Eucommia Bark (Duzhong)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Cortex Eucommiae |
| Botanical Name: | Eucommia ulmoides oliv. |
| Common Name: | Erythrina bark, Coralbean bark |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The bark is gathered in summer and autumn. The rough bark is removed and discarded, and then the smooth bark is dried in the sun. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sweet and warm |
| Meridian: | Liver and kidney |
| Functions: | To tonify liver and kidneys and strengthen bones and tendons To calm the fetus to prevent miscarriage |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Deficiency of liver and kidneys manifested as soreness and pain in the lower back and knees. *Use with Psoralea fruit (Buguzhi) and Walnut seed (Hutaoren). 2. Impotence due to deficient kidneys. *Use with Dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu), Dadder seed (Tusizi) and Schisandra fruit (Wuweizi). 3. Threatened abortion or restlessness of fetus manifested as lower abdominal pain and uterine bleeding. *Use with Teasel root (Xuduan) and Dioscorea (Shanyao). |
| Dosage: | 10-15 g |
| Cautions: | The fried herb is more effective than the raw herb. Eucommia bark (Duzhong) is contraindicated in cases with deficiency of yin with excessive fire. |