郁李仁

Naming

Yu Li Ren(Semen Pruni)——Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

The Processing of 郁李仁

Origin

The seeds of the deciduous shrub Prunus humilis Bge., P. japonica I
pedurzculata Maxim of family Rosaceae.

Location

Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Liaoning provinces, etc.

Harvest

Collected in summer and autumn.

The actual smell and taste

Light smell and slightly bitter taste.

Best quality

Yellowish white with full kenel, well-arranged without broken bits and oily seeping.

Processing

Peeled before pounded into pieces.

The Effect of 郁李仁

Property

Bitter, pungent, mild; large intestine, spleen and small intestine meridians entered.

Actions

Moisten intestines for relaxing bowels, induce diuresis to alleviate edema.

Indications

A. Constipation due to intestinal dryness

It has the action of moistening intestines for relaxing bowels which is similar but better than that of Huo Ma Ren, and removing qi stagnation in large intestine as well. For constipation due to intestinal dryness and abdominal distention due to qi stagnation, it is often combined with intestine-moistening and bowels-relaxing herbs, such as Huo Ma Ren, Bai Zi Ren and Xing Ren, as in Wu Ren Wan from Shi Yi De Xiao Fang (Effective Formulae Handed Down for Generations).

B. Edema

It can induce diuresis to alleviate edema. For edema and difficulty in micturition, it is often combined with herbs for inducing diuresis to alleviate edema such as Sang Bai Pi and Chi Xiao Dou, as in Yu Li Ren Tang from Sheng Ji Zong Lu.

Dosage and Administrations

Smash it and decoct 6~12 g.