Eucommia Bark / Sichuan Du Zhong

特選 四川厚杜仲

性味

甘；微辛；性温

功效

为杜仲科植物杜仲的干燥树皮。 主治腰脊酸疼，足膝痿弱，小便余沥，阴下湿痒，胎漏欲堕，胎动不安，高血压。

经脉

肝经；肾经

主治

补肝肾，强筋骨，安胎。治腰脊酸疼，足膝痿弱，小便余沥，阴下湿痒，胎漏欲堕，胎动不安，高血压。

• ①《本经》：主腰脊痛，补中益精气，坚筋骨，强志，除阴下痒湿，小便余沥。
• ②《别录》：主脚中酸痛，不欲践地。
• ③《药性论》：治肾冷臀腰痛，腰病人虚而身强直，风也。腰不利加而用之。
• ④《日华子本草》：治肾劳，腰脊挛。入药炙用。
• ⑤王好古：润肝燥，补肝经风虚。
• ⑥《本草正》：止小水梦遗，暖子宫，安胎气。
• ⑦《玉楸药解》：益肝肾，养筋骨，去关节湿淫。治腰膝酸痛，腿足拘挛。
• ⑧《本草再新》：充筋力，强阳道。

用法用量

内服：煎汤，6~15g；或浸酒；或入丸、散。

注意禁忌

• 1.阴虚火旺者慎服。
• 2.《本草经集注》：恶蛇皮、元参。
• 3.《本草经疏》：肾虚火炽者不宜用。即用当与黄柏、知母同入。
• 4.《得配本草》：内热、精血燥二者禁用。

Eucommia Bark/ Sichuan Du Zhong

Eucommia ulmoides (EU) (also known as “Du Zhong” in Chinese language) is a plant containing various kinds of chemical constituents such as lignans, iridoids, phenolics, steroids, flavonoids, and other compounds. These constituents of EU possess various medicinal properties and have been used in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) as a folk drink and functional food for several thousand years. . . The health-promoting properties of EU on cardiovascular system and antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective effects and metabolic modulation on bones and phytoestrogenic properties have attracted much interest in the extraction and functional development of active ingredients of EU. Evidenced based complementary and alternative medicine.

From the manufacturer: 

The taste is sweet, slightly pungent; and it is warming in nature. It is the dry bark of Eucommia ulmoides. Indications are for lumbar spine pain, weak feet and knees, excessive urination, vaginal discharge, fetal movement [or possible threatened miscarriage], and high blood pressure. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians.

Indications: Nourishes the liver and kidney, strengthens the bones and muscles, and “relieves pregnancy” [calms the fetus] It has been used to cure lumbar spine pain, weak feet and knees, urinary incontinence, vaginal discharge, restless fetal movement, high blood pressure.  

TCM references for herbal use of eucommia: 

① "Ben Jing": Mainly lumbar and spinal pain, nourishes the middle and nourish vital energy, strengthens the muscles and bones, strengthens the mind, remove itching and dampness under the yin, and [excess urination].     

② "Bie Lu": Soreness in the main foot, do not want to practice the ground. [difficulty walking]    

③ "Yao Xing Lun": Treat cold kidney; with buttocks and low back pain, patients with weak waist and stiff body, wind [nerve pain] also. Use it for your waist.     

④ "Rihuazi Ben Cao": cures kidney labor, lumbar spinal spasm. Used as medicine.     

⑤Wang Haogu: Nourishes the liver dryness, nourishes the liver and wind [nerve pain from deficiency.]     

⑥ "Ben Cao Zheng": stops wet dreams, warms the uterus, and relieves fetal gas.     

⑦ "Yu Qiu Yao Jie": to benefit the liver and kidney, nourish bones and muscles, to remove joint swelling. Cures waist and knee pain, leg and foot spasm.     

⑧ "Ben Cao Zai Xin": Replenishing energy and strengthening Yang Dao.

Dosage  

Oral administration: decoction, 6~15g; or soaking in wine; or into pills or powder. 

Cautions: 

1. Be cautious using this with Yin deficiency and fire [fever or inflammation].     
2. "Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu": do not use with snake skin, or Yuan Shen ginseng.     
3. "Ben Cao Jing Shu": Not suitable for people with kidney deficiency and fire. It should be used together with Huangbo [Cortex Phellodendri] and Zhimu [Rhizoma Anemarrhenae. ]    
4. "Depei Ben Cao": Do not use with internal heat and dryness of jing essence and blood.