Japanese cornelian cherry, also known as Japanese Dogwood or Shan Zhu Yu in Pinyin, is one of commonly used medicinal herbs in Traditional Chinese medicine. It has a long history of medicinal uses in the east, which can be found in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (The Holy Husbandman’s classic on roots and herbs) and there it was listed as one of medium-grade items. Praised as a mild tonic, medicinally it has been characterized as tonifying Yang but stirring up no fire, nourishing Yin but causing no stagnation to the spleen-stomach, promoting astringency but letting no pathogen stay. Thanks for that, no wonder it has been favored by generations of medical practitioners. And Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Book Teapills), the most famous cornelian cherries based herbal formula invented by Zhang Zhongjing, is the most popular medication for liver and kidney deficiency since it is good at tonifying liver-kidney, arresting seminal emission, and stopping sweating.

Cornelian cherry benefits
Ancient Chinese have used it for many purposes, such as sacrifice, accessories, medicine, and apotropaion. Hence, the so-called dogwood customs thereby form. Medicinally it is widely used for the treatment of aching lower back and knees, Vertigo, Tinnitus, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, liver-deficiency chills and fever, persistent sweating due to deficiency, palpitations, scattered pulse, Neurasthenia, menstrual disorders, and more. There is a long list of popular herbal formulas that are based on Asian cornelian cherry fruit, for example, Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Book Teapills), Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Eight Flavor Formula), Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (Lycium Rehmannia Teapills), Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan (Eight Immortals Longevity Pills), and more. Besides, people are also accustomed to making medicinal liquor, preserved fruit, canned goods, and health drinks by combining sugar, honey, and wine. The brewing of dogwood wine can date back to the Song Dynasty and then it was considered such a rare tonic that it was listed as a tribute.

For the elderly, there are many awkward moments and senile urinary incontinence is one of them. It will make older people feel very painful when the urine can’t help overflow from the urethra and wet the pants just because of sneezing, coughing, laughing or abdominal pressure. Therefore, it will seriously affect the health of the elderly due to the enormous physical and psychological pain and pressure. From the perspective of TCM, urinary incontinence in the elderly is mainly caused by the sinking of qi of middle-jiao. As you may know, your kidney qi tends to become weaker as you get older. So, this disease actually involves the spleen, lung, kidney and liver although the affected part is the bladder. And the corresponding remedy is to tonify kidney qi and elevate middle-jiao energy while regulating the function of various organs. And dogwood is that herb that can help.