Shan Zhu Yu, also known as Shu Zao and Zao Pi, is the fruit pulp of the Shan Zhu Yu plant in the Ziziphus family. The fruit is harvested in autumn and winter when it turns red, and the branches and fruit stalks are removed. It is then lightly heated over a low flame or blanched in boiling water, and the core is promptly removed before drying. It is slightly warm in nature and sour in taste, and it has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, astringing essence and energy, and stabilizing deficiency and collapse. It is used to treat dizziness and tinnitus, lower back and knee pain, impotence and premature ejaculation, frequent urination and nocturnal enuresis, excessive menstrual bleeding and leukorrhea, excessive sweating and deficiency collapse, and internal heat and thirst. It is a commonly used Chinese medicine for nourishing the kidneys and benefiting the liver. The "Pharmaceutical Interpretation" states: "Shan Zhu Yu nourishes yin and blood, and is mainly used to treat blurred vision and tinnitus, bitter mouth and dry tongue, pale face and dry skin, profuse sweating and chills. It is a good liver tonic." The "Medical Records of Famous Physicians" also states: "Shan Zhu Yu has the ability to consolidate vital energy, invigorate spirits, and astringe and stabilize. It combines the properties of astringency and smoothness, so it also clears the nine orifices, promotes blood circulation, treats liver deficiency sweating, liver deficiency flank pain and lower back pain, and liver deficiency internal wind stirring. It consolidates upright qi without consolidating evil qi, unlike other sour astringent medicines. Therefore, the "Classic of Herbal Medicine" describes it as expelling cold, dampness, and obstruction." The Chinese patent medicine Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, which nourishes the yin of the kidneys, also includes Shan Zhu Yu.
Wu Zhu Yu, also known as Wu Yu and Zuo Li, is the unripe fruit of the Wu Zhu Yu plant in the Rutaceae family. It is warm in nature and bitter and pungent in taste, and it is toxic. It contains volatile oils, mainly Wu Zhu Yuene, basilene, Wu Zhu Yu lactone alcohol, etc. It also contains Wu Zhu Yu acid, Wu Zhu Yu alkaloids, Wu Zhu Yu pseudoalkaloids, Wu Zhu Yu indole alkaloids, and Wu Zhu Yu cardamine alkaloids, which have the effects of warming the middle, relieving pain, regulating qi, and drying dampness. It is used to treat nausea and acid regurgitation, Jue Yin headache, cold and damp vomiting and diarrhea, epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, mouth ulcers and sores, toothache, hernia, foot qi, eczema, and yellow vesicles. It is a commonly used medicine for relieving depression, resolving stagnation, and dispelling cold and descending qi. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Wu Zhu Yu, pungent and hot, disperses and warms, bitter and hot, dries and strengthens. Therefore, it is used to disperse cold, warm the middle, and dry dampness and resolve stagnation." The "Compendium of Materia Medica Simplified" also states: "Wu Zhu Yu, pungent and bitter, warm and fragrant, is the main medicine for the liver, but it also enters the spleen and stomach because the spleen likes aromatic dryness and the stomach likes descending. It has the fastest downward-moving qi nature and is extremely effective in dispersing stagnation. Therefore, it is used to treat liver qi stagnation, cold turbidity descending, resulting in abdominal pain, hernia, and other diseases, or when pathogenic factors descend excessively and move upwards, causing vomiting, acid regurgitation, chest fullness, and other symptoms."
