Wolfberry Fruit (Gouqizi)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Fructus Lycii |
| Botanical Name: | Lycium Barbarum L. |
| Common Name: | Wolfberry Fruit Lycium Fruit |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The ripe fruit is gathered in the period around the Summer Solstice (tenth solar term), and then it is dried in the shade. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sweet and neutral |
| Meridian: | Liver, kidney and lung |
| Functions: | To tonify kidneys and promote the production of essence To nourish the liver and brighten the eyes To moisten the lungs |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Deficient yin of the liver and kidneys manifested as dizziness, blurred vision and decreased eyesight. *Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua) and Prepared rehmannia root (Shudihuang) in the formula Qiju Dihuang Wan. 2. Deficient yin of the liver and kidneys manifested as soreness of the lower back and knees and nocturnal emissions. *Use with Prepared rehmannia root (Shudihuang) and Asparagus root (Tianmendong). 3. Deficient yin of the lungs manifested as cough. *Use with Ophiopogon root (Maidong), Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu) and Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu). |
| Dosage: | 5-10 g |
| Cautions: | This herb is contraindicated in cases of diarrhea due to deficient spleen. |