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Photo of Evodia Fruit

Evodia Fruit

吴茱萸 · Wú Zhū Yú

Warms cold belly pain and quiets vomiting

Properties

WarmingWarming botanicalPungent, Bitter

What it does

Evodia fruit warms cold-pattern stomach pain, calms vomiting, and stops cold-damp diarrhea. In TCM, it directs rebellious qi downward, the upward pattern behind acid reflux and certain headaches. It's also used for cold-uterus dysmenorrhea and reverting yin headaches at the top of the head. Slightly toxic, so doses stay tight.

How to take it

Drink

Decoct 1.5–4.5g of dried evodia fruit with other herbs for 25 minutes. Often combined with ginger or rehmannia. Apply topically to ulcers (powder mixed with vinegar).

Try a Wu Zhu Yu Tang formula for cold-pattern headaches with nausea

Safety

  • Slightly toxic. Stay within practitioner-prescribed doses (1.5–4.5g)
  • Skip during pregnancy
  • Strongly heating. Avoid in hot patterns or yin-deficient heat
  • Don't use long-term. Short-term courses only
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Evodia (Tetradium ruticarpum) is native to southern China and Korea. Classical TCM associates it with the Wu state of ancient China, hence the Chinese name Wú Zhū Yú. It appears in famous classical formulas like Wu Zhu Yu Tang for headache with vomiting, and Zuo Jin Wan for acid reflux paired with Coptis. Modern interest has explored evodiamine for thermogenic and metabolic effects.