TCM Properties
- Taste
- acrid, sweet
- Temperature
- neutral
- Channels
- Liver, Kidney, Spleen
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Tonifies Kidney Essence
- Secures Essence and stops excess urination
- Nourishes Liver and brightens the eyes
- Strengthens the Spleen and stops diarrhea
- Calms the fetus
Secondary Actions
- Addresses both Kidney Yang and Yin deficiency without drying or stagnating
Classic Formulas
- Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan — tonifies Kidney Essence and Qi for male infertility and sexual dysfunction
- Shou Tai Wan — secures the Kidneys and calms the fetus for threatened miscarriage
Classical References
- Classical commentaries describe Tu Si Zi as 'warming but not drying, supplementing but not stagnating,' distinguishing it from harsher tonics
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Quercetin
- Kaempferol
- Hyperoside
- Chlorogenic acid
- Isorhamnetin
Studied Effects
- Systematic review synthesises ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological mechanisms across Asian traditional uses (PMID 25281912)
- Specific active components promote neural stem cell proliferation via bioassay-guided fractionation (PMID 34771043)
- Hyperoside, a key flavonol glycoside constituent, exhibits anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities (PMID 35561084)
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Yin deficiency with excess Heat
- Constipation with dry stools
- Scanty, dark, painful urination (Bladder Fire)
- Excess Kidney Fire
Cautions
- Standard dose 6–12g; up to 15–20g for severe deficiency under practitioner supervision
- Pinyin in original data stub was transposed ('Si Tu Zi' → corrected to 'Tu Si Zi')