É Zhú (莪术), known in English as Zedoary rhizome (Curcuma zedoaria), is a warm, bitter and acrid Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver and Spleen channels. Its main action: breaks up Blood stasis, dissolves masses.
| Pinyin | É Zhú (E Zhu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 莪术 |
| English | Zedoary rhizome |
| Botanical name | Curcuma zedoaria |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Bitter, Acrid |
| Channels | Liver, Spleen |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; no Blood stasis; Qi/Blood deficiency |
Actions
- Breaks up Blood stasis, dissolves masses
- Moves qi, relieves pain — epigastric stagnation
- Reduces food stagnation (strong)
Indications
- Blood stasis masses and tumours
- Food and qi stagnation with severe pain
- Amenorrhoea from Blood stasis
How to remember É Zhú
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter, Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Acrid: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Spleen channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of É Zhú?
É Zhú is warm and bitter and acrid.
Which channels does É Zhú enter?
É Zhú enters the Liver and Spleen channels.
What are the actions of É Zhú?
Breaks up Blood stasis, dissolves masses; Moves qi, relieves pain — epigastric stagnation; Reduces food stagnation (strong).
What is É Zhú used for?
Blood stasis masses and tumours; food and qi stagnation with severe pain; amenorrhoea from Blood stasis.
Practise É Zhú and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.