Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit)

Chinese Herb Actions

Chinese Herb Dosage

• What is the typical dosage of Wu Zhu Yu?

  Small doses — typically 1.5–4.5 g in decoction, because the herb is hot, drying, and slightly toxic; the Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists 2–5 g. It is commonly stir-fried (often processed with licorice) to moderate its harshness, and used only for short courses.

  Source: owner’s Five Branches notes; Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose via PubMed 36790599 (PMC 9931992). Reference only — not a prescription.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

• Are there cautions or contraindications for Wu Zhu Yu?

  Wu Zhu Yu is hot, very drying, and slightly toxic, so it is used only in small doses and for short periods. It can injure qi and fluids and is traditionally avoided in patterns of heat from Yin deficiency; caution is advised in pregnancy. Do not exceed customary small doses.

  Source: owner’s Five Branches notes; standard materia medica.

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

• Slightly toxic — used deliberately in small, short-term doses. Wu Zhu Yu is classified as a slightly toxic, warm herb. Modern reviews report that irrational or high-dose use can cause dose-related adverse effects including stomach ache, vomiting, and blurred vision, and that its constituents — the alkaloids evodiamine and rutaecarpine, quinolone alkaloids, and the volatile oil — carry a hepatotoxicity signal in laboratory studies. Traditional processing (stir-frying, often with licorice) and small dosing are used to temper it. These are laboratory and case findings, not a concern at customary therapeutic doses.

  Source: PubMed 36790599 (Euodiae Fructus review, Nat Prod Bioprospect 2023, PMC 9931992); PubMed 32738391 (evodiamine review, J Ethnopharmacol 2020). Research context, not medical advice.

• This herb is considered slightly toxic.
  (while some Chinese herbs are toxic, it must be noted that many come prepared, or are combined, to mitigate their toxicity)

Herb-Drug Interactions

• No well-established clinical herb–drug interactions are documented, but caution is reasonable. Preclinical studies indicate Evodia alkaloids can modulate cytochrome P450 drug-metabolizing enzymes (notably CYP1A2), a theoretical basis for altered levels of drugs cleared by that pathway. (Flagged for practitioner confirmation — absence of documented clinical interactions is not proof of safety.)

Western / Biomedical Research

Chinese Herb Clinical Studies & Research

Provided as research context — a summary of published biomedical study, not a therapeutic or medical claim.

• Is there modern research on Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia)?

  Yes, but it is largely preclinical. The most-studied constituents are the alkaloids evodiamine and rutaecarpine, which show analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and cardiovascular/vasodilatory activity in cell and animal models; rutaecarpine has been studied for cardiovascular protection via targets such as TRPV1 and CGRP. Human clinical evidence remains limited, and the same alkaloids carry the dose-related toxicity noted above.

  Sources: PubMed 32738391 (evodiamine review, J Ethnopharmacol 2020); PubMed 30616017 (rutaecarpine cardiovascular review); PubMed 36790599 (Euodiae Fructus review, 2023). Research context, not a therapeutic claim.

Chinese Herb Notes

• How does Wu Zhu Yu compare with other warming herbs, and what is it combined with?

  Wu Zhu Yu, Gan Jiang, and Gao Liang Jiang all disperse cold from the Middle burner and ease cold epigastric pain — but Wu Zhu Yu is distinct. It also warms the Lower burner (for cold hernia and diarrhea) and, uniquely among them, directs rebellious Liver–Stomach qi downward to stop vertex headache, vomiting, and acid reflux.

  Key differentiations:

  • vs Gan Jiang — Gan Jiang more locally warms the Spleen and Lungs, transforms phlegm and stops cough.
  • vs Gao Liang Jiang — warms the Stomach for epigastric pain and cold with belching or vomiting, without the Liver-channel headache action.

  Common combinations: with Huang Lian in roughly a 6:1 ratio (Zuo Jin Wan) for Liver fire invading the Stomach with acid regurgitation — bitter, cold Huang Lian drains the fire while a little Wu Zhu Yu directs it downward; with Ren Shen, Sheng Jiang and Da Zao (Wu Zhu Yu Tang) for cold jue-yin headache with vomiting; with Sheng Jiang for cold-type nausea and vomiting.

  Source: owner’s Five Branches notes (paired-herb differentiation & combinations).

This herb is considered toxic