Efficacy and Usage of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ)

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus is the ripe fruit of the evergreen tree Ligustrum lucidumAit. (Oleaceae family). It is often harvested around the winter solstice, hence it is also called Dongqingzi. For medicinal use, the fruit is steamed and then dried in the sun.

I. Efficacy and Applications

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus has a sweet and bitter taste, and is cool in nature. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians.

Its functions include tonifying the Liver and Kidneys, clearing heat, and improving vision. Its characteristic is that it tonifies without causing cloying stagnation. It is excellent for clearing deficiency heat, nourishing Liver blood, and brightening the eyes.

It is commonly used to treat patterns such as Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency, blurred vision, poor eyesight, premature graying of hair, lower back pain and tinnitus, as well as Yin deficiency with internal heat.

Excerpts from Classical Texts:

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Shen Nong's Herbal Classic (Běn Jīng): "Bitter in taste and neutral. Mainly tonifies the Middle Jiao, calms the five Zang organs, nourishes the essence and spirit, and eliminates hundred diseases."
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Compendium of Materia Medica (Běn Cǎo Gāng Mù): "Strengthens the Yin, fortifies the lower back and knees, turns white hair black, and brightens the eyes."
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Commentary on the Materia Medica (Běn Cǎo Jīng Shū): "The Kidneys are fundamentally cold, but become hot and weak due to deficiency. This herb's Qi and flavor are purely Yin; it is an essential item that precisely enters the Kidneys to clear heat and replenish essence."
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Jade Stem Materia Medica (Yù Qiū Yào Jiě): "Strengthens tendons and bones, secures essence and strengthens Yang, tonifies and benefits essence and blood, and fosters growth of essence and spirit."
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Essentials of Materia Medica (Běn Cǎo Bèi Yào): "Benefits the Liver and Kidneys, calms the five Zang organs, strengthens the lower back and knees, sharpens hearing and vision, darkens beard and hair, tonifies wind-deficiency, and eliminates hundred diseases."

II. Combination and Application

1.
For various patterns of Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and is a mild tonic. It is most commonly used in combination with Ecliptae Herba (Han Lian Cao), in the formula known as Er Zhi Wan (Two Solstices Pill). The name "Two Solstices" originates from the harvesting times: Ecliptae is harvested at the summer solstice, while Ligustri is harvested at the winter solstice.
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  Wang Ang stated: "Steam Ligustri Lucidi Fructus with wine, then dry in the sun (20 liang), combine with dried Mulberry Fruit (Sang Shen, 10 liang) and Ecliptae Herba (Han Lian Cao, 10 liang). Make into honeyed pills to treat hundred diseases of deficiency and debilitation."
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  Sichuan Journal of Chinese Materia Medica: "Formula for seborrheic alopecia: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, Polygoni Multiflori Radix (He Shou Wu), Cuscutae Semen (Tu Si Zi), and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui), 10g each. Decoct in water for oral administration, one dose daily for two consecutive months."
2.
For Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and is effective at clearing deficiency heat. It is often combined with herbs like Lycii Cortex (Di Gu Pi), Moutan Cortex (Dan Pi), and Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di).
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  Anhui Chinese Medicinal Herbs: "Formula for Yin deficiency with bone-steaming tidal fever: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and Lycii Cortex (Di Gu Pi), 9g each; Artemisiae Annuae Herba (Qing Hao) and Prunellae Spica (Xia Ku Cao), 6g each. Decoct in water for oral administration."
3.
For Poor Vision and Blurred Eyesight due to Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus has the effect of improving vision. It is often combined with other herbs that tonify the Liver and Kidneys and brighten the eyes, such as Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shu Di), Cuscutae Semen (Tu Si Zi), and Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi Zi).
4.
For Heat Bi Syndrome (Painful Obstruction): Ligustri Lucidi Fructus can both relieve bone-steaming consumptive fever and clear stagnant heat from the collaterals. For treating symptoms like red, swollen, painful joints, skin that feels feverish or shows faint red patches, dry mouth, tidal fever, and dry stools, it is often combined with heat-clearing and Bi-resolving herbs such as Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di), Lonicerae Caulis (Ren Dong Teng), Erodii/Geranium Herba (Lao Guan Cao), and Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (Qin Jiao).
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  Combination with Honey-fried Astragalus Root (Zhi Huang Qi): Ligustri (cool) and Astragalus (warm) complement each other, balancing Yin and Yang. This pairing can be used for debilitated individuals prone to external infections, as it helps strengthen constitution.
Furthermore, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus can also be used for lowering lipids and weight reduction. It is often combined with herbs like Nelumbinis Folium (He Ye), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Dan Shen), Pu'er tea, Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi Zi), and Astragali Radix (Huang Qi), as in Zhu Liangchun's Xie Zhuo Qing Shen Tea.

III. Dosage and Administration

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus can be used in decoctions or made into pills. The general common dosage is over ten grams.

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Wang Ang stated: "Nǚ Zhēn Zi and Dōng Qīng Zi are listed as two separate items in the Materia Medica, but they are actually the same substance. Harvesting at the winter solstice is best. Use after steaming with wine."

IV. Precautions

Due to its cool nature, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus is not suitable for individuals with Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold accompanied by diarrhea, or those with Yang deficiency.