Single Herb Glossary
Wú Zhū Yú 吳茱萸
| Pharmaceutical name | Evodiae Fructus Evodia (rutaecarpa) fruit |
| Category | Warm Interior, Expel Cold |
| Key Properties | Strongly warms the Middle Jiao and Lower Jiao Stops Nausea and Vomiting due to Cold Alleviates Cold pain in Chest & Abdomen |
| Properties | Acrid Bitter Hot Sl Toxic |
| Tropism | LV, SP, ST |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Warms the Middle, Disperses Cold, Promotes the Movement of Qi, and Alleviates Pain 2) Redirects Rebellious Qi downward and Stops Vomiting (acid regurgitation) 3) Warms Spleen, Stops Diarrhea, & expels Cold-Dampness 4) Leads Fire Downward |
| Dosages | 1.5-4.5g |
| Contraindications (TCM) | CI: Yin Def with Heat; extremely drying and can consume Qi and perturb fire, should not be consumed long term |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Evodiamine, rutaecarpine, evocarpine, hydroxyevodiomine, wuchuyine, dihydrorutaecarpine, 14-formyldihydrorutaecarpine, quinolone, N,N-dimethyl-5-methoxytryptamine, N-methylanthranylamide, dl-synephrine, evodene, ocimene, evodin, evodol, goshuynic acid, evodinone, evogin, evodine, jangomolide |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Antiulcer: administration associated with marked effectiveness in preventing and treating stomach ulcers by reducing gastric acid secretion • Antiemetic: decoction has antiemetic effect on pigeons, although effect was not statistically significant • Antidiarrheal: decoction at 10 to 20 g/kg has slow onset but prolonged duration of action for treatment of diarrhea in mice • Analgesic: several components of Wu Zhu Yu have demonstrated analgesic effects • Cardiovascular: according to various animal studies, injection of preparation associated with positive inotropic effect, negative chronotropic effect and marked decrease in blood pressure; rapid onset and prolonged duration of action on cardiovascular system; the preparation contained Wu Zhu Yu, Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) and Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) • Effects on the uterus: mixed effect on uterus; some constituents induce contraction while others induce relaxation • Antibiotic: decoction has inhibitory effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. aureus, and some dermatophytes |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | |
| Classical Formula(s) |
Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill) 左金丸 Si Shen Wan (Four-Miracle Pill) 四神丸 Wen Jing Tang (Flow-Warming Decoction) 溫經湯 Ji Ming San (Powder to Take at Cock's Crow) 雞鳴散 Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction) 吳茱萸湯 Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan (Mugwort and Cyperus Pill to Warm the Palace) 艾附暖宮丸 |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.