Pinyin

Yu Zhu

Pharmaceutical

Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati

Botanical

Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce (Liliaceae)

Common Name

Scented Solomon’s Seal Rhizome

Fragrant Solomon's Seal Root

Polygonatum

Other names

Sheng Yu Zhu, Wei Zhu, Fei Yu Zhu, Wei Rui, Lou Rui

Class

Tonify

Subclass

Tonify the Yin

Details

Origin

China.

Properties (characteristics)

Nature: Neutral. 

Taste: Sweet. 

Organ: Lungs, Stomach. 

Toxicity: Non toxic.

Preparation

The rhizomes are collected in summer and autumn, removed from the fibrous root, washed clean, dried in the sun to soften, rubbed repeatly and dried in the air until the drug is devoid of hard core, and then dried in the sun thoroughly. Or after washing steamed thoroughly, or rubbed to translucent after thoroughly steaming, and dried in the sun.

The rhizomes can also be processed with honey. 

Actions

•For treatment of cardiac exhaustion: Use with Aminophylline and hydrochlorothiazide.

•For treatment of high lipids: Use with shan zha.

•For treatment of age spots: Use with ju hua, jiang can, can yong, bo he.

Medical functions

•Effect on heart: Small amount of yu zhu decoction or tincture strengthens the in vitro heart of frogs, while large amount weaken the heart rate, or even stop the hearts.

•Effect on blood vessels: When given 20% decoction to the the blood vessels of frogs, caused the blood vessels to constrict. Giving 20ml of venous injection to dogs has caused the volume of the kidneys to shrink.

•Effect on blood pressure: Giving 20% of yu zhu decoction of 1, 2 and 5ml of venous injections to domestic rabbits has caused the blood pressure to rise slowly but giving small dosage of 5 ml to dogs under anesthesia has caused the blood pressure to lower temporary.

•Effect on blood lipids and arteriosclerosis: Using yu zhu injectiones in muscle injection or in stomach feeding can prevent the rising of triglycerides but cholesterol had risen after administering the herb.

•Effect on blood sugar: Giving domesticated rabbits venous injection of 2 yu zhu extract of 0.5/kg, has caused the blood sugar to lower, but stomach introduction has caused the blood sugar to rise initially and to lower eventually. It can obviously inhibit the effect of of raising blood sugar by the epinephrine.

•Effect on intestines: 20% decoction can initially stimulate in vitro intestines of mice, and eventually inhibits the intestines.

•Effect on uterus: 20% decoction can mildly stimulate in vitro uterus of mice.

•Effect on lack of oxygen: Injecting 100% yu zhu injections enable mice to tolerate lack of oxygen.

Contraindications

•Contraindicated for those with a weak Spleen and Stomach.

•Contraindicated for those with Qi Stagnation and Phlegm-Dampness in the Stomach.

•Contraindicated for those with loose stools due to Cold in the Middle Jiao.

•Use caution for those with high blood pressure and tachycardia.