Pharmaceutical Name:

Semen Pruni

Botanical Name:

Prunus japonica Thunb.
Prunus humilis Bge.
Prunus tomentosa Thunb.

Common Name:

Bush-cherry seed

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The ripe seeds from the fruit are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun.  The seeds are then ground in a mortar and pestle.

Properties and Taste:

Pungent, bitter and neutral

Meridian:

Small and large intestines

Functions:

To lubricate intestines and move feces
To promote urination and reduce edema

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Constipation due to dryness in the intestines.
*Use with Apricot seed (Xingren), Peach seed (Taoren) and Abrorvitae seed (Baiziren) in the formula Wuren Wan.

2.      Edema.
*Use with Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi), Phaseolus seed (Chixiaodou) and Imperata rhizome (Baimaogen) in the formula Yuliren Tang.

Dosage:

5-12 g

Cautions:

This herb is contraindicated in cases with depletion of body fluids, or during pregnancy.