Morus Fructus, Mulberry, Sang Shen 桑椹

Sang Shen (TCM)
Dar shing དར་ཤིང་ (Tibet)

Botanische wandplaten (Plantillustrations)

M. alba
Weinmann, J.W., Phytanthoza iconographia (1737-1745)

Dried Mulberry used in TCM

Botanical name:

Morus alba (fruit of M. rubra is used similarly)
Li Shi Zhen noted there was 2 main varieties: White and Black.
The black variety is used in the West.

Parts used:

Fruit

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, moist. Sweet

Classifications:

N. Blood Tonic

Uses:

1. Tonifies Yin, Nourishes Blood:
-premature greying of the hair, Dizziness, Tinnitus, blurred vision
-Insomnia
-Wasting and Thirsting Disorder (Diabetes-like disorders)
-“It tonifies the Five Viscera” (Chen Cangqi)
-“pacifies the soul and mind, and increases wisdom” (Chen Cangqi)

2. Moistens the Intestines:
-constipation in the old or weak from dryness or blood deficiency

Dose:

Dried Fruit in Decoction: 9–15 grams, up to 30 grams
Older texts recommended drying the fruit in the sun, powdering, mixing with honey and forming pills to be taken daily. This was regarded as promoting longevity.

Main Combinations:

1. Premature aging with blurred vision, greying of hair, dizziness, lower back and knee pain, Mulberry fruit with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi
2. Premature greying, Mulberry fruit, Polygonum He Shou Wu, Eclipta Han Lian Cao, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi
3. Dizziness, Blurred Vision, numbness of the extremities:
i. Mulberry fruit with Polygonum He Shou Wu, Mistletoe Sang Ji Sheng, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi, Achyranthes Niu Xi
ii. Mulberry fruit with Polygonum He Shou Wu, Siegesbeclcia Xi Xian Cao, Eucommia Du Zhong
4. Dizziness, Blurred Vision, Insomnia, Mulberry fruit, Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Dendrobium Shi Hu
5. Constipation from dryness, Mulberry, Sesame seed, Cannabis seed

Major Formulas:

Cautions:

Avoid in loose bowels from Stomach weakness.

Morus Fructus, Mulberry, Sang Shen PRO