Yu Zhu玉竹
Rhizoma Polygonati OdoratiScented Solomon’s Seal Rhizome
Also known asFragrant Solomon's Seal Root · Polygonatum
- Category
- Herbs that tonify Yin
- Nature
- slightly cold
- Taste
- sweet
- Channels entered
- Lung, Stomach
- Secondary channels
- Heart, Liver, Yin Wei Mai
- Dosage
- 6–30 g
Usual doses
- Dosage
- 6–30 g
- Tincture
- 1–4 ml
Actions & indications
- Nourishes Yin, moistens Dryness, moistens the Lungs, nourishes the Stomach and generates fluids
- Lung Yin Deficiency with cough, dry throat, irritability and thirst
- Lung and Stomach Dry Heat
- Stomach Yin Deficiency
- Steaming Bone Disorder
- Wasting and thirsting with intense hunger and constipation
- Extinguishes Wind and softens and moistens the sinews
- Internal Wind generated by insufficient fluids with pain and spasms in the sinews
- Dizziness due to Yin Deficiency and Internal Stirring of Wind
- External Wind-Heat with Yin Deficient constitution
Contraindications
- Contraindicated in weak Spleen and Stomach.
- Contraindicated in Qi Stagnation and Phlegm-Dampness affecting the Stomach.
- Contraindicated in loose stools from Cold in the Middle Jiao.
- Use cautiously in high blood pressure and tachycardia.
Combinations
- Sha Shen
- Mai Men Dong
Dry cough, thirst, and other signs of fluid damage from Lung and Stomach Yin Deficiency; Qi Level or Yang Ming Stage pathogenic disease with profuse sweating, particularly following prior purgation.
Blazing Lung Heat that has damaged Lung Yin, producing Phlegm-Heat cough.
- Sheng Di Huang
- Sha Shen
- Mai Men Dong
Depleted Stomach Yin and fluids, with irritability, thirst, a bright red tongue, and dry mouth.
External contraction of Wind-Heat in patients of Yin Deficient constitution.
Chest painful obstruction with combined Yin and Qi Deficiency.
Fever from combined Qi and Yin Deficiency, with emaciation, lethargy, and increased day and night sweating.
Dry cough with thick, viscous sputum, and Lung abscess.
Resolves cysts.
- Nan Sha Shen
- Bei Sha Shen
- Mai Men Dong
- Sang Ye
- Shi Hu
- Tian Hua Fen
Dry cough.
Lung Dryness and Cold.
Chronic cough weighted more toward Deficiency Heat.
- Zhe Bei Mu
- Bai Bu
Chronic cough weighted more toward Yin Deficiency.
Stomach Yin Deficiency.
Yin Deficiency with an Exterior Wind-Heat invasion.
Xiao Ke syndrome (wasting-thirsting disorder, i.e. diabetes).
- Mai Men Dong
- Zhi Mu
- Huang Qin
- Tian Hua Fen
Upper Xiao Ke presenting with polydipsia.
- Shi Gao
- Zhi Mu
- Sheng Di Huang
Middle Xiao Ke presenting with polyphagia.
Lower Xiao Ke presenting with polyuria.
Notes
- As it is neither cloying nor prone to trapping pathogenic influences, this herb suits patients of Yin Deficient constitution who contract external Wind-Heat.
- It treats consumptive disorders marked by Dryness.
- Both Yu Zhu and Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae Sha Shen enter the Lungs and Stomach, nourishing Yin and generating fluids; Yu Zhu acts more slowly and harmoniously, requiring a higher dose, while Sha Shen has a more cooling action.
- Both Yu Zhu and Rz. Polygonati Huang Jing nourish the Lungs and Stomach, though Yu Zhu tonifies Stomach Yin more strongly and Huang Jing tonifies Kidney Yin more strongly.
- Processed Solomon's Seal Zhi Yu Zhu can tonify Middle Jiao Qi, making it suitable for fluid damage in the later stages of warm febrile disease and for consumptive disorders.
- Dry-fried Solomon's Seal Chao Yu Zhu nourishes Yin without cloying, strengthening the Spleen and harmonizing the Stomach.
- It is emerging as an outstanding cardiovascular remedy, relaxing both the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
- It is indicated when Yin Deficiency presents with stress, emotional disturbance, or limb spasms.
- It is reputed to dissolve cysts, particularly when combined with Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang or Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang.