidney weakness.
3. Salt-prepared Eucommia Du Zhong:
  It is stir-fried or baked until lightly scorched after being soaked or sprayed with Salt-Water. This leads the medicine to the Kidneys. This is also preferred in the treatment of Hypertension.
4. Wine-fried Eucommia Du Zhong:
  The bark is moistened with alcohol, or briefly steeped in alcohol, then stir-fried until yellowish and dry.
  This is more warming, and better for Cold-type pain of the Lower Back and Joints.
5. Honey-prepared Eucommia Du Zhong:
  To 600 grams of Eucommia Du Zhong bark, add 1 oz. of butter and 2 oz. of Honey, then stir-fry until the butter and honey are absorbed. Then cut into small pieces. (Lei Xiao) (Ghee should be used instead of Butter)
  Preparing like this makes it warmer, sweeter, more tonifying and nourishing.

Comment:

“It is said that there was a Master, Du Zhong, who became an immortal by taking this drug. So the drug is called Duzhong from then on”. (Li Shi Zhen)

Substitute
Euonymus japonica is used as a substitute in Japan.

Main Combinations:

Bones, Joints, Arthritis:
1. Lower back pain and weakness from Kidney deficiency: 
i. dry fried Eucommia Du Zhong is soaked in wine and a small glassful is taken daily. Or take 6 grams of the powder each morning with wine.
ii. dry fried Eucommia Du Zhong is decocted in water with sliced Sheep Kidney (added at the end). (Cui Yuan Liang Hai Shang Ji Yan Fang, TCM)
ii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Schisandra Wu Wei Zi.
iii. with Wheezing, Eucommia Du Zhong with Walnut and Psoralea Bu Gu Zi.
iv. Eucommia Du Zhong with Curculigo Xian Mao
v. Eucommia Du Zhong with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
vi. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan and Achyranthes Niu Xi.
vii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan and Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng)
viii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Achyranthes Niu Xi, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi.
ix. Cook Eucommia Du Zhong with an Ox-tail, adding Goji and Dang Gui
x. Eucommia Du Zhong with Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi, Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Morinda Ba Ji Tian, Asarum Xi Xin
xi. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan, Cibotium Gou Ji, Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Notoginseng San Qi, Asarum Xi Xin (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
xii. Lower Back and Knee pain and weakness, barely able to walk, Eucommia Du Zhong with Cyathula Niu Xi, Notopterygium Qiang Huo, Cinnamon, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi (as in Ba Ji Wan, from The Great Peace Sagacious Benevolence Formulary),
2. Acute Lumbar strain, Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan
3. Chronic Wind-Cold Joint Pain: Eucommia Du Zhong with Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi, Myrrh (Mo Yao), Frankincense (Ru Xiang), Achyranthes Niu Xi, Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Licorice (as in Shu Feng Ding Tong Wan)
4. Osteoporosis:
i. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dioscorea Shan Yao, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
ii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan (this is available as a patent medicine and has been studied)
iii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Lycium Gou Qi Zi (“Goji”)
iv. Eucommia Du Zhong with Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi, Walnutr, Garlic (this is called Qing’s Pill and is available as a patent medicine. It has been studied)

Reproduction:
5. Male Tonic:
i. Eucommia Du Zhong with, Ginseng, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu and Cuscuta Tu Si Zi
ii. Spermatorrhea, Premature Ejaculation, Lower Back Pain, Eucommia Du Zhong with Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi and Velvet Deer Horn Lu Rong
6. Impotence and Urinary frequency from Kidney deficeicny, Eucommia Du Zhong with Cornus Shan Zhu Yu and Cuscuta Tu Si Zi.

Pregnancy:
7. Threatened Miscarriage:
i. Powdered Eucommia Du Zhong is mixed with pulp of Red Date (Da Zao) and formed into pills. (Sheng Jin Fang)
ii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan, Dioscorea Shan Yao (Yang Qi Jian Bian Fang)
iii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi, Viscum Sang Ji Sheng
iv. from Kidney deficiency, Eucommia Du Zhong with Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Dipsacus Xu Duan, Dang Gui, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Atractylodes Bai Zhu (as in Bu Shen Gu Chong Wan)
8. Habitual Miscarriage, Eucommia Du Zhong with Dipsacus Xu Duan and Dioscorea Shan Yao.

Wind Diseases:
9. Hypertension, Dizziness:
i. Eucommia Du Zhong with Paeonia Bai Shao and Prunella Xia Ku Cao.
ii. Eucommia Du Zhong with Paeonia Bai Shao and Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng)
iii. Eucommia Du Zhong, Curcuma Yu Jin (equal parts) (Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)

Other
10. Sweating from Deficiency, Eucommia Du Zhong with Oyster shell (Mu Li)

Major Formulas:

An Tai Yin
Ba Ji Wan
Bu Shen Gu Chong Wan
Dang Gui Di Huang Yin
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
Qing E Wan
Shu Feng Ding Tong Wan
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
You Gui Wan
You Gui Yin
Cinnabar 3 (Chog la gsum sbyor) (Tibetan)

Cautions:

1. Avoid overdose. Large doses have been associated with reversible Nephrotoxicity.
2. If used for Kidney Yin deficiency with Fire, it should be combined with Phellodendron Huang Bai and Anemarrhena Zhi Mu.

Toxicity:

–Safety evaluation of Eucommia ulmoides extract.

Main Preparations used:

GENERAL / REVIEW: –Traditional application and modern pharmacological research of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. –Preparation techniques, structural features, and bioactivities of Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides: A review. –Biological properties and potential application of extracts and compounds from different medicinal parts (bark, leaf, staminate flower, and seed) of Eucommia ulmoides: A review. –Characteristics, Isolation Methods, and Biological Properties of Aucubin. –Chemical profiling, quantitation, and bioactivities of Du-Zhong tea. –The characteristics of habitat, functional traits and medicinal components of Eucommia ulmoides from Guizhou. –[Possible pharmaceutical effect and active components in different parts of Eucommia ulmoides based on network pharmacology]. –[Research advances in chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of different parts of Eucommia ulmoides]. –Diverse Pharmacological Activities and Potential Medicinal Benefits of Geniposide. PROCESSING: –Study on the substance basis of the efficacy of eucommiae cortex before and after salt processing for the treatment of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome based on the spectrum-effect relationship. –Preparation techniques, structural features, and bioactivities of Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides: A review. COMBINATIONS: –Pharmacokinetic study about compatibility of Eucommia ulmoides and Psoralea corylifolia. –Chondroprotective Mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.-Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Couplet Medicines in Knee Osteoarthritis via Experimental Study and Network Pharmacology Analysis. –The Effect of a Combination of Eucommia ulmoides and Achyranthes japonica on Alleviation of Testosterone Deficiency in Aged Rat Models. –Application of network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate the potential mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides-Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae against osteoarthritis. –Eucommia ulmoides Oliver-Tribulus terrestris L. Drug Pair Regulates Ferroptosis by Mediating the Neurovascular-Related Ligand-Receptor Interaction Pathway- A Potential Drug Pair for Treatment Hypertension and Prevention Ischemic Stroke. –Proteomics reveals the role of Eucommia ulmoides-Tribulus terrestris in the central regulation of antihypertension by improving the hypothalamus in spontaneously hypertensive rats. –Study of the Mechanism Underlying the Antihypertensive Effects of Eucommia ulmoides and Tribulus terrestris Based on an Analysis of the Intestinal Microbiota and Metabonomics. –Exploring the potential therapeutic effect of Eucommia ulmoides-Dipsaci Radix herbal pair on osteoporosis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. ANTI-BACTERIAL: –Study on extraction and antibacterial activity of aucubin from Eucommia ulmoides seed-draff waste biomass. –Antibacterial Mode of Eucommia ulmoides Male Flower Extract Against Staphylococcus aureus and Its Application as a Natural Preservative in Cooked Beef. –Manufacture and antibacterial characteristics of Eucommia ulmoides leaves vinegar. ANTIOXIDANT: –Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous Extracts from Eucommia ulmoides and Cistanche deserticola: An In Vitro Study. –Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effect of Eucommia ulmoides Polysaccharide in Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Regulating ROS and the TLR-4-NF-kappaB Pathway. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: –Eucommia ulmoides bark extract reduces blood pressure and inflammation by regulating the gut microbiota and enriching the Parabacteroides strain in high-salt diet and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester induced mice. –Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effect of Eucommia ulmoides Polysaccharide in Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Regulating ROS and the TLR-4-NF-kappaB Pathway. IMMUNOMODULATORY: –Network Pharmacology Combined with an Experimental Validation Study to Reveal the Effect and Mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides Leaf Polysaccharide against Immunomodulation. NEUROPROTECTIVE: –Polysaccharides from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaves alleviates alcohol-induced mouse brain injury and BV-2 microglial dysfunction. –Research progress on the protective effects of aucubin in neurological diseases. –Central and Enteric Neuroprotective Effects by Eucommia ulmoides Extracts on Neurodegeneration in Rotenone-induced Parkinsonian Mouse. –Lignans from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaves exhibit neuroprotective effects via activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3beta/Nrf2 signaling pathways in H(2)O(2)-treated PC-12 cells. –Eucommia ulmoides Olive Male Flower Extracts Ameliorate Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Pathology in Zebrafish via Regulating Autophagy, Acetylcholinesterase, and the Dopamine Transporter. –Neuroprotective effects of aucubin on hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION / ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: –Eucommia ulmoides Leaves Alleviate Cognitive Dysfunction in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis Mice through Regulating JNK/TLR4 Signaling Pathway. –Effect of Ethyl Acetate Fraction from Eucommia ulmoides Leaves on PM(2.5)-Induced Inflammation and Cognitive Dysfunction. –Pinoresinol diglucoside attenuates neuroinflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress in a mice model with Alzheimer’s disease. –Eucommia ulmoides Olive Male Flower Extracts Ameliorate Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Pathology in Zebrafish via Regulating Autophagy, Acetylcholinesterase, and the Dopamine Transporter. PARKINSON’S DISEASE: –Central and Enteric Neuroprotective Effects by Eucommia ulmoides Extracts on Neurodegeneration in Rotenone-induced Parkinsonian Mouse. –Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. In a Parkinson’s mouse model through the regulation of p38/JNK-Fosl2 gene expression. –Anti-Parkinson’s disease activity of phenolic acids from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf extracts and their autophagy activation mechanism. DEPRESSION: –Aucubin improves chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive behavior in mice via the GR/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis. HYPERTENSION: –The Differences of Mechanisms in Antihypertensive and Anti-Obesity Effects of Eucommia Leaf Extract between Rodents and Humans. –Quanduzhong capsules for the treatment of grade 1 hypertension patients with low-to-moderate risk: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. –Traditional Chinese medicine method of tonifying kidney for hypertension: Clinical evidence and molecular mechanisms. –Eucommia ulmoides bark extract reduces blood pressure and inflammation by regulating the gut microbiota and enriching the Parabacteroides strain in high-salt diet and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester induced mice. –Eucommia ulmoides Oliver-Tribulus terrestris L. Drug Pair Regulates Ferroptosis by Mediating the Neurovascular-Related Ligand-Receptor Interaction Pathway- A Potential Drug Pair for Treatment Hypertension and Prevention Ischemic Stroke. –Proteomics reveals the role of Eucommia ulmoides-Tribulus terrestris in the central regulation of antihypertension by improving the hypothalamus in spontaneously hypertensive rats. –Study of the Mechanism Underlying the Antihypertensive Effects of Eucommia ulmoides and Tribulus terrestris Based on an Analysis of the Intestinal Microbiota and Metabonomics. –Antihypertensive Activity of Eucommia Ulmoides Oliv: Male Flower Extract in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

STROKE: –Investigating the Pharmacological Mechanisms of Total Flavonoids from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver Leaves for Ischemic Stroke Protection. –Eucommia ulmoides Oliver-Tribulus terrestris L. Drug Pair Regulates Ferroptosis by Mediating the Neurovascular-Related Ligand-Receptor Interaction Pathway- A Potential Drug Pair for Treatment Hypertension and Prevention Ischemic Stroke. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD): –Aucubin Alleviates Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Activating Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway. GASTROPROTECTIVE: –Protective effect of active components of Eucommia ulmoides leaves on gastric ulcers in rats: Involvement of the PI3K/Akt/NF-kappaB pathway. HEPATOPROTECTIVE: –Flavonoids from Eucommia ulmoides and their in vitro hepatoprotective activities. LIVER FIBROSIS: –Aucubin ameliorates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cells activation in diabetic mice via inhibiting ER stress-mediated IRE1α/TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome through NOX4/ROS pathway. OBESITY: –The Differences of Mechanisms in Antihypertensive and Anti-Obesity Effects of Eucommia Leaf Extract between Rodents and Humans. RENOPROTECTIVE:: –Neuroprotective effects of aucubin on hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. –Systematic investigation of the pharmacological mechanism for renal protection by the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS combined with network pharmacology analysis. DIABETES: –Traditionally Used Plants in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: Screening for Uptake Inhibition of Glucose and Fructose in the Caco2-Cell Model. DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY: –Eucommia lignans alleviate the progression of diabetic nephropathy through mediating the AR/Nrf2/HO-1/AMPK axis in vivo and in vitro. PROMOTES TESTOSTERONE: –Testosterone promotion effect of Eucommia ulmoides staminate flower via the steroidogenic pathway and potential hormonal mechanism. –The Effect of a Combination of Eucommia ulmoides and Achyranthes japonica on Alleviation of Testosterone Deficiency in Aged Rat Models. SPERMATOGENIC DYSFUNCTION: –Geniposide attenuates spermatogenic dysfunction via inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress in male mice. ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: –Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Leaf Extract Improves Erectile Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats by Protecting Endothelial Function and Ameliorating Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Function. POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS) –Effects of total flavonoids from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaves on polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance model rats induced by letrozole combined with a high-fat diet. EFFECT ON REPRODUCTION (OF SOWS): –Network pharmacology analysis of the regulatory effects and mechanisms of ALAE on sow reproduction in vivo and in vitro. ARTHRITIS: –Geniposidic acid alleviates osteoarthritis progression through inhibiting inflammation and chondrocytes ferroptosis. –Iridoid from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Exerts Antiarthritis Effects by Inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro. –Chondroprotective Mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.-Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Couplet Medicines in Knee Osteoarthritis via Experimental Study and Network Pharmacology Analysis. –Phytochemical constituents, chemotaxonomic significance and anti-arthritic effect of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver staminate flowers. –Eucommia ulmoides Polysaccharides Attenuate Rabbit Osteoarthritis by Regulating the Function of Macrophages. –Application of network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate the potential mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides-Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae against osteoarthritis. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: –Pharmacokinetics, anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity, and active ingredient contents of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. –Network pharmacology-based pharmacological mechanism prediction on Eucommia ulmoides against rheumatoid arthritis. –Inhibition of Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Bark, Leaf, and Male Flower Extracts of Eucommia ulmoides. ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: –Eucommia ulmoides Oliver’s Multitarget Mechanism for Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Study Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. DISC DEGENERATION: –Pharmacological network analysis of the functions and mechanism of kaempferol from Du Zhong in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). REGULATES BONE METABOLISM (THROUGH INTESTINAL FLORA): –Beneficial effect and mechanism of natural resourced polysaccharides on regulating bone metabolism through intestinal flora: A review. OSTEOPOROSIS: –Serum metabolomics analyses reveal biomarkers of osteoporosis and the mechanism of Quanduzhong capsules. –Aucubin produces anti-osteoporotic effects under mechanical stretch stress and orthodontic tooth movement. –Pinoresinol diglucoside mitigates dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis and chondrodysplasia in zebrafish. –Structural characterization and anti-osteoporosis effects of polysaccharide purified from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver cortex based on its modulation on bone metabolism. –Qing`e Pill Inhibits Osteoblast Ferroptosis via ATM Serine/Threonine Kinase (ATM) and the PI3K/AKT Pathway in Primary Osteoporosis. –Network pharmacology explores the mechanisms of Eucommia ulmoides cortex against postmenopausal osteoporosis. –Network pharmacology of iridoid glycosides from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver against osteoporosis. –Exploring the potential therapeutic effect of Eucommia ulmoides-Dipsaci Radix herbal pair on osteoporosis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. –Efficacy and safety of Cortex Eucommiae (Eucommia ulmoides Oliver) extract in subjects with mild osteoarthritis: Study protocol for a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.