State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Eucommiae Cortex

Common Name

Eucommia Stem Bark

Category

Tonify the Yang

Ingredients

Taste

Sweet, Slightly Acrid

Pao Zhi

Dry-fried to stop bleeding while maintaining its ability to tonify the Liver and Kidneys. Used for abnormal uterine bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, or bleeding during pregnancy due to instability of the Conception & Penetrating Vessels. Salt-fried to guide its actions directly into the Kidney channel, strengthening its ability to tonify the Kidneys and Liver. It is suggested to have a better anti-hypertensive effect than the unprepared bark.

Temperature

Warm

Action / Indication

1. Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens bones and muscles: used to treat painful, weak, or cold lower back, knees, or legs. Also used to help heal broken or fractured bones.
2. Secures pregnancy, and helps to prevent miscarriage: for bleeding, backache, or restless fetus.
3. Warms Kidney yang: used to treat incontinence, infertility, and impotence.
4. Lowers blood pressure: used to treat hypertension, especially with dizziness or lightheadedness.

Treatment Principles

Strengthens Bones and Sinews
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Secures Pregnancy
Lowers Blood Pressure

Contraindication

Yin deficiency heat or fire.

Dosages

9-15g. Salt-fry during pregnancy, and for back pain and yang deficiency conditions.

Meridians

KD, LIV

Tom's Comment

1. Du Zhong is commonly paired up with Huai Niu Xi to strengthen Bones and Sinews.
2. Du Zhong is only slightly warming and is safe to use in a wide variety of patients.
3. There are many TCM over-the-counter hypertension preparations that use Du Zhong as the chief herb.

Source

Formula Type