Products Featuring This Herb:
Super Yang Jing Drops (2 oz)
Supreme Creation
Essence Restorative
Super Essence Restorative
Strong Bones
Imperial Garden
Strength Builder
Profound Essence
Super Adaptogen
Endocrine Health
Frame Builder
Ginseng and Zizyphus Combination
Return to Youth

More Information:

Other Common Names
Eucommia

Page Number In Radiant Health
165

Pharmaceutical Latin
Cortex Eucommiae

Pinyin
Du Zhong

Treasures
Primarily Yang Jing, but also Yin Jing to a lesser degree

Treasure Rating
****1/2

Atmospheric Energy
Warm

Organ Meridian Systems
Kidney and Liver

Part Used and Form
The sun-dried bark from the trunk of the tree, after having the outer cork scraped off

Primary Functions
Nourishing the Kidney and Liver; strengthening the bones, ligaments and muscles; hypotensive; and benefiting the uterus and fetus during pregnancy

Qualities
Eucommia is the primary plant-source in Chinese herbalism used to tonify the Kidney Yang functions, in particular as it effects the lower part of the body and the skeletal structure. Eucommia is a superb Yang essence tonic. And although Eucommia is primarily known as a powerful Yang Jing tonic, it is also a strong Yin Essence (Yin Jing) nourishing herb. Because it provides both Yin and Yang, it is a superb herb for men and women alike and can be used by almost anybody to promote the functions of the endocrine system, to promote sexual functions, to enhance normal growth, to promote healing, to strengthen the physical structure and to strengthen resistance.

Eucommia's first fame is in its Kidney tonifying effects. It is in fact the primary herb in Chinese tonic herbalism for building a strong, sturdy, flexible skeletal structure. It is used to strengthen the bones, ligaments and tendons, and can be used to help mend damage to these tissues, whether the damage be due to stress, age or trauma. Eucommia is also the primary herb of choice for lower back and knee problems, including pain, stiffness, dislocation, swelling and weakness. Eucommia is one of the few herbs in Chinese tonic herbalism that is sufficiently powerful, balanced and broad spectrum that it may be used alone. However, it will generally be combined with any number of other tonic herbs in a formulation designed to build the Yin and Yang of the Kidney.

Typically, Eucommia is combined with a balance of Yin Jing tonifying herbs like Lycium, Polygonum multiflorum, Ligustrum, Schizandra, Tang Kuei, etc. and Yang Jing herbs such as Psoralea, Cynomorium, Morinda, Curculiginus, etc. to strengthen the Kidney function as a whole. The yin-yang balance of the formula will be determined by the determining the person's condition and adjusting the balance of the Yin and Yang herbs. In order to tonify the entire body, at every level, other tonic herbs may be added to the Kidney tonic base, such as Ginseng, Astragalus, Deer Antler, Ganoderma and so on. Eucommia is found in the majority of general tonifying formulas.

Eucommia is the most important herb in the Chinese pharmacopoeia as a tonic during pregnancy. Jing is the foundation energy of life and Eucommia is the quintessential example of a safe, mild and potent Kidney tonic that build Jing. The herb can be safely used as a tonic throughout pregnancy to strengthen both the mother and baby. It helps the mother's skeletal structure adjust properly and easily to the changes it must go through, to help build the baby's skeleton and immune system, to calm the fetus and, especially, to help prevent miscarriage.

At the first sign of impending miscarriage in China, Eucommia is routinely consumed, usually in combination with other strengthening herbs such as Dipsacus and Jujube Date, to prevent the miscarriage. Eucommia can be used to help stop vaginal bleeding due to general weakness during pregnancy. If the bleeding seems to be due to an inflammation, Scutellaria is added. But these are modern times, so if you become pregnant and seem to be having a miscarriage, get to your doctor immediately (but bring your herbs with you). Eucommia and Eucommia-based formulas come in tea bags and in capsules, so its easy to take with you wherever you go.

As a Kidney tonic, Eucommia is considered an important herb for improving potency in men and fertility in women. It will be found in almost every formula designed for such purposes. Furthermore, Eucommia helps slow down ejaculation.

Eucommia has been used for over a thousand years to ease tension and relieve the signs of high blood pressure. The ability of Eucommia to safely and effectively reduce high blood pressure has now been very well established. Many animal studies and human clinical studies have proven that Eucommia can be a very useful supplement for people suffering from hypertension. It may be used along with conventional Western drugs if desired, as it is in Asia, since Eucommia is very mild and has no known adverse side effects or negative interactions with drugs. The blood pressure reducing effects of Eucommia are not as powerful as the effects of reserpine, but it had a better effect at reducing the symptomatology associated with high blood pressure.

Scientific Data
Eucommia ulmoides has been found to contain hypotensive compounds in 1974 at the University of Wisconsin. Since that time numerous studies have been conducted which have clarified the hypotensive effects of Eucommia. The hypotensive action has been demonstrated in numerous animal models and in humans. Hypotensive compounds exist in both the bark and leaves. The hypotensive compound has been determined to be pinoresinol diglucoside. The chemical structure has been determined and it has been synthesized.

The precise hypotensive mechanism has not been fully determined. Most studies indicate that the hypotensive action is a consequence of central inhibition. But conflicting studies indicate direct dilatory action on the vascular musculature.

Eucommia has been shown to markedly reduce cholesterol absorption in laboratory animals. It has also been shown to have mild sedative and anti-inflammatory action in pharmacological experiments. The experimental results indicate that one of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Eucommia involves enhancement of the adrenocortical function. This supports the traditional theory that Eucommia tonifies the Kidney function, which is now known to involve adrenocortical function.

Decoctions of this herb have been shown to have powerful effects on the immune systems of various laboratory animals. In particular, it appears that Eucommia significantly enhances phagocytic action. Phagocytosis involves the clearing away of foreign material from the blood stream by the white blood cells. In this particular action, Eucommia proved to be as powerful as Astragalus membranaceus and Codonopsis pilosula, two herbs that have been proven to have powerful immunological activity in animals and humans. Many studies have proven that Eucommia potentiates the immunologic functions of the body.

Clinically, the hypotensive action of the herb has been studied in several large clinical studies. In each case, the effective rate reached around 80% after 30 days of administration. The results have clearly shown that water extraction is effective, but that alcohol extraction is ineffective. Eucommia has been shown to have a mild diuretic action.

The hypotensive effect has been shown to be increased even further by combining with Lonicera japonica, Scutellaria baicalensis, Prunella vulgaris fruit clusters, and Loranthus parastiticus, all herbs traditionally prescribed to reduce high blood pressure. Using this combination, results were quick and effective in over 90% of the patients in the study. After just one week, most patients experienced a marked reduction in blood pressure, a stable emotional state and felt mentally refreshed and relaxed. The symptoms of tinnitus and numbness were relieved. The patients also reported marked amelioration of headaches, dizziness, palpitation, insomnia, chest discomfort and difficult mobility.

In a clinical study of 121 people with various types of arthritis and lumbago, a preparation made from the leaves of Eucommia had a marked effective rate of over 87%.

In another clinical study of 40 patients diagnosed as suffering from chronic strain of the lumbar muscles and lumbar osteoarthrosis, a Eucommia-based formula proved to be highly effective in relieving the symptoms. The Eucommia bark extract was combined with Psoralea corylifolia and Walnut kernel.

Eucommia has been found to induce interferon production in human beings.

Primary Combinations
Eucommia Bark may be consumed alone, but is usually combined with other tonic and blood vitalizing herbs. Combine with:

1. Dipsacus and Drynaria to mend broken bones
2. Ginseng, Epimedium, Sea Dragon and Gecko to tonify Kidney yang and to build sexual energy
3. Lycium, Morinda, Achyranthes and Cnidium seed to strengthen the lower back and knees
4. Psoralea fruit and Walnut seed to strengthen the lower back and knees
5. Lonicera Flower, Scutellaria Root, Prunella vulgaris fruit clusters, and Loranthus to disperse Liver fire and relieve hypertension

Varieties and Grading
Eucommia bark is peeled from trees that are ten years old or older. A small patch of the bark is peeled off the tree each year so as not to harm the tree, which can grow to be over a hundred years old. The older the bark, the thicker it becomes.

Inside the bark is a pure white latex. Eucommia is in fact the only temperate zone rubber tree. This latex is noticeably elastic. If you gently break a piece of Eucommia bark and stretch it slightly, the latex will stretch. This rubber is believed to confer strength to connective tissue and is considered to be part of Eucommia's active ingredients. The thicker and stronger this latex, the better the quality of the specimen. Therefor, in purchasing Eucommia, select (1) thick pieces, since these are older, (2) Eucommia with the most white latex. Very old Eucommia is called "Hundred Year Old Pear Tree Bark." This bark may not be 100 years old, but it is certainly 30 to 50 years old and is very, very good. When you can find this, buy as much as you can afford and store it away in tightly closed containers. Otherwise, purchase the oldest Eucommia you can find.

Eucommia usually comes "pre-sliced." You will note small transverse slices across the bark at quarter inch intervals. These slices expose the inside of the bark, including the latex. This is standard practice. If the Eucommia you purchase does not come sliced, have the herb shop slice it for you, or you will have to slice it yourself. The inside must be exposed to the cooking water in order to be properly and efficiently cooked.

Contraindications
There has never been a case of overdosing on Eucommia recorded in the literature (over a period of more than twenty-five hundred years).

History
Eucommia was the second herb ever described in a written text on herbs and medicine in China, playing second fiddle only to Ginseng. The emperor Shen Nung described Eucommia as a superior herb that could prolong life in the classic Shen Nung Pen Tsao, more than two thousand years ago. Eucommia has remained a virtual icon of tonic herbalism since that time.