Ligustrum, Glossy Privet Fruit, Nu Zhen Zi 女贞子

Glossy Privet
Nu Zhen Zi (TCM)
Picture Ligustrum lucidum
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine
, vol. 52 (1825)

Picture Ligustrum lucidum fruit
(Photo by SABENCIA Guillermo César Ruiz) (Wikimedia)

Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Ligustrum lucidum; L. thibeticum is also used.

Parts used:


Fruit

Temperature & Taste:


Cool. Bitter, Sweet

Classification:


N. Yin Tonic

Uses:


1. Nourish and Strengthen the Liver and Kidney:
-Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus
-Lower Back pain and weakness
-premature Greying of hair
-‘Long-term use makes one put on weight, feel happy and vigourous, and remain young-looking’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)

2. Benefits the Eyes:
-Floaters, Poor eyesight, Failing Vision, especially in the elderly due to Liver and Kidney weakness
-the juice has been applied directly to the eyes fro Wind-Heat conjunctivitis (Ji Ji Xian Fang [Immortal’s Prescriptions for Emergency])
-‘turns graying hair black and brightens the eye’ (Li Shi Zhen)

3. Clears Deficient Heat:
-Heat from Yin deficiency
-Tuberculosis; Scrofula


Dose:


Powder: 1–4 grams

Preparation:


… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Sore and Weakness of the Lower Back, Dizziness:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
2. Deficient Heat, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
3. To strengthen the Eyesight and improve Vision, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
4. Sore, red eyes:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
5. Premature greying of Hair:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
6. Nourish the Blood and Yin:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
7. Scrofula, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version

Cautions:


Not for Diarrhea from Cold and Weakness of the Stomach

Main Preparations used: