Du Zhong, Eucommia Bark: A Time-Honored TCM Herb for Kidney Health and Beyond

Eucommia Bark, known as Du Zhong in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is a revered herbal remedy with a rich history dating back to its classification as a top-grade medicine in Shennong’s Herbal Classic.

Praised for treating lower back pain, nourishing vitality, strengthening bones, and promoting longevity, this herb has been a staple in both medicinal prescriptions and dietary therapies.

Today, Eucommia Bark is celebrated not only for its traditional benefits—nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening tendons, and stabilizing pregnancy—but also for modern applications like lowering blood pressure, reducing lipids, and combating tumors.

Du Zhong, Eucommia Bark

Botanical Properties of Du Zhong / Eucommia Bark

Du Zhong or Eucommia Bark comes from the Eucommia ulmoides tree, primarily its dried bark, though its leaves are also used, often as tea.

The bark, 3–7 mm thick, is light brown or gray-brown, with a distinctive cross-section revealing fine, elastic, silvery-white rubber threads. Sweet, warm, and non-toxic, it targets the liver and kidney meridians, supporting their nourishment and strengthening musculoskeletal health.

Eucommia leaves, while similar in effect, contain higher levels of active compounds like chlorogenic acid and aucubin, making them ideal for daily health maintenance through teas or supplements.

While both bark and leaves share core benefits, the bark is typically used in TCM prescriptions for targeted treatment, whereas leaves are favored for wellness products. Selection should be guided by a TCM practitioner to match individual needs and ensure safety.

杜仲樹皮、杜仲葉

Although Eucommia bark and leaves have many similarities in efficacy, they are also different in specific applications due to different content of ingredients.

Eucommia bark is more suitable for use in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, while Eucommia leaves are more commonly used in daily health care and diet therapy, such as making Eucommia tea. Whether it is bark or leaves, it needs to be selected according to personal constitution and specific condition, and under the guidance of professional Chinese medicine practitioners to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Du Zhong, Eucommia Bark

Indications and Effects of Eucommia Bark

Eucommia Bark is traditionally used for conditions stemming from liver and kidney deficiency, including:

• Soreness or pain in the lower back and knees.

• Weakness in muscles and bones.

• Reproductive issues like impotence, spermatorrhea, or premature ejaculation.

• Dizziness, forgetfulness, or fatigue.

• Pregnancy-related concerns, such as bleeding or restless fetus.

  
  

Du Zhong, Eucommia Bark

Its key effects include:

• Nourishing Liver and Kidneys: Strengthens vital organs to support overall vitality.

• Strengthening Bones and Tendons: Enhances musculoskeletal health, relieving pain and weakness.

• Stabilizing Pregnancy: Promotes fetal health and prevents miscarriage.

• Anti-Aging: Supports long-term vitality, as noted in ancient texts.

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Modern research highlights additional benefits:

• Cardiovascular Health: Lowers blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

• Anti-Tumor Potential: Boosts immunity and promotes tumor cell apoptosis, showing promise against non-small cell lung cancer.

• Antioxidant and Antibacterial: Inhibits pathogens like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus and protects against oxidative stress.

• Sedative Effects: Improves sleep quality, particularly in leaf-based preparations.

Du Zhong, Eucommia Bark

Modern Applications

Eucommia Bark’s rich composition—lignans, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and more—underpins its versatility in modern health:

• TCM Prescriptions: Used for lower back pain, joint weakness, and reproductive health, often in decoctions or powders.

• Health Supplements: Eucommia tea, made from leaves, supports blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and immunity.

• Food Additives: Its antioxidant properties make it a natural preservative for oils and meats, with no toxic side effects.

• Therapeutic Innovations: Shows promise in managing metabolic disorders, enhancing bone health, and supporting cancer treatment through immune modulation.

Eucommia’s active compounds, like pinoresinol diglucoside and chlorogenic acid, contribute to its cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory effects, while polysaccharides enhance immunity and anti-tumor activity.

Du Zhong, Eucommia Bark

Precautions for Use

While Eucommia Bark is generally safe, consider the following:

• Contraindications: Its Yang-tonifying nature makes it unsuitable for those with Yin deficiency, internal heat, or fever. Consult a TCM practitioner before use.

• Hypertensive Patients: If taking blood pressure medications, consult a doctor to adjust Eucommia tea dosage and avoid interactions.

• Dosage Control: Overuse may cause inflammation, sore throat, constipation, or irritability. Follow professional guidance (typically 6–15 grams daily for bark).

• Individual Constitution: Those prone to “heat” symptoms (e.g., gum bleeding, irritability) should use small doses and seek medical advice.

Chinese Name	杜仲
Chinese Pinyin	Duzhong
English Name	Eucommia Bark
Latin Pharmaceutical Name	Eucommiae Cortex
Category	Tree barks and root barks
Origin	The dried tree barks of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.(Eucommiaceae).
Production Regions	Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei.
Macroscopic Features	Flat board shape or roll shape, uneven thickness and size, often about 3~10mm thick, 40~100cm long. Externally grayish-brown, rough, irregular longitudinal grooves and horizontally-oriented oblique square lenticels, some has pale gray lichen patches. Commercial material has the outer rough skin removed and is externally pale brown and relatively smooth. Inner surface is smooth and dark purple. Brittle and easily broken; fractured surface has silvery-white connected silk-like threads that are thin and dense, with slightly elasticity. faint odor; taste slightly bitter; gluey residue when chewed.
Quality Requirements	Superior medicinal material has large and thick cortex, cleaned rough skin, externally yellowish-brown, inner surface is black-brown and lustrous, large amount of white threads.
Properties	Sweet; warm.
Functions	Supplements the live and kidney, strengthens sinew and bone, calms the fetus. Apply to aching pain in the loins and knees, weakness of legs and knees, drenching and unsmooth urination, vaginal dampness and itch, fetal leakage and abortion, restless fetal movement, hypertension.
Remark	Euconmmia (Eucommia ulmoides) is listed as "Vulnerable" in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.