Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ (女贞子), known in English as Privet fruit (Ligustrum lucidum), is a cool, sweet and bitter Chinese herb from the Tonify yin category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin.
| Pinyin | Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ (Nu Zhen Zi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 女贞子 |
| English | Privet fruit |
| Botanical name | Ligustrum lucidum |
| Category | Tonify yin |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 6–12g |
| Cautions | Yang deficiency; Spleen deficiency with diarrhoea |
Actions
- Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin
- Clears Heat from deficiency
- Improves vision, darkens hair
Indications
- Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency: dizziness, tinnitus, premature greying, blurred vision, low-grade fever
How to remember Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ
Tonify yin herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Kidney and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Sweet: like most Tonify yin herbs
- Liver and Kidney channels: from its action “Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin”
- Learn by heart
- Bitter: unusual for Tonify yin herbs (most are sweet)
Formulas containing Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ
Other Tonify yin herbs
- Mài Dōng
- Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ
- Shēng Dì Huáng
- Tiān Dōng
- Yù Zhú
- Shí Hú
- Hàn Lián Cǎo
- Guī Bǎn
- Biē Jiǎ
- Bǎi Hé
- Běi Shā Shēn
- Huáng Jīng
- Sāng Shèn
- Hēi Zhī Má
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ?
Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ is cool and sweet and bitter.
Which channels does Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ enter?
Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ?
Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin; Clears Heat from deficiency; Improves vision, darkens hair.
What is Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ used for?
Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency: dizziness, tinnitus, premature greying, blurred vision, low-grade fever.
Which formulas contain Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ?
Èr Zhì Wán.
Practise Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ 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.