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Cornelian cherry fruit, Cornus officinalis. Botanical plate: Cornus officinalis SZ50
Plate: Cornus officinalis SZ50. Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini. Public domain.

Cornelian cherry fruit

Cornus officinalis · 山茱萸

Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.

Also called Shan zhu yu, Asiatic cornelian cherry, Japanese cornel

Pinyin: Shān Zhū Yú

Limited human data

A sour red fruit used in Chinese medicine to support the liver and kidneys and to hold back excess sweating and fluid loss.

Did you know? The fruit is also used in Japanese Kampo medicine, where it is called sansyuyu.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

  • Kidneys, bladder & UTIs. Traditional use for kidney weakness and frequent urination. Lab and animal studies. No good human trials for the fruit alone.
    Traditional proof
  • Blood sugar. Lab and animal studies suggest blood sugar effects. Human trials are lacking.
    Traditional proof
  • Women's health. Traditional use for heavy periods and menopause symptoms, mostly within formulas. Human evidence is limited.
    Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Kidneys & bladder, Pancreas & blood sugar, Hormones & reproduction

Traditional use

Traditional Chinese Medicine uses shan zhu yu to tonify Liver and Kidney yin and yang, stop excess sweating and urine loss, and support menstrual blood flow. It is a core herb in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill) and Zuo Gui Wan.

How it is classified

Herbal actions
Astringent, Tonic, Nutritive. Energy: warming.
Chinese medicine
山茱萸 Astringe & stabilize. Nature: warm. Flavour: sour, astringent. Enters the Liver and Kidney channels.

How people take it

Traditional decoctions often use 6 to 12 g of dried fruit. Capsules and extracts are common. No good human dose data exist for the fruit alone.

Decoction, tea, powder and capsule.

Where to get it

Grows in China, Korea and Japan. Sold as dried fruit (often steamed and pitted), slices, powder and capsules.

Be careful

Usually mild. Can cause stomach upset. Rare allergic reactions are possible.

Avoid if: pregnancy.

Mixing with other things

  • Works well together

    Shan yao and shan zhu yu are both in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, used in tradition for Kidney Yin.

  • Works well together

    Shu di huang and shan zhu yu are both in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill).

  • Works well together

    Goji and shan zhu yu are both in Zuo Gui Wan.

  • Worth knowing
    Diabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)

    Lab studies suggest the fruit may lower blood sugar. Check levels if you take diabetes medicine.

Found in these formulas

Six Flavor Rehmannia (TCM)

The honest take

Shan zhu yu is a traditional kidney tonic and astringent with mostly lab and animal evidence. Its main role is in classic formulas, so its own benefits are hard to separate out. It is usually well tolerated, but human trials are few.