Chinese Herb: Glossy Privet Fruit, Nvzhenzi
Glossy Privet Fruit, known as Nvzhenzi in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a sweet and slightly bitter herb with cool properties. This versatile herb is celebrated for its ability to enrich the liver and kidneys, brighten the eyes, and enhance hair health by contributing to its natural color.
It is commonly applied in addressing various health concerns, including vertigo and tinnitus, weakness in the loins and knees, early greying of hair and beard, and impaired vision. Additionally, Glossy Privet Fruit is useful for alleviating symptoms associated with inner heat, diabetes, bone steaming, and hot flashes. Its nourishing and restorative qualities make it a valuable addition to herbal formulations aimed at promoting vitality and overall well-being.
Chinese Name | 女貞子 |
Chinese Pinyin | Nvzhenzi |
English Name | Glossy Privet Fruit |
Latin Pharmaceutical Name | Ligustri Lucidi Fructus |
Category | Fruits and seeds |
Origin | The dried mature fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait.(Oleaceae) |
Production Regions | Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Sichuan. |
Macroscopic Features | Oval, elliptical or kidney-shaped, 6~8.5mm long, 3.5~5.5mm diameter. Externally black-purple or grayish-black, wrinkled, base has stem scars or a persistent calyx and short stem. Light in weight. Exocarp is thin, mesocarp is relatively soft, easily peeled off, endocarp is woody, yellowish-brown, with longitudinal ridges, and one seed can be seen after being broken; kidney-shaped, purple-black, and oily. faintly odor, sweet, slightly bitter and astringent taste. |
Quality Requirements | Superior medicinal material is large, full, black-purple. |
Properties | Sweet, bitter, cool |
Functions | Enriches liver and kidney, brighten eyes, blackens hair. Apply to vertigo and tinnitus, relative weakness in the loins and knees, early greying of beard and hair, darkened vision, inner heat and diabetes, bone steaming and hot flash. |
