A Forgotten Dui Yao: Ju He + Li Zhi He

A Forgotten Dui Yao: Ju He + Li Zhi He
Clinical Pearls for Hernia and so much more...

Note: the highlights video of this article can be found in the TCM Weaver 101 playlist

While working on TCM Weaver, I ran across a pair of herbs multiple times that I wasn’t familiar with: Ju He (Citri reticulatae Semen) and Li Zhi He (Litchi Semen).

They’re both from the Regulate Qi category and are a standard dui yao. However, when I was learning herbs, not only did they not make the “greatest hits” list, they didn’t make any list of herbs I had to memorize.

Ju He is a pao zhi of Chen Pi (Citri reticulatae Pericarpium). It’s bitter, neutral, and goes to the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach channels. It regulates qi, dissipates clumps, and stops pain.

Some sources say it can drive qi downwards to enter the Kidney. This may be when it’s salt fried. 

Ju He is used for:

  • bulging disorders
  • testicular pain
  • acute mastitis (internally and topically)

Both of these herbs regulate Qi, enter the Spleen and Stomach channels. One is sweet and warm, the other neutral and bitter...

Li Zhi He is sweet, warm, and goes to the Liver and Stomach channels.

It disperses cold and stagnation, stops pain, and regulates qi.

Li Zhi He is used for:

  • bulging disorders
  • testicular pain due to cold
  • premenstrual or postpartum abdominal pain (caused by blood stasis and qi stagnation)

Imagine using this dui yao to help your patients avoid hernia surgery...

As a dui yao, Ju He and Li Zhi He address pathologies with pain, swelling, and masses in the:

  • lower abdomen
  • groin
  • pelvis
  • external genitalia.

There are several formulas they’re commonly used with:

In cases of Liver qi stagnation with Liver Yang and Blood deficiency this combo is added to Nuan Gan Jian (Warm the Liver Decoction) to treat scrotal pain.

In cases of cold invading the Liver channel leading to Qi stagnation Ju He and Li Zhi He strengthen the effects of Tian Tai Wu Yao San (Top-Quality Lindera Powder).

In cases of bulging disorders we find our dui yao (along with Xiao Hui Xiang) added to Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle to Augment the Qi Decoction)

These three herbs (Li Zhe He, Ju He and Xiao Hui Xiang) are also part of the formula Ben Tun Wan, which is a variation of the formula Jin Ling Zi San (Melia Toosendan Powder) used to treat Kidney accumulation due to cold obstruction in the Lower Burner.

Sometimes uncommon herbs are hard to find, but Ju He and Li Zhi He are both readily commercially available.

So, if you’re treating conditions where qi and blood stagnation are causing lower burner pain, swelling, and masses, and looking to strengthen your formula, you might want to consider this pair.

~ Dr. Susan D. West, DACM

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