Shān Zhū Yú (山茱萸), known in English as Asiatic cornelian cherry (Cornus officinalis), is a warm, sour and astringent Chinese herb from the Stabilise & bind category. It enters the Liver and Kidney channels. Its main action: tonifies Liver and Kidney, secures Jing and essence.
| Pinyin | Shān Zhū Yú (Shan Zhu Yu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 山茱萸 |
| English | Asiatic cornelian cherry |
| Botanical name | Cornus officinalis |
| Category | Stabilise & bind |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sour, Astringent |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney |
| Dosage | 6–12g |
| Cautions | Damp-Heat; dysuria; difficult urination |
Actions
- Tonifies Liver and Kidney, secures Jing and essence
- Astringes — stops sweating, spermatorrhoea, urinary frequency, uterine bleeding
- Used in collapse: retains Jing/fluids
Indications
- Liver and Kidney deficiency: dizziness, impotence, spermatorrhoea
- Excessive sweating
- Uterine bleeding
- Yang collapse
How to remember Shān Zhū Yú
Stabilise & bind herbs are mostly astringent and sweet, and most enter the Kidney channel.
- You can work these out
- Astringent: like most Stabilise & bind herbs
- Liver and Kidney channels: from its action “Tonifies Liver and Kidney”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Stabilise & bind herbs vary in nature
- Sour: unusual for Stabilise & bind herbs (most are astringent or sweet)
Formulas containing Shān Zhū Yú
Other Stabilise & bind herbs
- Wǔ Wèi Zǐ
- Jīn Yīng Zǐ
- Qiàn Shí
- Lián Zǐ
- Fú Xiǎo Mài
- Wū Méi
- Ròu Dòu Kòu
- Hē Zǐ
- Chì Shí Zhī
- Chūn Pí
- Fù Pén Zǐ
- Sāng Piāo Xiāo
- Hǎi Piāo Xiāo
- Lián Xū
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Shān Zhū Yú?
Shān Zhū Yú is warm and sour and astringent.
Which channels does Shān Zhū Yú enter?
Shān Zhū Yú enters the Liver and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Shān Zhū Yú?
Tonifies Liver and Kidney, secures Jing and essence; Astringes — stops sweating, spermatorrhoea, urinary frequency, uterine bleeding; Used in collapse: retains Jing/fluids.
What is Shān Zhū Yú used for?
Liver and Kidney deficiency: dizziness, impotence, spermatorrhoea; excessive sweating; uterine bleeding; Yang collapse.
Which formulas contain Shān Zhū Yú?
Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán, Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán, Zuǒ Guī Wán, Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán, Yòu Guī Wán and Qǐ Jú Dì Huáng Wán.
Practise Shān Zhū Yú 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.