Wu Yao乌药
Linderae Radix · Lindera Root
Overview
The knotty, aromatic root of lindera, sliced thin and dried. Acrid and warm, it is a qi-moving herb with a particular direction of travel: it warms as it moves, and it reaches the lower abdomen, so it is chosen when qi has stagnated because of cold rather than because of emotional constraint. Its two clinical pictures follow from that — cold, cramping pain in the chest, flanks or lower abdomen, including hernial pain and period pain that eases with a hot water bottle; and a cold Bladder that will not hold, with frequent pale urination and childhood bedwetting, the pattern behind Suo Quan Wan.
Nature & Flavor
Acrid · WarmChannels
Lung · Spleen · Kidney · BladderTypical Dosage
3–9 g in decoctionActions
2 core actions
- Moves qi, stops painDistending, cramping pain in the chest, flanks, epigastrium and lower abdomen from cold qi stagnation; hernial pain; period pain relieved by warmth.
- Warms the Kidney, disperses coldFrequent pale urination, dribbling and childhood bedwetting from cold in the lower burner — with Yi Zhi Ren 益智仁 and Shan Yao 山药 in Suo Quan Wan 缩泉丸.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Wu Yao
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Cold, cramping pain of the chest, flanks and lower abdomen
- Hernial pain; period pain that eases with warmth
- Cold epigastric pain with poor appetite
- Frequent pale urination and bedwetting
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
Acrid, warm and dispersing: sustained use consumes qi, so it is unsuitable where qi and blood are already deficient without real stagnation, and it is the wrong herb for a hot, burning abdominal pain or for yin deficiency with internal heat. Keep courses short and purposeful rather than open-ended. Abdominal pain that is severe, sudden, or accompanied by fever, vomiting or a tense abdomen needs urgent medical assessment before any herb; a hernia that cannot be reduced is a surgical emergency.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies.
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
3. 《中药大辞典》.
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.