Gou Qi Zi - 枸杞子 - Fructus Lycii - Lycium Fruit
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Lycii |
| Common English: | Chinese Wolfberry Fruit Lycium Fruit Matrimony Vine Fruit |
Category
Herbs that Tonify Blood (Herbs that Tonify the Yin)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet | Neutral | Liver Lung Kidney | 5-18g Tincture: 2-4ml 6-12g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Nourishes and tonifies Liver and Kidney Blood and Yin | Blood and Yin Deficiency with sore back and legs, low-grade abdominal pain, impotence, nocturnal emissions, wasting and thirsting disorder and consumption Liver and Kidney Deficiency |
Benefits Jing and brightens the eyes | Liver and Kidney Deficiency where Jing and Blood cannot nourish eyes with dizziness, blurred vision and diminished visual acuity |
Nourishes Yin and moistens the Lungs | Consumptive cough and wasting and thirsting disorder |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Epigastric and flank pain with dryness in the mouth and throat, bitter taste, and acid regurgitation due to Yin Deficiency with Qi Stagnation. | Liver and Kidney Deficiency. | Dizziness, weakness, impotence, and spermatorrhea due to Kidney and Liver Yin and Blood Deficiency. |
| Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Or Rz. Drynariae | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Sore and painful lower back due to Kidney Deficiency. | Severe Yin Deficiency with lower back pain, spermatorrhea, sweating and diminished visual and aural acuity. | Kidney Yang Deficiency. |
| Rz. Polygonati | Arillus Longan | Flos Chrysanthemi |
Consumption with exhausted Jing. A gentle tonic for the aged or weakened. Lowers blood sugar and treats type II diabetes. | Blood Deficiency with a sallow complexion, prematurely gray hair, insomnia and multiple dreams. | Liver and Kidney Deficiency with Jing and Blood unable to rise and nourish the eyes with tinnitus, headache and visual impairment. Liver Yang or Liver Wind Rising. |
Tub. Ophiopogonis | Cx. Lycii | Hb. Ecliptae |
Consumptive cough. | Steaming bone disorder. | Hemoptysis due to Yin Deficiency. |
Flos Chrysanthemi | Rx. Asparagi | Rx. Polygoni Multiflori |
Dizziness, diminished visual acuity and dryness or tearing on exposure to Wind. | Wasting and thirsting. | Prematurely gray hair and loose teeth. |
Rx. Ginseng | Tub. Ophiopogonis | Hb. Ecliptae |
Emaciation, spermatorrhea, impotence dizziness and blurred vision. | Dry cough. | Hemoptysis. |
Notes
- Being neither hot nor cold, this herb suits any Kidney and Liver Deficiency.
- It remains effective when cooked in food.
- Purchase it canned; the darker it is, the better.
- It is among the primary tonics.
- It is commonly used for weakened conditions, impotence and the disabilities of old age.
- In formulas, it is frequently specific for eye problems from Kidney and Liver Deficiency.
- Lycium wine is a well-known tonic in China.
- For blurred vision, it can be soaked on its own in grain-based alcohol.
- It is reputed to improve the skin and to enhance vitality, beauty and longevity.
- Folk medicine: for wasting and thirsting, steam 10g and take it 2-3 times per day. Adding Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen and Rz. Dioscoreae Shan Yao increases its effectiveness.
- Gou Qi Zi, Sm. Cuscutae Tu Si Zi and Sm. Astragali Complanati Sha Yuan Zi each tonify Kidney Yin and Yang and are frequently used together. Gou Qi Zi is better at nourishing Kidney and Lung Yin; it mildly tonifies Kidney Yang and tonifies Liver Blood to improve vision. Tu Si Zi and Sha Yuan Zi both lean toward the Yang and astringe Jing.
- Gou Qi Zi and Fr. Broussonetiae Chu Shi Zi are both sweet and moistening; they enrich and tonify Liver and Kidney Yin and Blood and are used for an achy, weak lower back and legs, dizziness, light-headedness and visual disturbances. Gou Qi Zi is neutral and can tonify Jing and treat coughs by moistening the Lungs. Chu Shi Zi is cold and clears Heat, particularly in the Liver channel where it affects the eyes. It also promotes urination.
- Gou Qi Zi, Fr. Ligustri Lucidi Niu Zhen Zi and Fr. Mori Sang Shen all tonify Liver and Kidney Yin. In addition, Gou Qi Zi assists Kidney Yang, Sang Shen tonifies the Blood, and Nu Zhen Zi tonifies the Yin and cools Heat from Yin Deficiency.
- Dry-fried Lycium Fruit Chao Gou Qi Zi is warm in nature, which makes it easier to digest.
- Salt-fried Lycium Fruit Ian Chao Gou Qi Zi enters the Kidneys, moves downward and augments Jing, and it is easier to digest.
- Cuscuta-fried Lycium Fruit Tu Si Zi Chao Gou Qi Zi tonifies Yang more strongly, allowing it to replenish Jing and fortify Yang. It is used when the primal Yang Qi is debilitated.
From Class
- Fu Pen Zi (raspberry) — Chong Mai herb: Per Wang Haogu, raspberry builds the Chong Mai because it builds blood; berries in general (e.g., Gou Qi Zi/goji) nourish a little blood. (Yuen)
- Gou Qi Zi (goji/lycium berry): Goji berry juice is suggested for cancer patients needing iron-type blood support when greens (vitamin K) are restricted. (Yuen)
- Gou Qi Zi (lycium/goji): Liver-kidney herb affecting liver fat storage and liver function. (Yuen)