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Ligustrum, Glossy Privet Fruit, Nu Zhen Zi 女贞子
Glossy Privet
Nu Zhen Zi (TCM)
Nu Zhen Zi (TCM)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 52 (1825)
Botanical name:
Ligustrum lucidum; L. thibeticum is also used.
Parts used:
Fruit
Temperature & Taste:
Cool. Bitter, Sweet
Classification:
N. Yin Tonic
Ligustrum lucidum; L. thibeticum is also used.
Parts used:
Fruit
Temperature & Taste:
Cool. Bitter, Sweet
Classification:
N. Yin Tonic
Uses:
1. Nourish and Strengthen the Liver and Kidney:
-Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus
-Lower Back pain and weakness
-premature Greying of hair
-'Long-term use makes one put on weight, feel happy and vigourous, and remain young-looking'. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
2. Benefits the Eyes:
-Floaters, Poor eyesight, Failing Vision, especially in the elderly due to Liver and Kidney weakness
-the juice has been applied directly to the eyes fro Wind-Heat conjunctivitis (Ji Ji Xian Fang [Immortal’s Prescriptions for Emergency])
-'turns graying hair black and brightens the eye' (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Clears Deficient Heat:
-Heat from Yin deficiency
-Tuberculosis; Scrofula
Dose:
Decoction: 9–18 grams
Powder: 1–4 grams
Preparation:
1. Wine-processed Ligustrum fruit:
Stew or steam with wine until the wine is entirely absorbed (using 10% by weight of wine to dried fruit). This is more warming, better to enter the blood, and can more strongly relieve cold-type lower back pain.
Decoction: 9–18 grams
Powder: 1–4 grams
Preparation:
1. Wine-processed Ligustrum fruit:
Stew or steam with wine until the wine is entirely absorbed (using 10% by weight of wine to dried fruit). This is more warming, better to enter the blood, and can more strongly relieve cold-type lower back pain.
Main Combinations:
1. Sore and Weakness of the Lower Back, Dizziness:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi) and Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eucommia Du Zhong, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang
2. Deficient Heat, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Paeonia Mu Dan Pi
3. To strengthen the Eyesight and improve Vision, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Lycium Gou Qi Zi ('Goji' fruit)
4. Sore, red eyes:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Cassia Jue Ming Zi
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
5. Premature greying of Hair:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Black Sesame seed
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Mo Han Lian). Traditionally, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi is soaked in wine and the juice of Eclipta is gently boiled to a paste. The 2 are mixed to form pills the size of parasol seeds, the dose being 100 pills. After 10 days it makes one very strong, stops night urination and helps turns grey hair black. (Nu Zhen Dan Fang)
6. Nourish the Blood and Yin:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Mo Han Lian), Paeonia Bai Shao Used for Dizziness, Vertigo, premature greying of Hair.
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Eclipta Han Lian Cao (Mo Han Lian), Morus Sang Shen Zi (Mulberry fruit-spike) as a medicated wine for Neurasthenia
7. Scrofula, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with Lycium Di Gu Pi, Artemisia Qing Hao, Prunella Xia Ku Cao (Self Heal)
Major Formulas:
Er Zhi Wan
Cautions:
Not for Diarrhea from Cold and Weakness of the Stomach
Main Preparations used:
Not for Diarrhea from Cold and Weakness of the Stomach
Main Preparations used: