Natural Herb Library

Evodia Fruit

Chinese
吴茱萸
Pinyin
Wu Yu
Latin
Fructus Evodiae

Known in TCM as Wu Yu (吴茱萸), this bitter and pungent, hot herb enters the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney. Traditionally, it warms the middle and stops vomiting - Wu Yu is used for nausea, retching, cold-type epigastric pain, and rebellious Stomach qi when cold is the core problem, most often applied for nausea, abdominal pain, and acid reflux. Modern research has identified Evodiamine among its active constituents.

Part used: Fruit Also known as: Evodia

TCM Properties

Taste
bitter, pungent
Temperature
hot
Channels
Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Kidney

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Warms the middle and stops vomiting - Wu Yu is used for nausea, retching, cold-type epigastric pain, and rebellious Stomach qi when cold is the core problem.
  • Disperses Liver cold and alleviates pain - it is a classic herb for vertex headache, hernial pain, cold abdominal pain, and menstrual pain rooted in cold stagnation.
  • Directs rebellious qi downward - formulas use it for acid regurgitation, sour swallowing, and cold-constrained Liver-Stomach disharmony.
  • Warms the Spleen and Kidney and stops dawn diarrhea - it appears when deficiency cold causes early-morning loose stool with cramping and exhaustion.

Secondary Actions

  • This record keeps the shorter import alias Wu Yu, but the standard pharmacopoeial herb identity is Wu Zhu Yu, the well-known hot fruit of Tetradium ruticarpum and related species.
  • Because it is strongly warming and drying, successful use depends heavily on correct cold-pattern identification rather than casual use for any nausea or headache.

Classic Formulas

  • Wu Zhu Yu Tang - classic formula for cold-deficiency headache, vomiting, and epigastric discomfort with rebellious qi.
  • Zuo Jin Wan - famous Liver-Stomach formula pairing Huang Lian with a small dose of Wu Zhu Yu for acid regurgitation and heat-cold complexity.
  • Si Shen Wan - dawn-diarrhea formula using Wu Zhu Yu to warm the middle and help secure chronic leakage.

Classical References

  • Me and Qi describes Wu Zhu Yu as a hot, bitter-pungent herb entering the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney to stop vomiting, warm the interior, and relieve cold pain.
  • Traditional materia medica consistently warns that its powerful hot nature makes it inappropriate for heat patterns, yin deficiency, or reckless self-use.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Evodiamine - one of the best-known quinazolinocarboline alkaloids in Evodia research
  • Rutaecarpine - major alkaloid discussed in vascular, inflammatory, and gastrointestinal studies
  • Dehydroevodiamine - a related alkaloid often included in mechanistic research
  • Limonin and related bitter constituents - broader compounds contributing to fruit chemistry

Studied Effects

  • A 2023 review focused on the major indole alkaloids of Evodia rutaecarpa and their potential relevance to gastrointestinal disease research, reflecting the herb's long traditional digestive focus (PMID 37741256).
  • A 2011 review summarized anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects of Wu Zhu Yu and its major constituents, helping explain modern interest in the herb's bioactive alkaloids (PMID 21320305).
  • A 2021 study reported that rutaecarpine ameliorated pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy in an experimental model, illustrating the expanding pharmacology literature beyond classical digestive indications (PMID 33510809).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Yin deficiency with heat, blazing fire, or hot painful disorders
  • Pregnancy
  • Vomiting or acid regurgitation from Stomach heat rather than interior cold

Cautions

  • Wu Zhu Yu is strongly hot and drying, and excessive dosing can aggravate nausea, mouth irritation, or heat symptoms.
  • Alkaloid-rich extracts and supplements are not equivalent to standard processed decoction slices.
  • MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database

Conditions