Zhu Ru is a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of the dried middle layer of the culms of the grass family plants Bambusa tuldoides Munro, Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P.F.Li, or Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.) Munro var. henonis (Mitf.) Stapf ex Rendle.It is primarily produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Sichuan. This product has the effects of clearing heat, resolving phlegm, relieving restlessness, and stopping vomiting. It is primarily used to treat coughs caused by phlegm-heat, gallbladder fire accompanied by phlegm, palpitations and restlessness, irritability and insomnia, stroke with phlegm obstruction, stiff tongue and inability to speak, vomiting due to stomach heat, morning sickness during pregnancy, and fetal restlessness.
Bamboo Shavings
Zhu Ru is a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of the dried middle layer of the culms of the grass family plants Bambusa tuldoides Munro, Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P.F.Li, or Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.) Munro var. henonis (Mitf.) Stapf ex Rendle.It is primarily produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Sichuan. This product has the effects of clearing heat, resolving phlegm, relieving restlessness, and stopping vomiting. It is primarily used to treat coughs caused by phlegm-heat, gallbladder fire accompanied by phlegm, palpitations and restlessness, irritability and insomnia, stroke with phlegm obstruction, stiff tongue and inability to speak, vomiting due to stomach heat, morning sickness during pregnancy, and fetal restlessness.
Chinese Name : 竹茹
Latin Name : Bambusae Caulis In Taenias
Aliases : Bamboo Bark, Green Bamboo Shavings
Authentic Producing Area : Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Sichuan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Lung, Stomach, Heart, and Gallbladder meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Clears heat, resolves phlegm, relieves restlessness, and stops vomiting.
Indications
Bambusae Caulis In Taenias is primarily used to treat coughs caused by phlegm-heat, gallbladder fire accompanied by phlegm, palpitations and restlessness, irritability and insomnia, stroke with phlegm-induced confusion, stiff tongue and inability to speak, vomiting due to stomach heat, morning sickness during pregnancy, and fetal restlessness.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decocted, 6–10 g. Use raw to clear heat and resolve phlegm; roast with ginger juice to clear stomach heat and stop vomiting.
Precautions
Contraindicated in cases of cold-phlegm cough, vomiting due to stomach cold, and diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency.
Chemical Constituents
Contains cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone, β-hydroxybenzaldehyde, eugenol, and others.
Pharmacological Actions
This product has effects such as delaying skin aging.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Mingyi Bielu*: “Treats vomiting and hiccups, regulates qi to alleviate cold and fever, treats hemoptysis, metrorrhagia, and muscle spasms.”
2. *Yixue Rumen*: “Treats restlessness and insomnia due to deficiency, post-typhoid exhaustion, swelling and contraction of the yin tendons with abdominal pain, heart pain during pregnancy caused by fright, infantile epilepsy with locked jaw, and fever.”
3. *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Bamboo Shavings is a medicine that clears heat, resolves phlegm, descends qi, and stops vomiting. As in ancient times, it was used to treat severe lung heat, coughing with shortness of breath, vomiting of filthy substances, alternating chills and fever, and conditions such as excessive bleeding and metrorrhagia. This medicine is sweet, cold, and descending; it is highly effective at eliminating all Yangming-related diseases caused by fire, heat, phlegm, and qi. Its use brings immediate relief; however, it should not be used for conditions not caused by stomach heat.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. Internal pain from trauma: Stab wounds from weapons or blows from wood and stone, causing stabbing pain in the chest, back, or flanks due to blood stasis. Take one ball each of green bamboo shavings and tangled hair, roast them over charcoal until charred, and grind into a powder. Boil in one sheng of wine for three boils, then drink. Three doses will cure the condition. (*Qianjin Fang*)
2. Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding: Lightly roast Qingzhu Ru and grind into a powder. Take three qian per dose, decocted in one zhan of water. (From *Puji Fang*)
3. Miscarriage in Pregnant Women: During the eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, or following a fall, injury from being startled by cattle or horses, or chest pain. Use five liang of Qingzhu Ru and one sheng of wine; decoct to five he and take the decoction. (From *Zimu Milu*)
Related Compatibility
1. Bamboo Shavings Combined with Trichosanthes Fruit: Bamboo shavings are sweet, cold, and moisturizing, specifically designed to clear and transform heat-induced phlegm; Trichosanthes fruit is sweet, slightly bitter, and cold, excelling at clearing the lungs, moistening dryness, and transforming phlegm. When used together, these two herbs complement each other, enhancing the effect of clearing the lungs and transforming phlegm. This combination is suitable for conditions of severe lung heat with a cough and yellow phlegm.
2. Bamboo Shavings Combined with Trifoliate Orange Fruit: Bamboo Shavings are sweet and cold in nature, with descending properties; they clear the lungs and resolve phlegm, as well as clear the stomach and stop vomiting. Trifoliate Orange Fruit is pungent and dispersing, with a bitter and purgative nature; it descends qi, resolves phlegm, disperses nodules, and eliminates fullness. When used together, these two herbs work synergistically to clear heat, resolve phlegm, harmonize the stomach, and descend counterflow. This combination is suitable for conditions characterized by excessive stomach heat and phlegm, upward counterflow of stomach qi, nausea, vomiting, chest tightness, and copious phlegm.
3. Bamboo Shavings Combined with Chenpi: Bamboo shavings are sweet and cold in nature, with descending properties; they clear heat, stop vomiting, descend qi, and resolve phlegm. Chenpi is pungent and warm in nature, with a mild action; it regulates qi, strengthens the spleen, harmonizes the stomach, and descends counterflow. When used together—one cold and one warm—their complementary warming and cooling effects enhance the ability to harmonize the stomach and descend counterflow. This combination is suitable for conditions such as epigastric and abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and hiccups resulting from spleen-stomach deficiency and a mixture of cold and heat.
Medicinal Identification
1. Raw Bamboo Shavings and Ginger-Processed Bamboo Shavings: These are two different processed forms of bamboo shavings. Raw bamboo shavings clear heat, resolve phlegm, and relieve restlessness; they are commonly used for phlegm-heat coughs, gallbladder fire with phlegm, palpitations and restlessness, irritability and insomnia, stroke with phlegm-induced confusion, and tongue stiffness with inability to speak. Ginger-processed bamboo shavings enhance the effects of subduing counterflow and stopping vomiting; they are commonly used for retching and hiccups.
2. Bamboo Shavings and Reed Root: Both are sweet and cold in nature and are effective at clearing stomach heat, stopping vomiting, and relieving restlessness; they are primarily used to treat vomiting caused by stomach heat.However, Zhu Ru belongs to the category of herbs that clear heat and transform phlegm; it is particularly effective for treating coughs caused by lung heat with thick, yellow sputum. Lu Gen is an herb that clears heat and purges fire; it also generates body fluids to quench thirst and promotes urination. It can be used for thirst caused by heat-related fluid depletion, painful and scanty urination due to heat, and dark, scanty urine.
3. Bamboo Shavings and Pinellia: Both have the effects of resolving phlegm and stopping vomiting, and are used to treat phlegm-related conditions and vomiting. However, Bamboo Shavings are sweet and slightly cold in nature, specializing in clearing heat, resolving phlegm, relieving restlessness, and stopping vomiting; they are used for coughs due to phlegm-heat, restlessness and insomnia, and vomiting caused by stomach heat.Banxia is pungent and warm in nature; it excels at drying dampness and resolving phlegm, descending rebellious qi to stop vomiting, and also has the ability to disperse masses and resolve nodules. It is used for cold phlegm, damp phlegm, vomiting due to stomach cold, as well as abscesses and boils with swelling and pain, scrofula, and phlegm nodules.
Related Medicines
Pediatric Cough-Relief Pills, Brain-Shock-Relief Granules, Anti-Mumps Syrup.
Related Prescriptions
Wendan Decoction (*Three Causes and One Essence: Treatise on Diseases, Syndromes, and Formulas*), Zhuru Decoction (*Compendium of Universal Relief Formulas*), Jupi-Zhuru Decoction (*Essentials of the Golden Cabinet*), Zhuru-Ejiao Decoction (*Collection of Obstetrics and Pregnancy*), and Zhuru-Maimendong Decoction (*Compendium of Ancient and Modern Medicine*).
Medicinal Diet Therapy
Fresh Reed Root and Bamboo Shavings Porridge:
1. Effects: Clears heat, resolves phlegm, relieves cough, and alleviates wheezing. Suitable for acute bronchitis and pneumonia, with symptoms including chest pain, coughing, wheezing, thick yellow phlegm, fever, irritability with thirst and a strong desire to drink, and scanty, yellow urine.
2. Ingredients: 60克 fresh reed root, 15克 bamboo shavings, 50克 japonica rice.
3. Preparation: First, wash the japonica rice and add an appropriate amount of water. Cook into a thin porridge. When the rice is nearly tender, add the decoction of reed root and bamboo shavings (prepared in advance), and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes. Season to taste before serving.
4. Usage: Serve as a side dish with meals.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital to receive a prescription following a professional TCM differential diagnosis.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
It can be harvested and processed year-round. Take fresh stems, remove the outer bark, scrape the slightly green middle layer into shreds or slice it into thin pieces, bundle them together, and air-dry in the shade.
Processing Methods
1. Bamboo Shavings: Remove impurities, cut into segments, or roll into small balls.
2. Ginger-Roasted Bamboo Shavings: Take clean bamboo shavings and stir-fry with ginger juice until yellow.
Storage Methods
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place to prevent mold and insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
This product consists of irregular, curled strands or long, thin slices. They vary in width, thickness, and color, ranging from light green to yellow-green or yellowish-white. Fibrous in texture, they are light in weight, supple, and elastic. They have a faint odor and a mild taste.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Bamboo Shavings: See the “Medicinal Materials” section.
2. Ginger-Roasted Bamboo Shavings: Resembles bamboo shavings, with slight scorch marks and a ginger-like pungent flavor.
3. Roasted Bamboo Shavings: Resembles bamboo shavings, yellowish-green in color, with slight scorch marks.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Plants of the genus Phyllostachys in the Poaceae family, specifically Qinggan Bamboo, Daitou Dian Bamboo, or Dan Bamboo.
Morphological Characteristics
1. Qinggan Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra): The plant is lignified and tree-like. It grows in clumps and is thornless. The culms are erect or nearly erect, reaching up to 15 m in height with a diameter of about 6 cm. The apex does not droop, and the culms branch profusely at the nodes; the internodes are cylindrical, and both the internodes and sheaths are smooth and glabrous.
2. Big-headed Bamboo: The plant is lignified and tree-like. Culms reach up to 15 m in height. They are somewhat zigzagged; young culms are hairy, and the nodes below the middle typically bear rings of hairs; internodes are generally short; the dorsal surface of the leaf sheath is sparsely covered with blackish-brown, appressed, forward-pointing bristles; the base of the leaf blade is relatively narrow; the ligule is relatively long, about 5 mm;spikelets are usually straw-yellow; the dorsal surface of the inner glume is pubescent, with relatively long and dense cilia along the keel. Leaf sheaths are usually pubescent; the ligule is relatively long, and the dorsal surface of the outer glume is sparsely pubescent. Flowering occurs from March to May, and bamboo shoots emerge from June to July.
3.Pale Bamboo: The plant is lignified and tree-like. Culms are 6–18 m tall and 5–7 cm in diameter; they remain green when mature or turn gray-green with age; both culm rings and sheath rings are highly prominent. The adaxial surface of the sheath is glabrous or sparsely pubescent toward the upper part, yellow-green to pale yellow with gray-black spots and stripes; the auricles and their filaments are extremely prone to falling off;The leaf blades are long-lanceolate, wrinkled, and constricted at the base; each branch bears 1–5 leaves, with glabrous leaf sheath apices; the leaf blades are dark green, glabrous, narrowly lanceolate, 1–2 cm wide, with 6–8 pairs of secondary veins, and thin in texture. The spikelet branches are arranged in an imbricate panicle;Spikelets contain 2–3 flowers; the terminal flower is reduced, lanceolate, and finely hairy; the outer glume is acuminate and finely hairy on the surface; the inner glume is 2-toothed at the apex, finely hairy, and 12–15 mm long; the number of scale leaves varies from 3 to 1 or is absent; they are lanceolate and approximately 3 mm long;The anthers are 7–10 mm long; at flowering, they hang outside the flower on very long filaments; the ovary is acuminate-ovate, with a long style arising from its apex; together, they measure about 7 mm in length; the stigma consists of three bristles, forming a brush-like structure. The bamboo shoots emerge from April to May, and the flowering period extends from October to May of the following year.
Distribution Area
1. Green-stemmed Bamboo: Found in Guangdong and Guangxi. 2. Large-headed Bamboo: Found in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan. 3. Pale Bamboo: Found in Shandong, Henan, and areas south of the Yangtze River basin.