Natural Herb Library

Chinese Wolfberry Fruit

Chinese
枸杞子
Pinyin
Gou Qi Zi
Latin
Fructus Lycii

Known in TCM as Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子), this sweet, neutral herb enters the Liver, Kidney, and Lung. Traditionally, it nourishes the Liver and Kidney - Gou Qi Zi is a classic deficiency tonic for sore low back and knees, dizziness, weakness, and gradual depletion of essence and blood, most often applied for blurred vision, kidney deficiency, and dry cough. Modern research has identified Lycium among its active constituents.

Part used: Fruit Also known as: Lycium

TCM Properties

Taste
sweet
Temperature
neutral
Channels
Liver, Kidney, Lung

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Nourishes the Liver and Kidney - Gou Qi Zi is a classic deficiency tonic for sore low back and knees, dizziness, weakness, and gradual depletion of essence and blood.
  • Benefits the eyes - it is widely used for blurred vision, dry eyes, floaters, and age-related visual weakness when Liver blood or Kidney yin are insufficient.
  • Nourishes blood and essence - the berry appears in long-course formulas for constitutional weakness, infertility support, and recovery from chronic illness.
  • Moistens the Lung - it is often chosen for dry cough with scanty sputum when dryness and underlying yin deficiency coexist.

Secondary Actions

  • Gou Qi Zi is one of the clearest food-medicine bridge herbs in Chinese practice, making it common in soups, porridges, teas, and tonic formulas rather than only in heavy medicinal prescriptions.
  • Its action is gentler and less cloying than richer essence tonics, so it is frequently used for longer restorative courses or combined with stronger Kidney and blood tonics.

Classic Formulas

  • Qi Ju Di Huang Wan - classic eye-support formula pairing Gou Qi Zi with Ju Hua on a Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base for Liver-Kidney deficiency affecting vision.
  • Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan - reproductive and essence-tonic formula in which Gou Qi Zi helps nourish Kidney essence and support fertility.
  • Zuo Gui Wan and related yin-essence formulas use Gou Qi Zi to deepen Liver-Kidney nourishment without overcooling the patient.

Classical References

  • Materia medica tradition consistently describes Gou Qi Zi as sweet and neutral, entering the Liver and Kidney to nourish essence, enrich blood, and benefit the eyes.
  • Me and Qi and related teaching references also emphasize its useful Lung-moistening role when dry cough appears together with chronic deficiency.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Lycium barbarum polysaccharides - the best-known immunologic and metabolic research fraction in goji berry
  • Zeaxanthin dipalmitate - hallmark carotenoid linked to modern macular and eye-health interest
  • Betaine - a notable osmoprotective and metabolic constituent
  • Flavonoids and phenolic acids - broader antioxidant compounds contributing to the berry's functional-food profile

Studied Effects

  • A 2025 comprehensive review summarized goji berry chemistry, bioactive compounds, health-promoting activities, and functional-food applications, highlighting strong preclinical but still developing clinical evidence (PMID 41092619).
  • A 2023 review focused on nutrition, phytochemical structure, biological features, and food-industry prospects, reinforcing Gou Qi Zi's position as a food-herb bridge rather than a narrowly pharmaceutical agent (PMID 35593666).
  • A 2022 review examined Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in relation to immunity, metabolic syndrome, and gut-microbiota modulation, showing why the berry remains prominent in metabolic-health research (PMID 37430929).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Loose stools or marked digestive weakness from Spleen deficiency
  • Acute exterior excess patterns when rich tonics are not yet appropriate

Cautions

  • MSK reports a case of bleeding with elevated INR after goji berry wine was used alongside warfarin.
  • Allergic reactions have been reported, especially in people with food or pollen allergies and possible lipid-transfer-protein cross-reactivity.
  • Concentrated powders, juices, and extracts should not be assumed equivalent to ordinary culinary or decoction use.

Drug Interactions

  • Warfarin - case reports describe elevated INR and bleeding risk with concurrent use

Conditions