Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit (Zao Pi)

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

• Tonifies the Liver and Kidney and preserves essence — used for dizziness, tinnitus, sore lower back, weak knees, and chronic Liver-Kidney deficiency patterns
• Astringes and secures leakage — stops seminal emission, frequent urination, enuresis, and excessive sweating from deficient Kidney restraint
• Rescues collapse by restraining the outward loss of Qi and Yin — classical high-dose use for profuse sweating, faint pulse, and devastated Yang or Yin collapse
• Astringes to stop uterine bleeding — used when Chong and Ren instability from Liver-Kidney deficiency causes prolonged or excessive bleeding

Secondary Actions

• Supports Xiao Ke / wasting-thirst patterns with excessive urination rooted in Kidney deficiency
• Wine-processed form is favored for chronic tonic formulas, while raw form is used when stronger astringent rescue action is desired

Classic Formulas

• Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (六味地黄丸) — foundational Kidney Yin formula in which Shan Zhu Yu helps tonify the Liver and Kidney while securing the essence
• Zuo Gui Wan (左归丸) — enriches Kidney Yin and essence; Shan Zhu Yu helps prevent leakage while the richer tonics replenish
• Lai Fu Tang (来复汤) — rescue formula using high-dose Shan Zhu Yu with Long Gu and Mu Li for collapse with profuse sweating and scattered Qi and Yin

Classical References

• SYNONYM NOTE: Zao Pi (枣皮) is a regional or folk synonym for Shan Zhu Yu (山茱萸, herb #112). Both refer to Fructus Corni / Cornus officinalis fruit. The source XLSX imported them as separate records; this entry is retained as a separate file, but the therapeutic, research, and safety profile are shared with herb #112.
• Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue (Song dynasty) — Liu Wei Di Huang Wan uses Shan Zhu Yu as one of the three tonifying fruits to enrich Kidney Yin while retaining essence.
• Zhang Xichun medical case tradition (late Qing / early Republic) — high-dose Shan Zhu Yu / Zao Pi use in Lai Fu Tang emphasized the fruit's ability to gather scattered Qi and Yin during collapse.