Bu Gu Zhi - 补骨脂 - Fructus Psoraliae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Psoraliae / Psoraleae Fructus |
| Common English: | Psoraliae Fruit / Psoralea fruit Scurf Pea Berry |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the YangProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Bitter | Very Warm | Kidney Spleen (Pericardium) | 3-9g Tincture: 2-4ml 4.5-9g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Stabilizes Jing and astringes urine, Strengthens Yang, Tonifies the Kidneys | Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, premature ejaculation, enuresis, urinary frequency, a cold and painful lower back and extremities Kidneys unable to grasp Qi Weakening of Ming Men Fire |
Tonifies and warms Spleen Yang and stops diarrhea | Diarrhea due to Spleen Yang Deficiency with borborygmus and abdominal pain Most appropriate for those with both Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency |
| Topically for vitiligo | Vitiligo (soaked in wine and applied topically) |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Sm. Juglandis | Sm. Cuscutae | Sm. Myristicae |
Impotence. | Nighttime and daytime urinary frequency due to Kidney Yang Deficiency. Severe lower back pain or premature ejaculation, cough and wheezing from Kidney Yang Deficiency. | Daybreak diarrhea with abdominal pain, and borborygmus, relieved upon evacuation, and a deep thin pulse with a white tongue coat. Diarrhea from Spleen Yang Deficiency with Cold. |
| Sm. Juglandis | Fr. Foeniculi | Sm. Myristicae |
Low back pain with premature ejaculation, coughing and wheezing due to Kidney Yang Deficiency. Fortifies Kidney Yang to help it grasp the Qi in treating asthma, coughs and wheezing, strengthens the sinews and bones and treats aching of the lower back and knees, impotence and premature ejaculation due to Lower Jiao Cold . | Kidney Yang Deficiency with clear, frequent, profuse urination or spermatorrhea or dysmenorrhea with lower back ache, late periods and coldness in the lower abdomen. Spleen Yang Deficiency or Stomach Cold with epigastric distention, anorexia, nausea, explosive diarrhea or unformed stools with gripping abdominal pain. | Diarrhea due to Spleen Yang Deficiency. |
Ootheca Mantidis | Rz. Dioscoreae | Ootheca Mantidis |
Chronic urinary incontinence in adolescents or adults. | Chronic malaria, enteritis, and other chronic gastrointestinal disorders with diarrhea. | Urinary incontinence and polyuria. |
Cx. Eucommiae | ||
Heaviness, coldness and extreme pain in the lower back. |
Notes
- Its name translates literally as “tonify bone resin”.
- It treats the Lower Jiao when there is Deficiency or Cold of the Yuan Qi.
- It generates Earth, making the Spleen warm and strong.
- In recent times it has been used for uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, excessive bleeding after abortion, bleeding linked to IUD or birth control pill use, hemophilia, epistaxis and ulcers.
- It helps the Yang rise.
- When it is applied for vitiligo, the treated area should then be exposed to daylight for 10 minutes or to ultraviolet light for 2-5 minutes. Wash it off afterward to avoid local skin reactions, and discontinue Bu Gu Zhi if reactions develop.
- Research has shown that it prevents miscarriage.
- Its hemostatic effect is slow to begin.
- It also helps fractures heal.
- For polyuria in the elderly, it can be used by itself or served with rice congee.
- For low back pain, it can be taken by itself as a powder with warm liquor.
- Bu Gu Zhi and Sm. Astragali Complanati Sha Yuan Zi both tonify Kidney Yang, astringe Jing and treat urinary dysfunction. Bu Gu Zhi is very warm; it tonifies Spleen Yang and astringes diarrhea. Sha Yuan Zi is neither overly warm nor drying, and it brightens the eyes, tonifying the Liver and Kidney Deficiency that causes blurred vision.
- Bu Gu Zhi and Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Yi Zhi Ren both tonify the Kidneys and Spleen, fortify Yang, stop diarrhea and astringe urine and Jing; they are frequently used for Yang Deficiency of the Spleen and Kidneys. Bu Gu Zhi warms mainly the Kidneys and, through them, indirectly warms Spleen Yang. It treats chronic diarrhea and cock-crow diarrhea from Yang Deficiency of the Spleen and Kidneys, and it also treats lower back pain. Yi Zhi Ren warms Spleen Yang more strongly and warms the Kidneys secondarily, treating diarrhea associated with exposure of the Stomach and Spleen to Cold. It also treats uterine bleeding.
- Dry-fried Psoralea Chao Bu Gu Zhi is less bitter, drying, acrid and dispersing, so it is better at warming the Yang and stopping diarrhea.
- Salt-fried Psoralea Yan Chao Bu Gu Zhi, also called Prepared Psoralea Zhi Bu Gu Zhi, enters the Kidney channel directly and is better at tonifying and astringing the Lower Jiao. It is frequently used for impotence, urinary incontinence and Kidneys failing to grasp Qi.
- Wine-fried Psoralea Jiu Chao Bu Gu Zhi has a stronger acrid flavor and greater dispersing ability, which enhances its effect on Wind-Damp Bi.