Shanzhuyu, also known as Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yu Rou, Shan Yu Rou, and Zao Pi, is the fruit of the plant Fructus Corni, which belongs to the family Cornaceae. It is mainly produced in provinces such as Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, and Hunan. It is also distributed in North Korea and Japan. Shanzhuyu has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, astringing essence and stopping leakage, generating body fluids and relieving thirst, anti-inflammatory, and lowering blood pressure and blood sugar. It can be used to treat dizziness and tinnitus, lumbago and knee pain, impotence and premature ejaculation, frequent urination and enuresis, excessive uterine bleeding and leukorrhea, excessive sweating and collapse, internal heat and diabetes, and other conditions.
Nourishing Liver and Kidneys
Shanzhuyu has a slightly warm and astringent nature, it can nourish the liver and kidneys, and is beneficial for both essence and yang. It can be used to treat liver and kidney yin deficiency, dizziness and blurred vision, sore waist and knees, cold and painful waist and knees, and kidney yang deficiency.
Securing Essence and Constricting Urine
Shanzhuyu also has the effects of nourishing the kidneys and securing essence, and it can constrict urine. It can help to secure essence and stop nocturnal emission caused by insufficient closing of the lower orifices, and also treat urinary urgency and frequent urination caused by kidney deficiency.
Astringing Sweat and Stopping Leakage
Shanzhuyu has a sour and astringent warm nature, it can astringe sweat and stop leakage. It is an important herb for preventing Qi exhaustion. It can be used to treat excessive sweating, body weakness and the desire to collapse, and other conditions caused by long-term illness.
Securing Menstruation and Stopping Bleeding
Shanzhuyu can enter the lower burner, nourish the liver and kidneys, and secure the Chong and Ren channels to stop bleeding. It can be used to treat liver and kidney deficiency, excessive menstruation, and uncontrolled vaginal discharge.
Clearing Heat and Generating Body Fluids
Shanzhuyu has the effect of clearing heat and generating body fluids, and it can treat internal heat and thirst caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency.
Improving Cardiac Function
Shanzhuyu has a strong heart-tonifying effect. Shanzhuyu injection can improve cardiac function, increase myocardial contractility and cardiac output, and improve cardiac efficiency. It can be used for hemorrhagic shock.
Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial
Shanzhuyu has a strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus epidermidis, and it also has inhibitory effects on Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella, showing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
Lowering Blood Lipids
Shanzhuyu can enhance the body's anti-stress ability, improve tolerance to hypoxia and fatigue, and enhance memory. Fructus Corni can increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in red blood cells, and it can also lower serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and has anti-atherosclerosis effects.
Lowering Blood Sugar
Shanzhuyu has anti-diabetic effects. Fructus Corni powder, ether extract, and further isolated ursolic acid can significantly reduce blood sugar, urinary sugar, drinking water, and urine volume, indicating that ursolic acid is the active component of Fructus Corni in anti-diabetic effects and can be used as an adjuvant therapy for diabetes.
Nutritional Value of Fructus Corni
Fructus Corni contains palmitic acid, benzyl cinnamate, isobutanol, isopentanol, trans-cinnamic alcohol oxide, olivetol, furfural, methyl eugenol, isoborneol, β-phenethyl alcohol, Cornuside, monotropein, acteoside, Cornus officinalis glycoside, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, cyclic ether terpenes, glucose, fructose, sucrose, tannins, gallic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and vitamin A.
1. Fructus Corni contains ursolic acid, which can lower blood sugar and urinary sugar, and has an adjuvant therapeutic effect on diabetes.
2. It has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, astringing essence and stopping leakage, and generating body fluids and relieving thirst. It can be used to treat dizziness and tinnitus, lumbago and knee pain, impotence and premature ejaculation, frequent urination and enuresis, excessive uterine bleeding and leukorrhea, excessive sweating and collapse, and internal heat and thirst.
Contraindications for Fructus Corni
Fructus Corni has a warm nature, and it should be avoided by those with excessive Mingmen Fire, strong yang without impotence, and those with damp-heat and difficult urination. Pregnant women should use caution and try to avoid using medicinal substances with strong properties during pregnancy to avoid adverse effects on the fetus. Infants and young children should use caution.
Methods of Consuming Fructus Corni
For treating deficiency and excessive sweating:
15g Fructus Corni, 15g Codonopsis pilosula, and 9g Schisandra chinensis. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.
For treating kidney deficiency and dizziness:
20g Fructus Corni, 10g Lycium barbarum, and 12g Ligustrum lucidum. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.
For treating impotence and premature ejaculation:
12g Fructus Corni, 12g Psoralea corylifolia, 12g Cuscuta chinensis, 12g Rosae Laevigatae Fructus, and 9g Angelica sinensis. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.
For treating excessive menstruation:
30g Fructus Corni, 30g Atractylodes macrocephala, 15g Astragalus membranaceus, 25g Dragon Bone (processed), 15g Paeonia lactiflora, and 10g Rubia cordifolia. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.
For treating diabetes:
15g Fructus Corni, 10g Mume Fructus, 15g Schisandra chinensis, and 10g Atractylodes macrocephala. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.
