Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ · Privet Fruit
Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ (女贞子, Privet Fruit) is a herb of Neutral nature and Sweet, Bitter flavor, in the “Yin Tonifying” category. Tradition uses it to nourish Liver and Kidney Yin, Clear Deficiency Heat, Strengthen Lumbar and Knees.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ
- Characters
- 女贞子
- Botanical name
- Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton
- Family
- Oleaceae
- Part used
- Fruit
- Nature
- Neutral
- Flavor
- Sweet, Bitter
- Meridians
- Kidney, Liver
- Category
- Yin Tonifying
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- No contraindication described (always consult)
- Origin
- China, Japan
Actions according to tradition
- Nourish Liver and Kidney Yin
- Clear Deficiency Heat
- Strengthen Lumbar and Knees
- Darken Hair
Traditional uses
- Liver-kidney yin deficiency with dizziness, tinnitus
- Weakness and soreness of low back and knees
- Blurry vision from liver yin deficiency
- Night sweats and afternoon fever
- Premature graying or hair loss
Studied effects and current applications
- Nourishes liver and kidney yin to address deficiency patterns
- Clears heat from yin deficiency
- Brightens eyes and improves vision
- Addresses premature graying of hair
- Immune modulating properties
Applications under investigation
- Chronic liver disease and hepatoprotection
- Immune deficiency and immunomodulation
- Menopausal syndrome with yin deficiency
- Age-related vision decline
- Anti-aging applications
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Spleen yang deficiency with diarrhea
- Cold patterns without yin deficiency
Relative contraindications
- Digestive weakness
- Pregnancy
- Generally safe during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding
- Safe during breastfeeding.
- Children
- Safe for children with liver-kidney yin deficiency.
- Older adults
- Excellent for elderly menopausal syndrome and age-related yin deficiency.
Possible adverse effects
- Possible loose stools in cold constitutions
When to stop
- Diarrhea develops
- Cold symptoms worsen
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immunosuppressants | Cyclosporine, Azathioprine | Mild | Immunomodulating effects may interact Use with medical supervision |
| Chemotherapy | Various | Mild | May have hepatoprotective and immunomodulating effects during chemotherapy Inform oncologist |
With other herbs
- he_shou_wu Combined Er Zhi Wan formula for liver-kidney yin deficiency
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 9-15 grams daily
- Powder
- 3-6 grams daily
- Acute use
- 2-4 weeks
- Chronic use
- 1-3 months
- Maximum
- Long-term for chronic deficiency
- Children
- Generally safe for children.
Forms of preparation
Simmer 9-15g in 3 cups water 40 min. Take warm twice daily.
Liver-kidney yin deficiency
Wine-steamed Nu Zhen Zi is preferred for tonifying. Use same decoction method.
Enhanced yin tonification
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Glycosidic iridoids (oleuropein) and triterpenes (ursolic acid)
Glycosidic secairidoid · Powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antidiabetic
Radical scavenging (greater than vitamin E), NF-κB inhibition, AMPK activation · 1-3% in fruit
Glycosidic secairidoid · Hepatoprotective, anti-aging, renoprotective
Induction of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx), reduction of MDA (lipid peroxidation) · 1-4% in ripe fruit
Pentacyclic triterpene · Anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective
NF-κB and AP-1 inhibition, apoptosis induction via caspase-3, PPAR-γ activation · 0.5-2%
Flavones · Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
COX-2 inhibition, radical scavenging · 0.1-0.5%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Winter (November-January) when the fruits are completely ripe and black
Fruits harvested in winter when they acquire a bluish-black color. They are threshed and dried in the sun.
Ripe fruits washed and dried in the sun. The action is milder and slightly laxative due to the mannitol content.
Fruits mixed with yellow wine, absorbed for 1 hour, then steamed or fried. Wine reinforces the toning action and reduces the laxative effect of mannitol.
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
