Wu Zhu Yu - 吳茱萸 - Fructus Evodiae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Evodiae |
| Common English: | Evodia Fruit |
Category
Herbs That Warm the Interior and Expel ColdProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Bitter | Hot Slightly Toxic | Liver Spleen Stomach (Kidney) | 1.5-10g Tincture: 2-4ml 3-9g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, promotes the movement of Qi (relieves Stagnation in the Liver channel) and alleviates pain | Stomach or Liver Channel Cold or Phlegm, with headache, epigastric pain with nausea, drooling, reduced taste, a pale tongue with a wiry or weak pulse Cold bulging disorders in the area traversed by the Liver channel and dysmenorrhea Disharmony between the Liver and Stomach |
Spreads the Liver, descends rebellious Qi and stops vomiting | Acid regurgitation and vomiting - can be used for either Hot or Cold disorders depending on the other herbs with which it is combined |
Warms the Spleen, stops diarrhea and expels Damp-Cold | Diarrhea from Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency Damp-Cold Leg Qi |
Leads Fire downward | Mouth and tongue sores (grind into a powder, mix with vinegar and place on the soles of the feet) |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rz. Zingiberis Recens | Fol. Artemisiae Argyi | Ram. Cinnamomi |
| Epigastric pain, vomiting, and headache associated with Jue Yin and Shao Yin Stage disorders. | Dysmenorrhea due to Cold in the Womb. | Menstrual dysfunction and infertility due to Blood Stasis with Deficiency Cold of the Chong and Ren channels. |
| Rx. Linderae | Rz. Zingiberis | Rz. Coptidis |
Cold hernial pain or abdominal pain. | Abdominal pain, vomiting and acid regurgitation due to Stomach Cold. | Vomiting, belching, epigastric pain and regurgitation of sour fluids from a Heat induced disharmony between the Liver and Stomach. (the dosage of Huang Lian should be five times greater that that of Wu Zhu Yu) |
| Fr. Schisandrae | Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Fr. Chaenomelis |
Daybreak diarrhea associated with Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency. | Liver/Spleen disharmony with Stomach pain, acid regurgitation, abdominal pain and dysenteric diarrhea. Chronic dysentery due to Cold-Dampness Accumulation. | Damp-Cold Leg Qi. |
Rz. Zingiberis Recens | Fol. Artemisiae Argyi | Rx. Linderae |
Nausea, vomiting and Stomach pain with acid regurgitation due to Deficiency and Cold of the Stomach. | Menstrual pain due to Cold in the Womb. | Hernial pain. |
Rz. Zingiberis Recens | Rz. Zingiberis | Rz. Zingiberis |
Vertex migraine headaches. | Acid reflux after meals due to Deficiency and Cold in the Stomach. | Epigastric and abdominal pain due to Cold and Dampness. |
Sm. Myristicae | ||
Chronic diarrhea from Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Kidneys. |
Notes
- In large doses this herb stimulates the CNS and may cause visual disturbances and hallucinations.
- For oral ulcers and hypertension, powder the herb, mix it with vinegar and place it at the center of the soles of the feet.
- For eczema or sores on the scalp, powder the herb, mix it with water and apply it topically.
- Some sources report that it treats Blood Stasis from Cold.
- It is reputed to relieve melancholy.
- Unprepared Evodia Sheng Wu Zhu Yu is reserved for external use only.
- Its indications include frontal headache, Jue Yin headache, Cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, beri beri and ulcers of the mouth and tongue.
- This herb, Rx. Zingiberis Officinalis Gan Jiang, and Rz. Alpiniae Officinari Gao Liang Jiang all disperse Cold from the Middle Jiao and relieve Cold pain in the epigastrium. Gan Jiang additionally warms the Lungs, transforms Phlegm and stops cough, and warms the Spleen to stop Cold pain and diarrhea. Wu Zhu Yu additionally warms the Lower Jiao and treats hernia pain, irregular menstruation, diarrhea from Cold in the Lower Jiao, and belching and vomiting that involve the Liver. Gao Liang Jiang warms the Stomach and treats Cold epigastric pain with belching and vomiting.
- Wu Zhu Yu, Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian and Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang all relieve nausea. Wu Zhu Yu warms the Liver to treat nausea and acid regurgitation from Liver Cold attacking the Stomach. Huang Lian clears Stomach Heat to treat nausea and bilious vomiting from Damp-Heat in the Stomach, and Sheng Jiang warms the Middle for vomiting of clear fluids from Stomach Cold.
- Bland Evodia Dan Wu Zhu Yu is somewhat less toxic and less peppery-hot in flavor, and it is the minimum level of preparation needed for internal use.
- Processed Evodia Zhi Wu Zhu Yu is far less toxic and more harmonious; it enters the Middle Jiao and is the best form for warming the Middle and stopping pain. It treats Middle Jiao Deficiency Cold that leads to Qi Stagnation and distention.
- Dry-fried Evodia Chao Wu Zhu Yu warms the Middle, descends Qi and relieves nausea.
- Coptis-fried Evodia Huang Lian Chao Wu Zhu Yu is used when pent-up Liver/Stomach Fire causes acid regurgitation, nausea and vomiting.
- Vinegar-fried Evodia Cu Chao Wu Zhu Yu is the best form for entering the Blood level of the Liver; it strongly soothes the Liver and relieves pain, and is used for Cold-type dysmenorrhea with Blood Stasis from Liver Qi Stagnation.
- Saltwater-fried Evodia Yan Chao Wu Zhu Yu descends Qi and allows the herb to enter the Kidneys, treating Small Intestine bulging disorder.
- Ginger Juice-fried Evodia Jiang Chao Wu Zhu Yu is indicated when Cold-Dampness is Blocking the Middle Jiao, causing epigastric pain with dry retching.
From Class
- Early-pregnancy additions: Sang Ji Sheng, Da Zao, Ai Ye, E Jiao, Wu Zhu Yu: Early pregnancy: Sang Ji Sheng supports Jing, Da Zao calms the spirit, Ai Ye warms the uterus and pacifies the fetus, E Jiao nourishes blood, Wu Zhu Yu harmonizes. (Lewis)
- Warming herbs to keep the Kidneys warm: Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, Ai Ye, Wu Zhu Yu: Phlegm needs warmth: aconite, dry ginger, mugwort and evodia warm the interior/Kidneys. (Yuen)