Zhēn Zhū (珍珠), known in English as Pearl (Pteria martensii (pearl)), is a cold, sweet and salty Chinese herb from the Calm shen category. It enters the Heart and Liver channels. Its main action: calms Shen, settles fright.
| Pinyin | Zhēn Zhū (Zhen Zhu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 珍珠 |
| English | Pearl |
| Botanical name | Pteria martensii (pearl) |
| Category | Calm shen |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet, Salty |
| Channels | Heart, Liver |
| Dosage | 0.1–0.3g (in pills or powders) |
| Cautions | No excess Heat |
Actions
- Calms Shen, settles fright
- Brightens eyes, removes superficial visual obstruction
- Resolves toxicity, generates flesh (topical)
Indications
- Palpitations from fright and insomnia
- Convulsions and epilepsy
- Red eyes and corneal opacity
- Non-healing sores and ulcers (topical)
- Skin discolouration
How to remember Zhēn Zhū
Calm shen herbs are mostly sweet, and most enter the Heart, Liver and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Sweet: like most Calm shen herbs
- Heart channel: from its action “Calms Shen”
- Liver channel: from its action “Brightens eyes”
- Learn by heart
- Cold: Calm shen herbs vary in nature
- Salty: unusual for Calm shen herbs (most are sweet)
Formulas containing Zhēn Zhū
Other Calm shen herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Zhēn Zhū?
Zhēn Zhū is cold and sweet and salty.
Which channels does Zhēn Zhū enter?
Zhēn Zhū enters the Heart and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Zhēn Zhū?
Calms Shen, settles fright; Brightens eyes, removes superficial visual obstruction; Resolves toxicity, generates flesh (topical).
What is Zhēn Zhū used for?
Palpitations from fright and insomnia; convulsions and epilepsy; red eyes and corneal opacity; non-healing sores and ulcers (topical); skin discolouration.
Which formulas contain Zhēn Zhū?
Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán.
Practise Zhēn Zhū 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.