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Cura x Cura

E Zhu莪术

Curcumae Rhizoma · Zedoary Rhizome

Herbs that Invigorate the Blood 活血化瘀药《药性论》

Overview

One of the two strongest blood-breaking herbs in common use, almost always paired with San Leng 三棱. Acrid, bitter and warm, it enters the Liver and Spleen and attacks what has hardened — fixed abdominal masses, long-stalled menstruation, obstinate food accumulation. Its force is the reason for its restrictions: it consumes upright qi, and it is not a herb for a weak patient without a genuine stasis pattern. Vinegar-processed E Zhu is the usual dispensary form; a dry-fried E Zhu is also stocked.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid, bitter · Warm

Channels

Liver · Spleen

Typical Dosage

3–15 g in decoction
莪术Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Breaks up blood stasis, dissolves massesFixed, palpable abdominal masses; amenorrhea of long standing with dark clotted flow when it does come; old immobile accumulations that gentler blood-movers have not touched.
  • Moves qi, relieves painDistending, stabbing epigastric or abdominal pain where qi stagnation and blood stasis have knotted together.
  • Disperses hardened food accumulationChronic fullness and childhood food stagnation that has set, where ordinary digestives no longer shift it.
  • Vinegar-prepared and dry-fried formsVinegar-processing is the standard dispensary form: the vinegar leads the herb into the Liver blood, sharpens the pain-relieving action and blunts the harshness of the raw rhizome. Dry-frying softens it further and is preferred when hardened food accumulation rather than blood stasis is the target. Raw Zedoary is the most forceful and the hardest on upright qi, and is used least.

In Formulas

Formulas containing E Zhu

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Fixed abdominal masses and long-standing accumulations
    - Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea from entrenched blood stasis
    - Stabbing epigastric or abdominal pain with distension
    - Chronic hardened food stagnation, including in children

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Uterine fibroidsAmenorrheaAbdominal massesFunctional dyspepsia

Contraindications

Cautions

One of the strongest blood-breaking herbs: contraindicated in pregnancy, and not to be used in heavy menstrual bleeding, an active bleeding tendency, or a low platelet count. It consumes qi and blood, so it is wrong for a depleted patient with no real stasis to break. Patients taking warfarin or another anticoagulant should be discussed with the prescribing doctor before it is added.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中药大辞典》(Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica).

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.