Yu Zhu: Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hongji Medical
Jun 5
3 min read

Yu Zhu, also known as Polygonatum or Solomon’s Seal, is the dried rhizome of the Polygonatum odoratum plant from the Liliaceae family. Renowned in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its ability to nourish yin, moisten dryness, and quench thirst, Yu Zhu holds a significant place in herbal therapy.

Its use was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), classified as a top-grade herb, noted for treating “sudden stroke with fever, muscle stiffness, weak blood vessels, and promoting skin health, with long-term use removing facial dark spots and enhancing complexion.”

Over time, TCM scholars like Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty’s Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) detailed Yu Zhu’s properties, emphasizing its ability to “nourish lung and stomach yin, moisten dryness, and relieve thirst.” Texts like Bencao Beiyao and Bencao Zhengyi further expanded its applications, making it widely used in clinical practice.

Properties of Yu Zhu

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Taste: Sweet
Nature: Neutral
Meridians: Lung, Stomach

Key Components

Yu Zhu contains polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds, contributing to its pharmacological effects.

Main Functions

Nourishes yin and moistens dryness.
Generates fluids and quenches thirst.
Offers antioxidant, blood sugar-lowering, and immune-enhancing effects.

Clinical Uses of Yu Zhu

Yu Zhu is widely used in TCM to treat various conditions:

Nourishing Yin and Moisturizing Dryness: Yu Zhu hydrates the lungs and stomach, making it effective for dry cough, low sputum, dry throat, and thirst caused by yin deficiency.
Promoting Fluid and Quenching Thirst: It helps with excessive thirst due to heat-related fluid loss.
Other Uses: Yu Zhu is used for managing diabetes (known as "wasting-thirst" in TCM), rheumatic pain, dry skin, and dry eyes, especially for people who spend long hours on electronic devices.

Skin and Eye Benefits

Skin Health: Yu Zhu’s yin-nourishing properties help hydrate dry, rough skin, keeping it smooth and moisturized.
Eye Health: It can relieve dry eyes and blurry vision, making it beneficial for those who use screens frequently.

Yu Zhu in Classic TCM Formulas

Yu Zhu is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects. Here are some examples:

Yang yin Qing fei Tang (Nourish Yin and Clear Lung Decoction): Contains Yu Zhu, Rehmannia, Ophiopogon, Scrophularia, Peony, Licorice, Moutan, Mint, and Fritillaria. It nourishes yin, clears lung heat, and treats dry throat and cough with little phlegm.
Bai he Gu jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction to Strengthen Metal): Includes Yu Zhu, Lily, Rehmannia, Ophiopogon, Scrophularia, Fritillaria, Angelica, Peony, Platycodon, and Licorice. It nourishes lung and kidney yin, stops cough, and treats symptoms like coughing blood or night sweats.
Zeng ye Tang (Increase Fluid Decoction): Combines Yu Zhu with Scrophularia, Ophiopogon, and Rehmannia to relieve constipation caused by fluid deficiency.

農本方 - 養陰清肺湯

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Comparison with Similar Herbs

Yu Zhu shares some effects with other TCM herbs but has unique strengths:

Ophiopogon (Mai Dong): Nourishes yin and clears heart-related irritability, making it better for insomnia and restlessness compared to Yu Zhu.
Glehnia/Adenophora (Sha Shen): Nourishes lung or stomach yin, depending on the type (Northern Sha Shen for lungs, Southern Sha Shen for stomach), differing slightly from Yu Zhu’s balanced lung-stomach action.
Dendrobium (Shi Hu): Stronger at nourishing stomach yin and clearing heat, ideal for stomach-related yin deficiency.

農本方 - 麥冬

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Modern Applications and Research

Modern research highlights Yu Zhu’s diverse benefits:

Antioxidant Effects: Its polysaccharides help neutralize free radicals, slowing aging.
Blood Sugar Regulation: Yu Zhu may promote insulin secretion, aiding diabetes management.
Immune Support: It strengthens immunity, improving resistance to illness.
Anti-Fatigue: Yu Zhu boosts energy and reduces tiredness.

Beyond TCM, Yu Zhu is used in beauty products and supplements for its skin-hydrating and anti-aging properties. It also shows promise in treating dry syndrome, diabetes, and menopausal symptoms.

農本方 - 玉竹

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How to Use Yu Zhu Safely

Dosage

Typical dose: 9–15 grams, adjusted based on condition and doctor’s advice.

Precautions

Contraindications: Avoid in cases of spleen deficiency with dampness.
Drug Interactions: No major known interactions.
Side Effects: Rare, but some may experience mild stomach discomfort, which usually resolves after stopping use.

Usage Tips

Preparation: Can be boiled in decoctions, steeped as tea, or added to food.
Selection: Choose Yu Zhu that is soft, yellowish-white, and slightly translucent for best quality.

Conclusion

Yu Zhu is a versatile herb in TCM, valued for nourishing yin, relieving dryness, and promoting fluid production. Its applications range from treating coughs and thirst to improving skin and eye health. With a long history in classic formulas and growing modern uses in healthcare and beauty, Yu Zhu remains a powerful herb. Always consult a TCM practitioner for proper use to ensure safety and effectiveness.

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Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang: A Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedy for Lung and Throat Health

Zeng Ye Tang: Herbal Relief for Dryness and Constipation

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中醫知識

Chinese Medicine - Qi

Blood and semen

Heart and lungs

Spleen and Liver

Kidney

Gallbladder, stomach, intestines, bladder

Interrelationships among the five internal organs

Other questions

Qi is the constantly moving subtle substance that constitutes the human body and maintains its vital activities.

There are three main sources of Qi in the human body: the innate essence inherited from parents, the essence of water and grain in food, and the pure Qi existing in nature.

Qi has many important physiological effects on the human body. The normal functioning of the internal organs, meridians, limbs, bones, five senses and nine orifices all depends on the physiological effects of Qi.

Generally speaking, the physiological effects of Qi include five aspects: promotion, warming, defense, consolidation, and qi transformation.

Yuan Qi is the most original Qi in the human body.

Yuan Qi is mainly composed of the essence of the kidneys and is generated from the essence of the kidneys.

The distribution of primordial energy is throughout the body, reaching everywhere. The internal organs, meridians, body parts, five senses and nine orifices are all places where primordial energy rises, falls, enters and exits.

The main physiological functions of Yuan Qi are twofold: one is to promote and stimulate the growth, development and reproduction of the human body. The other is to promote and stimulate the physiological activities of the internal organs and meridians.

If the kidneys are deficient in essence and energy due to congenital deficiency, postnatal malnutrition, or long-term illness, and the kidneys lack the source of vital energy, various diseases may occur.

Zong Qi is the Qi that accumulates in the chest. The place where Zong Qi accumulates is called "Tan Zhong" (between the two breasts). Because it is the place where Zong Qi is most concentrated, it is also called "Qi Hai".

Zong Qi is mainly composed of the fresh air from nature inhaled by the lungs and the essence of water and grain produced by the spleen and stomach from food.

The main functions of Zong Qi are twofold:

1. It is to walk the Xi Dao to control breathing. All breathing, speech, and voice are related to the Zong Qi. When the Zong Qi is abundant, the breathing is slow and the rhythm is even, the speech is clear and the voice is loud; otherwise, the breathing is short and the voice is low.

Second, it is to circulate Qi and blood through the heart meridians. All the beating of the heart and the circulation of Qi and blood are related to Zong Qi. If the pulse is gentle, the rhythm is consistent, and there is spirit and root, it is a manifestation of abundant Zong Qi. On the contrary, if the pulse is agitated, scattered, weak, or irregular, it means that the Zong Qi is insufficient or even weak.

Zhongqi refers to the Qi of the middle burner. Because the spleen and stomach are located in the middle burner, the Qi of the spleen and stomach is generally called "Zhongqi".

It is generally believed that the formation of Zhong Qi is formed by the combination of the Yuan Qi distributed in the Zhongjiao and the water and grain essence produced by the spleen and stomach.

The middle qi is mainly distributed in the middle burner, spreading between the spleen, stomach, and intestines, and it rises and falls, constantly mediating.

The main functions of Zhongqi include three aspects:

1. It controls the rise and fall of Qi. The middle burner is the hub of the rise and fall of Qi. When the middle Qi is abundant and harmonious, the Qi of the liver and spleen will rise healthily, and the Qi of the lungs and stomach will descend smoothly. When the rise and fall are smooth, all organs will be at peace.

Second, it stimulates the spleen and stomach to absorb and transport. When the middle qi is abundant, the spleen rises and the stomach descends normally, the water and grain are received and transported normally, and the essence of water and grain is continuously produced to generate qi and blood, nourishing the whole body.

Third, it maintains the position of the internal organs. The reason why the internal organs maintain their relatively constant position depends on the rise and fall of the qi of the middle jiao spleen and stomach.

Ying Qi, also known as "Rong Qi", is the Qi that flows in the veins.

The distribution and movement of Ying Qi are clearly discussed in Suwen Bi Lun, which points out that Ying Qi "harmonizes the five internal organs, flows through the six bowels, and then enters the meridians."

It explains that the nutrient energy enters the meridians, circulates throughout the body, flows into the internal organs, and reaches the limbs, repeating the cycle over and over again.

The main functions of Ying Qi:

1. It is the transformation of blood.

Second, it nourishes the whole body. The nourishing qi enters the blood vessels and causes the body fluids to penetrate into the blood vessels. The two combine to form blood.

The so-called Qi can produce blood, mainly refers to: Ying Qi transforms into blood. Ying Qi is produced by the refined part of the essence of grains, and is a nutrient necessary for physiological activities such as viscera and meridians, and plays an important role in maintaining human life activities.

The Inner Canon of Medicine states that the Nutritive Qi "harmonises the five internal organs, and spreads throughout the six bowels", "nourishes the four extremities", etc., which emphasizes that the Nutritive Qi has a nourishing effect.

Wei Qi is the Qi that circulates outside the veins. It is so called because it protects the skin and resists external pathogens.

The distribution of Wei Qi is fast, smooth and agile, and is not restricted by blood vessels, so it can "flow through the skin, between the flesh, fumigate the peritoneum, and spread to the chest and abdomen" (Suwen Bi Lun). This shows that Wei Qi spreads throughout the body, externally between the skin and muscles, and internally to the peritoneum of the chest and abdomen - the area inside the diaphragm of the chest cavity.

The main physiological functions of Wei Qi are three-fold:

First, it protects the skin and prevents the invasion of external pathogens. In clinical practice, if a patient is prone to colds and fever, the treatment is usually based on the theory that the Wei surface is not solid. The theoretical basis is here. Second, it warms the internal organs, muscles, fur, etc. Wei Qi has a strong warming effect. If Wei Yang is deficient, the warming power is weakened, and cold symptoms such as cold body, cold limbs and low body temperature may appear. If Wei Qi is stagnant and turns into heat, hot symptoms such as fever and malignant fever may appear.

Third, it regulates the opening and closing of pores and controls sweat excretion, which is what Lingshu Benzang says about the Wei Qi having the function of “controlling opening and closing”.

Yu Zhu: Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Properties of Yu Zhu

Nature and Meridian Affinity

Key Components

Main Functions

Clinical Uses of Yu Zhu

Skin and Eye Benefits

Yu Zhu in Classic TCM Formulas

Comparison with Similar Herbs

Modern Applications and Research

How to Use Yu Zhu Safely

Dosage

Precautions

Usage Tips

Conclusion

Related Posts

中醫知識

The concept of Qi

Vitality

Zong Qi

Middle Qi

Ying Qi

Health

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