State/School

California License Exam, ESATM, NYTCM, Pacific College Comps, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Yo San University

Pharm Name

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus

Common Name

Ligustrum Fruit

Category

Tonify the Yin

Ingredients

Taste

Bitter, Sweet

Pao Zhi

Wine-steamed to enhance its ability to enrich the yin as well as nourish the Liver & Kidneys. It is most commonly used for premature greying due to Kidney essence insufficiency or for diminished visual acuity, vertigo, tinnitus, deafness, or low back and knee weakness due to Liver & Kidney yin deficiency.

Temperature

Cool

Action / Indication

1. Tonifies Liver and Kidney yin: used to treat tinnitus, dizziness, floaters, lower back and knee soreness, and prematurely grey hair.
2. Clears deficiency heat: used to treat menopausal symptoms, including: hot flashes, irritability, thirst, nightsweats, and mood swings.
3. Benefits the vision: used in both excess and deficient conditions to treat blurry vision, dry eyes, and dimishing vision.

Treatment Principles

Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin
Clears Deficiency Heat
Benefits Vision

Contraindication

Yang deficiency, diarrhea due to deficiency cold of the Spleen.

Dosages

9-18g. Use raw or steamed.

Meridians

LIV, KD

Tom's Comment

1. Nu Zhen Zi's claim to fame is to nourish yin without being cloying.
2. Nu Zhen Zi is often indicated for decreased visual acuity due to declining Kidney function in the elderly.

Source

Formula Type