Ligustrum, Glossy Privet Fruit, Nu Zhen Zi 女贞子
Glossy Privet
Nu Zhen Zi (TCM)
Ligustrum lucidum
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 52 (1825)
Ligustrum lucidum fruit
(Photo by SABENCIA Guillermo César Ruiz) (Wikimedia)
Ligustrum lucidum Nu Zhen Zi
(Adam 2025)
Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION
Botanical name:
Ligustrum lucidum; L. thibeticum is also used.
Parts used:
Fruit
Temperature & Taste:
Cool. Bitter, Sweet
Classification:
Uses:
1. Nourish and Strengthen the Liver and Kidney:
-Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus
-Lower Back pain and weakness
-premature Greying of hair
-‘Long-term use makes one put on weight, feel happy and vigourous, and remain young-looking’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
2. Benefits the Eyes:
-Floaters, Poor eyesight, Failing Vision, especially in the elderly due to Liver and Kidney weakness
-the juice has been applied directly to the eyes fro Wind-Heat conjunctivitis (Ji Ji Xian Fang [Immortal’s Prescriptions for Emergency])
-‘turns graying hair black and brightens the eye’ (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Clears Deficient Heat:
-Heat from Yin deficiency
-Tuberculosis; Scrofula
Main Combinations:
1. Sore and Weakness of the Lower Back, Dizziness:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
2. Deficient Heat, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
3. To strengthen the Eyesight and improve Vision, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
4. Sore, red eyes:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
5. Premature greying of Hair:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
6. Nourish the Blood and Yin:
i. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
ii. Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
7. Scrofula, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi with … available in PRO version
Cautions:
Not for Diarrhea from Cold and Weakness of the Stomach
