Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus
Aliases：Yizhizi、Zhaidingzi
Yizhiren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), a Chinese medicinal, is the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., a plant of the Zingiberaceae family (genus Alpinia).
Efficacy & Actions
Warm the kidney to consolidate essence and reduce urination; warm the spleen to stop diarrhea and control salivation.
Indications
Enuresis due to kidney deficiency, frequent urination, spermatorrhea, white turbid urine; diarrhea due to spleen cold, cold pain in the abdomen, and profuse salivation (drooling), etc.
Modern Pharmacology
Nervous system protection: Anti‑aging, improves learning and memory, anti‑Alzheimer’s disease. Anti‑inflammatory and analgesic: Inhibits the release of inflammatory factors. Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals. Immunomodulatory: Enhances immune function. Cardiotonic and anti‑myocardial ischemia: Protects the cardiovascular system. Antitumor: Inhibits various cancer cells. Antimutagenic and anti‑allergic: Exhibits certain activities.
Ingredients
Volatile oils: Mainly terpenoids such as nootkatone, nootkatone, yizhiketone, etc. Diarylheptanoids: Yizhichun (oxyphyllacinol), yizhiketone A, yizhiketone B, etc. Flavonoids: Chrysin, apigenin, etc. Others: Polysaccharides, organic acids, amino acids, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Internal use: 3–9 g in decoction; or used in pills or powders. Processing: Salt‑processed Yizhiren (Yan Yizhiren): mixed with salt water and stir‑fried until dry, which enhances its actions of consolidating the Kidney and reducing urination.
Contraindications
Contraindicated populations: Contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with blazing fire or reckless movement of Blood due to Blood heat. Precautions for use: Not suitable for enuresis due to damp‑heat pouring downward.
Selected Formulas
1. For nocturnal emission (spermatorrhea) – from Shiyi De Jiu Fang, Sanxian Wan Take 60 g (two liang) of Yizhiren (stir‑fried with 60 g salt, then remove the salt) and 60 g of Wuyao (Lindera root). Grind into fine powder. Use 30 g (one liang) of Shanyao (Chinese yam) to make a paste, mix with the powder, and form pills the size of waxberries (about 4 mm). Take 50 pills each time, before meals and at bedtime, with salted water. Coat the pills with cinnabar (Zhusha; Note: cinnabar contains mercury, toxic; do not use without medical supervision). 2. For reddish turbid urine – from Compendium of Materia Medica Take 60 g each of Yizhiren and Fushen (Poria with pine root), and 250 g (half a jin) each of Yuanzhi (Polygala root) and Gancao (licorice, water‑decocted). Grind into fine powder, mix with wine‑based paste, and form pills the size of waxberries. Take 50 pills on an empty stomach with ginger decoction. 3. For hernia pain with lower abdominal cramping and incessant crying – from Jisheng Fang, Yizhiren Tang Take 9 g (three qian) each of Yizhiren, dried ginger (processed), honey‑fried Gancao, and stir‑fried Huixiang (fennel seed); 15 g (half a liang) each of processed Wutou (aconite root, peeled) and fresh ginger; 6 g (two qian) of Qingpi (green tangerine peel, white part removed). Finely slice all ingredients. For each dose, take 12 g (four qian) of the mixture, add two cups of water and a pinch of salt, decoct until reduced to seven‑tenths. Strain and take warm on an empty stomach before meals.
Daily Consumption
1. Yizhiren Congee Grind 5 g of Yizhiren into powder. Cook 50 g of japonica rice into congee. When the congee is ready, stir in the Yizhiren powder and cook for a short while. Indications: Abdominal cold pain, diarrhea, and excessive salivation due to Spleen‑Kidney deficiency cold. 2. Yizhiren Tea Take 3–5 g of Yizhiren, steep in boiling water, and drink as tea. Indications: Enuresis and frequent urination due to Kidney deficiency.
Medicinal Parts
dried seed kernel (dehulled)
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place, protected from insects.