fu pen zi

覆盆子·Fructus Rubi

Chinese Raspberry

About fu pen zi

Fu Pen Zi (覆盆子) is the fruit of the Chinese raspberry, recorded as Fructus Rubi. It is sweet and astringent in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Kidney and Liver channels.

Names

Pinyin	fu pen zi
Chinese	覆盆子
Latin Name	Fructus Rubi
English Name	Chinese Raspberry·Chinese raspberry; rubus·rubus
Japanese	fukubonshi
Korean	bokbunja

Classification

Channels: Kidney, Liver
Flavour: Sweet, Astringent
Temperature: Neutral
Part used: Fruit
Family: Rosaceae
Species: Rubus Chingii
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Tonifies and stabilises the Kidneys and secures Jing and urine

Seminal emission, premature ejaculation, wet dreams or impotence when deficient Kidney Yang or Kidney Qi fails to secure essence
Frequent urination or bedwetting when Kidney Qi cannot control urine, often with Sang Piao Xiao and Qian Shi

Tonifies Yang and brightens the eyes

Blurred or poor vision, a sore lower back and impotence from Liver and Kidney deficiency

Moistens the hair

Hair that is dry because essence and Blood are deficient, combined with Gou Qi Zi and Shu Di Huang

Combinations

sang piao xiao + yi zhi ren
Lower Jiao Deficiency with frequent urination and incontinence
tu si zi + gou qi zi + wu wei zi
Kidney Deficiency with spermatorrhea and impotence
lu rong + ba ji tian + rou cong rong
Kidney Yang Deficiency causing infertility or impotence
du zhong
Kidney Deficiency with cold lower limbs and low back pain
gou qi zi + tu si zi + che qian zi
Kidney Deficiency causing impotence and pain in the lower back
shu di huang + gou qi zi + nu zhen zi
Kidney Deficiency with poor eyesight
sha yuan zi + shan zhu yu + qian shi
Impotence, premature ejaculation, nocturnal emissions and spermatorrhea
yi zhi ren + jin ying zi
Urinary frequency or enuresis.
sang piao xiao + wu wei zi + shan zhu yu + wu yao + yi zhi ren
Frequent urination in diabetes insipidus
tu si zi + gou qi zi + wu wei zi + che qian zi + sha yuan zi + ye ming sha
Impaired vision.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 2-12g; Tincture: 1-3ml	2-12 g	—	1-3 ml	—	—

Cautions

caution Kidney Yin deficiency with Heat signs
contraindication Lower Jiao Damp-Heat with burning on urination
contraindication Frequent erections
contraindication Unresolved Exterior conditions, internal stagnation, or Heat from constraint, as with other securing and binding herbs
caution It treats the leakage rather than its root, so combine it with herbs that address the underlying cause