1. Nourish and Strengthen the Liver and Kidney: -Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus -Lower Back pain and weakness -premature Greying of hair -Osteoporosis -aid in Infertility -‘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:
Decoction: 9–18 grams Powder: 1–4 grams
Preparation:
1. Wine-processed Ligustrum fruit: Stew or steam with wine until the wine is entirely absorbed (using 10% by weight of wine to dried fruit). This is more warming, better to enter the blood, and can more strongly relieve cold-type lower back pain.
Main Combinations:
Commonly combined with Eclipta Han Lian Cao This pair in equal parts forms Er Zhi Wan, used to nourish Yin with symptoms such as lower back pain and weakness, dizziness, blurred vision and insomnia. It has also been used for Osteoporosis and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
1. Sore and Weakness of the Lower Back, Dizziness: i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi) and Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eucommia Du Zhong, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang 2. Deficient Heat, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Paeonia Mu Dan Pi 3. To strengthen the Eyesight and improve Vision, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Lycium Gou Qi Zi (‘Goji’ fruit) 4. Sore, red eyes: i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Cassia Jue Ming Zi ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua 5. Premature greying of Hair: i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Black Sesame seed ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Mo Han Lian). Traditionally, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi is soaked in wine and the juice of Eclipta is gently boiled to a paste. The 2 are mixed to form pills the size of parasol seeds, the dose being 100 pills. After 10 days it makes one very strong, stops night urination and helps turns grey hair black. (Nu Zhen Dan Fang) 6. Nourish the Blood and Yin: i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Mo Han Lian), Paeonia Bai Shao Used for Dizziness, Vertigo, premature greying of Hair. ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Mo Han Lian), Morus Sang Shen Zi (Mulberry fruit-spike) as a medicated wine for Neurasthenia 7. Osteoporosis: Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Epimedium Yin Yang Huo, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu 8. Acute Gouty Arthritis: Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Polygonum cuspidatum Hu Zhang (see research below) 9. Prostatitis /Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Phellodendron Huang Bai ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Er Zhi Wan; see research below) 10. Scrofula, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Lycium Di Gu Pi, Artemisia Qing Hao, Prunella Xia Ku Cao (Self Heal)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 52 (1825)
Ligustrum lucidum fruit