INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: YA DAN ZI - 鸭蛋子 - FRUCTUS BRUCEAE

Pharmaceutical Latin: Fructus Bruceae
Common English: Brucea Fruit
Java Brucea Fruit

CATEGORY

Herbs that Clear Heat: Herbs that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity

Herbs that Kill Parasites (Anthelmintics)

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Cold
Toxic
(Slightly Toxic)
Large Intestine
Liver
(Gall Bladder)
Powder: 0.5-2g
Malaria: 10-15 seeds (remove the husks)
Amoebic dysentery: 10-30 seeds
Tincture: 0.2-0.8ml (5-20 drops)
Children:1g for each year of age

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Cools Heat, resolves toxicity, expels Dampness, cools the Blood and kills parasites

Chronic, intermittent dysentery

Rectal tenesmus with dysentery containing Blood and mucus and dysentery caused by protozoa and amoeba

Long-term diarrhea and hemorrhoids

Treats malaria

Malaria

Treats cancer caused by Toxic Heat

Cancers of the colon, breast, esophagus, Stomach, skin, cervix and rectum

Softens hardness

Topically for hard nodules, warts, corns cysts

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Do not take long term nor in large doses.
  • Contraindicated for those with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with pre-existing gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Contraindicated for those with pre-existing Liver disease.
  • Contraindicated for those with pre-existing Kidney disease.
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing.
  • Contraindicated for young children.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rx. Pulsatillae
Bai Tou Weng
Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai
Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Arillus Longan
Long Yan Rou

 

Dysenteric disorders, particularly amoebic dysentery

Wrap Ya Dan Zi in Long Yan Rou, and ingest for bloody dysentery

 

NOTES

  1. This herb stimulates the gastric mucosa and is toxic to both the Liver and Kidneys. Patients should be monitored carefully.
  2. Take on an empty stomach during attacks of dysentery and take Spleen tonics during periods of remission.
  3. It can be used topically for warts.
  4. For topical use, crush and mix with grain-based liquor and make into a paste.
  5. This herb is very bitter and not suitable for decoction. It is usually taken in capsule or tablet form.
  6. Overdose is characterized by nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy\, dizziness and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In severe cases, there may be dyspnea, anuria, fever, convulsions, numbness or paralysis of the extremities, Kidney and Liver damage and loss of consciousness. Adverse reactions generally appear within twenty to sixty minutes. In adults, overdose may occur after ingestion of fifty seeds.
  7. This herb is extremely bitter and cold. It is often used in combination with Arillus Longan Long Yan Rou which tonifies the Heart, calms the Shen, nourishes the Blood and protects the Spleen, to eliminate pathogens while supporting the Spleen. Fr. Bruceae Ya Dan Zi, can be wrapped in Long Yan Rou to treat hemorrhoids.
  8. Both Ya Dan Zi and Rx. Pulsatillae Bai Tou Weng resolve Toxicity and cool the Blood and are used in the treatment of Damp-Heat or Toxic-Heat dysentery. Ya Dan Zi is better for resolving toxicity, expelling Dampness and killing parasites, while Bai Tou Weng best used for Damp-Heat dysentery because of its strong Heat clearing, Blood cooling and Dampness expelling properties. Yan Dan Zi is best for periodic dysentery and treats malaria.
  9. Defatted Brucea Fruit Ya Dan Zi Shuang is much less toxic and can be taken without causing side effects. Its medicinal properties are correspondingly reduced and is primarily used for older and weaker patients and children. It has almost no effect topically. This herb is valued throughout Asia for treating stubborn intestinal parasites.