Yù Jīn · Curcuma Root
Yù Jīn (郁金, Curcuma Root) is a herb of Cool nature and Pungent, Bitter flavor, in the “Blood Moving” category. Tradition uses it to activate blood and move Qi, Clean the heat of the Heart and open the orifices, Drain damp-heat from the Liver and Gallbladder.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Yù Jīn
- Characters
- 郁金
- Botanical name
- Curcuma wenyujin Y.H.Chen & C.Ling
- Family
- Zingiberaceae
- Part used
- Root tuber
- Nature
- Cool
- Flavor
- Pungent, Bitter
- Meridians
- Heart, Liver, Gallbladder, Lung
- Category
- Blood Moving
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- Avoid
- Origin
- China (Zhejiang), China (Sichuan)
Actions according to tradition
- Activate blood and move Qi
- Clean the heat of the Heart and open the orifices
- Drain damp-heat from the Liver and Gallbladder
Traditional uses
- Liver Qi stagnation with rib and epigastric pain
- Mental confusion and epilepsy due to phlegm blocking the Heart
- Damp-heat jaundice in the Liver
- Metrorrhagia and hemoptysis due to heat in the blood
- Depression due to stagnation of Liver Qi with heat
Studied effects and current applications
- Activates blood and moves Qi, relieving epigastric and rib pain
- Opens the orifices of the Heart blocked by phlegm or heat-toxin
- Drains heat-dampness from the Liver and Gallbladder (jaundice)
- Cools blood and stops bleeding
- Anti-inflammatory and choleretic
Applications under investigation
- Colelitiasis y colecistitis
- Hepatitis y cirrosis
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Epilepsia (adjunto)
- Dismenorrea y trastornos menstruales
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Active bleeding without stasis
- Simultaneous use with anticoagulants without monitoring (MODERATE-MAJOR interaction)
Relative contraindications
- Blood deficiency without stagnation of Qi and blood
- Imminent surgery
- Pregnancy
- CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy. It activates the blood and can cause abortion.
- Breastfeeding
- Use with caution. Limited data.
- Children
- Not recommended for children under 12 years of age.
- Older adults
- Useful for elderly people with depression and hepatobiliary stagnation. Caution with anticoagulants.
Possible adverse effects
- Possible excessive bleeding
- gastric upset
When to stop
- Confirmed pregnancy
- Sangrado activo
- Before surgery
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Warfarin, Heparin, Rivaroxaban | Severe | Significantly potentiates the anticoagulant effect - serious risk of bleeding AVOID combination or monitor INR extremely closely. |
| Antiplatelet agents | Aspirin, Clopidogrel | Moderate | Additive antiplatelet effect Monitorizar riesgo de sangrado. |
| CYP3A4 inducers | Rifampicina, Phenytoin | Mild | May affect Yu Jin's metabolism Consult with pharmacist. |
With other herbs
- dan_shen Synergistic blood activating effects for coronary and hepatic circulation
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 3-9 g daily
- Powder
- 1.5-3 g daily
- Acute use
- 1-2 weeks
- Chronic use
- 2-4 weeks
- Maximum
- Preferred short use
- Children
- Generally not recommended in children due to its powerful action on the blood.
Forms of preparation
Boil 3-9g in 3 cups of water for 30 min. Drink warm.
Depression, jaundice, menstrual disorders
Take 1.5-3g in warm water.
Convenience, more direct action
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin) and essential oils (turmerone)
Diarylheptanoids · Blood activator, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective
NF-κB, COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibition; modulation of multiple signaling pathways · 1-5% in dry rhizome
Sesquiterpenes (essential oil) · Neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, cholagogue
Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, bile stimulation · 3-8% in essential oil
Curcuminoids · Antioxidant, antitumor
Free radical scavenging, apoptosis induction · 0.5-2.0%
Heteropolysaccharides · Immunomodulator, hepatoprotective
Macrophage activation, ALT/AST reduction · 5-15%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Winter (December-January), 2-3 year old rhizomes
Rhizomes of Curcuma wenyujin, C. longa or C. kwangsiensis. They are harvested in winter, washed, briefly boiled and dried. The interior is golden-yellow due to curcumin.
Rhizome cut into slices and dried. Different species of Curcuma give different varieties (温郁金, 黄丝郁金, 桂郁金).
Slices mixed with rice vinegar and fried.
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.
