Shan Zhu Yu - 山茱萸 - Fructus Corni - Cornus
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Corni |
| Common English: | Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit Cornus Dogwood Fruit Japanese Dogwood Berry |
Category
Herbs that Stabilize and Bind (Astringents)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sour | Slightly Warm | Kidney Liver | 6-12g Shock: 30-60g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Stabilizes the Kidneys and astringes Jing and Body Fluids | Leakage of fluids due to weak Jing with urinary frequency and incontinence, spermatorrhea and excessive sweating |
Stops excessive sweating and supports that which has collapsed | Collapse of Qi with excessive sweating and shock Devastated Yang with excessive sweating and shock Sweating mistakenly induced as a treatment |
Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin and strengthens Kidney Yang | Light-headedness, dizziness, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees or impotence due to Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency and Kidney Yang Deficiency |
Stabilizes the menses and stops bleeding | Excessive uterine bleeding and prolonged menstruation due to Deficiency (weak effect) |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Fr. Rosae Laevigatae | Fr. Psoraliae | Fr. Schisandrae |
Spermatorrhea or premature ejaculation. | Kidney Yang Deficiency leading to spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation and lower backache. | Spermatorrhea, abnormal sweating, palpitations and shortness of breath due to Yin and Yang Deficiency of the Liver and Kidneys. |
| Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae | Fossilia Ossis Mastodi |
Impotence and premature ejaculation due to Kidney Yang Deficiency. | Incontinence in the elderly due to Kidney Qi Deficiency. | Profuse sweating due to devastated Yang. |
| Rx. Dipsaci Or Rx. Dipsaci | Rx. Astragali | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Low back pain and weakness. | Spontaneous sweating due to Yang or Qi Deficiency. | Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Urinary frequency (day or night), dizziness, tinnitus and lower back pain due to Kidney Deficiency. A basic combination to tonify the Kidneys. | Kidney Yang Deficiency. | True Yin Deficiency. |
Cx. Eucommiae | Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Sepiae Endoconcha |
Hypertension due to Liver and Kidney Deficiency. | Dark, thick uterine bleeding that alternates between trickling and gushing due to Heat from Yin Deficiency. | Thin, pale, profuse uterine bleeding that either gushes or continually trickles out due to instability of the Chong channel. |
Rx. Astragali | Concha Ostreae | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Uterine bleeding due to unstable Chong and Ren channels with Spleen Qi Deficiency. | Sweating. | Nourishes Kidney Yin and secures Jing, while restraining urination and sweating. |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Fr. Psoraliae |
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency. | Tinnitus and blurred vision due to Kidney Yin Deficiency. | Impotence and spermatorrhea due to Kidney Yang Deficiency. |
Fr. Schisandrae | Rx. Lateralis Aconiti Preparata | Cx. Phellodendri |
Excessive sweating. | Shock, drastic drop in blood pressure and excessive perspiration. | Excessive uterine bleeding. |
Ootheca Mantidis | Fr. Rubi | |
Frequent, clear urination. | Terminal dribbling after urinating. |
Notes
- Marrow benefits from this herb.
- It typically appears in Yin Tonic formulas that nourish the Liver and Kidneys.
- As an astringent, it is given in larger doses.
- Certain sources classify it as a Yang Tonic.
- It strengthens Yin, augments Jing and quiets the five organs; with long term consumption it brightens the eyes, strengthens vigor and lengthens life.
- It treats pain of the brain and bones, halts irregular periods, tonifies Kidney Qi, excites male sexual function, replenishes Jing and marrow, remedies tinnitus and stops incontinence in the elderly.
- Shan Zhu Yu and Fr. Rosae Laevigatae Jin Ying Zi are both sour and astringent; they conserve, hold in and stabilize the Lower Jiao to treat deficient leakage with spermatorrhea, incontinence and watery vaginal discharge. Shan Zhu Yu strongly tonifies both Jing and Yang Qi while still retaining the Jing, stopping sweating, supporting collapse and gently stabilizing menstrual bleeding. Jin Ying Zi stabilizes only and does not tonify, but it can treat chronic diarrhea, which Shan Zhu Yu cannot.
- Wine-prepared Cornus Jiu Shan Yu is warmer, slightly acrid and a little less sour and astringent. Besides tonifying the Liver and Kidneys, it harmonizes the Blood and invigorates the collaterals, treating lower back pain from Kidney weakness or chronic rib pain from Liver Deficiency.
- Steamed Cornus Zheng Shan Yu mainly tonifies the Liver and Kidneys while stabilizing and retaining Jing, treating vertigo, impotence, premature ejaculation, frequent and profuse urination and excessive uterine bleeding from Deficiency.