Warm Interior Expel Cold: Wu Zhu Yu

wu zhu yu (MOSTLY LIVER ORIENTED - cold congealed in channel w/ pain, ALSO FOR SP/ST - diarrhea due to cold, and LEADING FIRE DOWN - stop vomiting)

吴茱萸 fructus evodiae rutaecarpae

wu = name of a warring state, both zhu and yu mean dogwood.

Dosage is small, 1.5 - 4.5 grams.

Acrid (dispersing),
bitter (downward directing),
HOT (and violently drying!),
slightly TOXIC

Wu Zhu Yu travels to the Spleen and Stomach, the Liver, and the Kidneys.
Only two other herbs go to the Liver: Rou Gui and fennel (Xiao Hui Xiang).

"Best at warming the Liver and Stomach to stop nausea, but also very effective for dredging Liver constraint..."

Functions:

1. Warms the Middle (disperses Cold); Promotes movement of qi (and therefore alleviates pain)

see the warm fire in the belly:
* LV and ST channel disorders manifesting as cold congealing or phlegm leading to headache, epigastric pain / nausea, drooling, no taste sensation, pale tongue, WIRY/weak pulse
* bulging cold disorders in LV channel area
* dysmenorrhea

2. Wu Zhu Yu directs rebellious qi down & stops vomiting (for hot OR cold disorders)

* acid regurg / vomiting

3. Wu Zhu Yu warms the Spleen -

* stops diarrhea due to deficient cold of Spleen and Kidneys

Remember, it is TOXIC, so not for long term use. Not for yin deficient heat because it is very drying!!!