Raspberry is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used to consolidate essence, reduce urination, and stop leukorrhea. It is the unripe fruit of Rubus chingii Hu, a plant in the genus Rubus of the Rosaceae family. It has the effects of nourishing the kidneys to consolidate essence and reduce urination, as well as nourishing the liver to improve vision. It is primarily used for nocturnal emissions and seminal leakage, enuresis and frequent urination, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, and blurred or dim vision.
Raspberry
Raspberry is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used to consolidate essence, reduce urination, and stop leukorrhea. It is the unripe fruit of Rubus chingii Hu, a plant in the genus Rubus of the Rosaceae family. It has the effects of nourishing the kidneys to consolidate essence and reduce urination, as well as nourishing the liver to improve vision. It is primarily used for nocturnal emissions and seminal leakage, enuresis and frequent urination, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, and blurred or dim vision.
Chinese Name : 覆盆子
Latin Name : Rubi Fructus
Aliases : Rubus, Wu Huanzi, Small Tray, Mountain Bubble, Zhunhuanzi
Authentic Producing Area : Mainly produced in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Fujian
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: sweet and sour; Nature: warm; Enters the Liver, Kidney, and Bladder meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
This herb has the effects of tonifying the kidneys, consolidating essence, reducing urination, nourishing the liver, and improving vision.
Indications
It is primarily used for seminal emission and premature ejaculation, enuresis and frequent urination, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, and blurred or dim vision.
Usage and Dosage
Oral use: Decoct and take 6–12 g.
Precautions
1. While taking Rubi Fructus, maintain a light diet and avoid spicy, greasy, raw, cold, or other irritating foods to prevent affecting the medicinal efficacy. 2. Use according to the doctor’s instructions or the recommended dosage in the product label; avoid overdose. 3. Individuals allergic to Rubi Fructus should avoid use.
Chemical Constituents
Raspberries contain organic acids, sugars, and small amounts of vitamin C. The fruits also contain triterpenes, raspberry acid, ellagic acid, and β-sitosterol.
Pharmacological Actions
This product helps regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and has antidiabetic effects.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Mingyi Bielu*: Boosts qi and lightens the body, preventing hair from turning gray.
2. *Bencao Beiyao*: Nourishes the kidneys and consolidates essence; tonifies liver deficiency and improves eyesight; treats erectile dysfunction; and reduces frequent urination.
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. For treating nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation, enuresis, and frequent urination; as well as kidney deficiency-related nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and infertility, combine with Goji berries (Lycium barbarum), Dodder seeds (Cuscuta chinensis), Schisandra berries (Schisandra chinensis), and other herbs, such as in the “Five Seeds for Prolonging the Lineage Pills” (Wuzi Yanzong Wan) from *Danxi’s Heart Methods* (*Danxi Xinfǎ*); for kidney deficiency-related enuresis and frequent urination, combine with Mulberry cuttlefish bone (Sang Piaoxiao), Amomum seed (Yizhiren), and Psoralea seed (Bugu Zhi).
2. To treat liver and kidney deficiency with blurred vision, it may be used alone for long-term treatment or combined with Goji berries, mulberry fruit, Dodder seed, and other herbs.
Related Compatibility
1. Raspberries Combined with Mulberry Cuttlefish: Mulberry cuttlefish is sweet and salty in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians; it can tonify the kidneys, support yang, consolidate essence, and reduce frequent urination. Raspberries are sweet and sour in taste, slightly warm in nature, and also enter the Liver and Kidney meridians; they can both astringe to consolidate essence and reduce frequent urination, as well as tonify the Liver and Kidneys. Both herbs have the effect of tonifying the Liver and Kidneys; when used in combination, they consolidate essence and reduce frequent urination.This combination is suitable for conditions such as nocturnal emissions, frequent urination, and enuresis caused by deficiency of the Liver and Kidney.
2. Rubus fruit combined with Eucommia: Rubus fruit is sweet, sour, and slightly warm; it has both tonifying and astringent properties and can tonify the Kidneys and nourish essence and vital energy. Eucommia is sweet and tonifying; its warm nature aids yang, and it can nourish the Liver and Kidneys, strengthen fire and yang, fortify tendons and bones, and strengthen the lower back and knees. When used together, the effect of tonifying the Kidneys and nourishing essence is enhanced. This combination is suitable for conditions such as lower back pain due to Kidney deficiency, aversion to cold, and cold feet.
3. Rubus fruit combined with Semen Cuscutae: Rubus fruit is sweet, sour, and slightly warm; it nourishes yin and vital energy, consolidates dispersed qi to generate semen, enhances sexual function, and secures the semen gate. Semen Cuscutae is sweet and warm, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians; it tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, secures semen, and reduces urination. When combined, these two herbs tonify the kidneys, nourish essence, secure semen, and stop seminal emission. This combination is suitable for seminal emission and premature ejaculation.
4. Rubus chingii combined with Schisandra chinensis: Schisandra chinensis has a sour and astringent taste, enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians, and specializes in consolidating and astringing; it can secure semen, reduce urination, and stop leukorrhea. Rubus chingii is sweet and warm, aids yang, enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians, and can warm and tonify Kidney yang to consolidate, astringe, and reduce urination, thereby securing semen and stopping seminal emission.When used together, these two herbs can tonify the kidneys and nourish essence, consolidate semen and reduce urination. By combining tonification and astringency to treat both the root cause and the symptoms, they produce remarkable therapeutic effects. This combination is suitable for conditions such as nocturnal emissions and premature ejaculation caused by kidney deficiency and an unstable semen gate, as well as weakness and soreness in the lower back and knees, enuresis, and frequent urination.
Medicinal Identification
1. Schisandra and Rubus: Both are astringent herbs that excel at consolidating essence and reducing urination. They are primarily used to treat nocturnal emissions, seminal leakage, enuresis, frequent urination, and leukorrhea caused by kidney qi deficiency.However, Rubus chingii not only secures semen but also nourishes the liver and kidneys and improves vision; it is particularly frequently used for those with kidney deficiency or insufficiency of the liver and kidneys. It is also indicated for impotence and infertility due to kidney deficiency, as well as blurred vision caused by insufficiency of the liver and kidneys. Schisandra chinensis, on the other hand, primarily functions as an astringent and also has the ability to astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea, making it suitable for chronic diarrhea and dysentery.
2. Dodder Seed and Rubus Fruit: Both herbs can tonify the kidneys, secure essence, and reduce urination; they are used for conditions such as nocturnal emission, frequent urination, and vaginal discharge. Both can also tonify the kidneys and nourish the liver, directing essence and blood upward to improve vision; they are used for conditions of liver-kidney insufficiency where the eyes lack nourishment, leading to blurred vision and diminished visual acuity.Dodder Seed not only tonifies both kidney yang and kidney yin, consolidates essence, reduces urination, and stops leukorrhea, but also warms the kidneys and tonifies the spleen to stop deficiency-type diarrhea; it also has the effect of tonifying the liver and kidneys and securing the fetal essence. Rubus Fruit is sweet, sour, and slightly warm in nature, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians; it can both astringe to consolidate essence and reduce urination, and also tonify the liver and kidneys. Although their effects are broadly comparable, the former leans toward tonification, while the latter excels in astringency.
3. Mulberry Cuttlefish Bone and Rubus Fruit: These two herbs have similar properties and both serve to benefit the kidneys and secure essence. They are used to treat conditions such as nocturnal emission, seminal leakage, and enuresis caused by kidney deficiency with loss of retention. However, Rubus fruit is sweet, sour, and slightly warm, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians; it not only astringes to secure essence and reduce urination but also tonifies the Liver and Kidneys to improve vision, and can be used for Liver and Kidney deficiency resulting in dim or blurred vision.Mulberry Cyst (桑螵蛸), sweet and salty in nature and entering the Kidney meridian, can secure essence and reduce urination, and also has the efficacy of tonifying the Kidney and assisting yang; it is used for impotence due to Kidney deficiency. Mulberry Cyst has a stronger yang-assisting effect than Rubus fruit, and is therefore more commonly used in clinical practice; Rubus fruit, on the other hand, tends to nourish true yin.
Related Medicines
1. Menstrual Regulation and Fertility Promotion Pills (from *Essentials of Clinical Medication: Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulations*, 2020 Edition)
(1) Composition: Deer antler (dehaired), fried Epimedium, Curculigo, Dipsacus, Mulberry mistletoe, Dodder seed, Goji berry, Rubus fruit, Chinese yam, lotus seed (de-seeded),Poria, Astragalus, White Peony Root, Roasted Ziziphus Seed, Salvia, Red Peony Root, Milky Vine, Uncaria.
(2) Functions and Indications: Warms the kidneys and strengthens the spleen; promotes blood circulation and regulates menstruation.Indicated for irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and infertility caused by spleen-kidney yang deficiency and blood stasis obstruction, manifested as delayed menstruation, scanty menstrual flow with blood clots, cold pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation, prolonged absence of menstruation, prolonged inability to conceive, and cold pain in the lower back and knees.
2. Yang-Strengthening and Kidney-Protecting Pills (from *Essentials of Clinical Medication: Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulations*, 2020 Edition)
(1)Composition: Fried Epimedium, Cistanche (soaked in wine), Psoralea (salted), Yangqishi (calcined and quenched in wine), Semen Cuscutae, Fenugreek (salted), Cnidium, Allium tuberosum seeds, Schisandra (vinegar-processed), Rubus, Euryale (fried with wheat bran), Cinnamon, Fennel (salted), Processed Polygala, Poria.
(2) Functions and Indications: Tonifies the kidneys and supports yang. Used for lower back soreness, weak legs, mental fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and nocturnal emissions caused by kidney yang deficiency.
Medicinal Diet Therapy
1. Five-Seed Inheritance Porridge
(1) Efficacy: It tonifies the kidneys and nourishes essence, while nourishing the liver and improving vision. It is indicated for conditions such as erectile dysfunction, nocturnal emission, premature ejaculation, frequent urination, dribbling after urination, and infertility caused by kidney qi deficiency.
(2) Ingredients: 10 grams of Rubus chingii fruit, 10 grams of Cuscuta chinensis, 10 grams of Lycium barbarum, 5 grams of Plantago seed, 3 grams of Schisandra chinensis, 100 grams of rice, and white sugar to taste.
(3) Preparation: First, decoct the first five herbs, strain out the residue, and retain the clear liquid. Add the rice and simmer over low heat until it becomes a thin porridge. Stir in white sugar just before serving.
2. Raspberry and Pork Tripe Stew
(1) Benefits: This dish nourishes the liver and kidneys, reduces urination, relieves coughing and wheezing, and strengthens the spleen and stomach. It is suitable for people with frequent nighttime urination, bedwetting, coughs, loss of appetite, and indigestion.
(2) Ingredients: 30 g dried raspberries, 9 g fresh ginkgo nuts, 150 g pork tripe, and salt to taste.
(3) Preparation: Wash the raspberries; wash the ginkgo nuts, roast them until cooked, and remove the shells; wash the pork tripe and cut it into small pieces. Then place the raspberries, ginkgo nuts, and pork tripe in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer until cooked. Season with salt to taste, and it’s ready to serve.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate herbal formula.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest the fruits between July and August when they are plump, green, and unripe. Remove any stems and leaves from the harvested fruits, blanch them in boiling water for 1–2 minutes, then remove and dry them under direct sunlight.
Processing Methods
1. Rubus: Take the raw herb, remove impurities, and sift out dust and debris.
2. Salted Rubus: Take the cleaned Rubus, mix thoroughly with salt water, and let it sit until the salt water is completely absorbed. Then, steam thoroughly in a steamer basket and remove to dry. Use 2 kg of table salt per 100 kg of Rubus.
3. Wine-processed raspberries: Mix the raspberries with wine and let them sit until the wine is fully absorbed. Place them in a pot and stir-fry over low heat until slightly dry, then remove and let cool. Use 60 kg of rice wine for every 100 kg of raspberries.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container; keep the salted raspberries and wine-soaked raspberries tightly sealed and store in a cool, dry place.
Crude Drug Identification
Identification
1. The powder of this product is brownish-yellow. Non-glandular trichomes are unicellular, 60–450 μm long and 12–20 μm in diameter, with very thick, lignified walls; most exhibit double spirals. In some cases, the body detaches easily, leaving the foot embedded in the epidermal layer. When viewed from the surface, they appear round, polygonal, or oblong, with a diameter of up to approximately 23 μm; the cell cavity is branched and resembles a stone cell.Clusters of calcium oxalate crystals are commonly observed, with diameters of 18–50 μm. The pericarp fibers are yellow, with upper and lower layers arranged in a crisscross or oblique pattern.
2. Take a reference standard of lindenoside, dissolve it in methanol to prepare a solution containing 0.1 mg per mL, and use this as the reference solution.Perform the test according to the Thin-Layer Chromatography method (General Chapter 0502). Pipette 5 μL of the test solution from the “Determination of Content” section for kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and 2 μL of the above-mentioned reference solution, and spot them separately onto the same silica gel G thin-layer plate. Develop the plate using a mobile phase of ethyl acetate-methanol-water-formic acid (90:4:4:0.5) as the developing agent, remove the plate, allow it to air-dry, spray with aluminum trichloride solution, heat at 105°C for 5 minutes, and examine under a UV lamp (365 nm).In the chromatogram of the test sample, fluorescent spots of the same color appear at positions corresponding to those in the reference standard chromatogram.
Properties of Crude Drugs
The aggregate fruit is composed of numerous drupes, slightly conical or subglobose in shape, with a bluntly rounded apex and a relatively flat base, 0.6–1.3 cm tall and 0.5–1.2 cm in diameter.The surface is grayish-green or pale brown, densely covered with grayish-white or grayish-green short tomentum; the persistent calyx is brown, 5-lobed, often broken at the apex, with numerous remnants of filaments on top and a fruit stalk scar or a thin fruit stalk attached below.The small drupes are roughly crescent-shaped, with a convex back and prominent ridges on the front; the surface is brown, with grayish-white hairs on the back and tip, and reticulate depressions on the front and sides. They are hard in texture and contain a single brown seed. They have a fragrant aroma and a slightly sour and astringent taste. Those with intact, plump grains, a yellow-green color, and a sour taste are considered the best.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Raspberry: See “Characteristics of the Medicinal Material.”
2. Salted Raspberry: Resembles the raspberry in shape, but is darker in color and slightly salty.
3. Wine-Infused Raspberry: Resembles the raspberry in shape, but is darker in color and has a faint wine aroma.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
A plant of the genus Rubus in the Rosaceae family, specifically the East China raspberry.
Morphological Characteristics
A deciduous shrub, 2–3 m tall. Young branches are green, covered with a white powdery coating, and bear a few backward-pointing thorns. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 3–4.5 cm long; stipules are linear-lanceolate; leaf blades are nearly circular, 5–9 cm in diameter, deeply palmately 5-lobed, with the central lobe rhomboid-ovate, the base nearly cordate, the margin doubly serrate, and both surfaces bearing short white soft hairs along the veins;with five basal veins. Flowers are hermaphroditic; solitary at the tips of short branches; calyx 5-lobed, persistent, ovate-oblong, with short soft hairs on both surfaces of the lobes; petals 5, white, elliptic or ovate-oblong, with rounded-obtuse apices; diameter 2.5–3.5 cm;flower stalk 2–3.5 cm long; numerous stamens with broad, flattened filaments; anthers T-shaped, 2-celled; numerous pistils, pubescent, attached to a prominent receptacle. Aggregate fruit spherical, 1.5–2 cm in diameter, red, pendulous; small drupes densely covered with grayish-white soft hairs. Flowering period: March–April; fruiting period: May–August.
Distribution Area
Distributed in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and other regions.
Growth Habits
It prefers a cool climate and dislikes heat; it prefers light but avoids direct, intense sunlight. It can be grown in most types of soil, but loose, humus-rich, well-drained acidic yellow loam is optimal.
Propagation Methods
Propagation is carried out using root suckers, buried roots, cuttings, or layering.
Cultivation Techniques
1. Propagation by root suckers: In February–March, dig up plants that have grown from root suckers. After appropriate pruning, divide the plants for temporary planting or permanent transplanting.
2. Propagation by buried roots: Use the thicker lateral roots pruned during the harvesting of root sucker seedlings. Cut them into root segments about 10 cm long, insert them into a nursery bed, and transplant them after one year of cultivation.
3. Cuttings: Before bud break in spring, cut one-year-old branches into 15–20 cm cuttings. Plant them in a nursery bed at a spacing of 10 cm × 5 cm. Cover with plastic film to retain heat and moisture; once the seedlings reach 50 cm in height, they are ready for transplanting.
4.Layer Propagation: In July–August, press one-year-old branches from the mother plant near the ground into the soil, making a shallow cut on the portion of the branch that enters the soil. The following spring, cut the young seedlings that have grown from the layer away from the mother plant and transplant them separately. For transplanting, dig holes with a row and plant spacing of 2 cm × 0.5 cm; each hole should be 30–40 cm wide and deep. Mix 5 kg of composted manure with fine soil in each hole, apply the mixture, and tamp the soil down firmly after planting, then water thoroughly.