Medicinals

yù zhú / 玉竹 / 玉竹 / Solomon's seal [root]

Latin pharmacognostic name: Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma

Alternate English names:

Alternate Chinese names: 萎香 wěi xiāng; 葳参 wēi shēn; 玉朮 yù zhú; 明玉竹 míng yù zhú; 萎蕤 wěi ruí; 葳蕤 wēi ruí

Origin: Plant

Use: medicinal

Category: Supplementing agents / Yīn-supplementing agents

Properties: Sweet; slightly cold.

Channel entry: lung and stomach channels.

Indications:

Dosage & Method:

Oral: 10–15g in decoctions.

Warning:

Contraindicated in spleen vacuity with damp phlegm.

Product Description:

The dried rhizome is cylindrical and slightly shrunken, with sparse branches of differing length. Its overall length can be as much as 40 cm but is usually sold broken into 5–15 cm lengths. The diameter is about 1 cm. The exterior surface is a pale, yellowish brown and has distinct fine annular nodes 0.3–1 cm apart and bears the scars left by fibrous roots. It is hard when dry, but when affected by damp it softens and becomes supple. It is cut into longitudinal slices, which are pale yellow, horny and semitranslucent.

Quality:

Long soft fat rhizomes pale in color, with a sweet flavor are the best.

Product Area:

Jiāngsū, Zhèjiāng, ānhuī, Húnán, Guǎngdōng, Guǎngxī, Yúnnán, Sìchuān.

Etymology:

Yù zhǔ 玉竹, literally ""jade bamboo,"" apparently reflects the nodes on the surface of the rhizome and the jadelike appearance of the dried agent.

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