yu jin

郁金·Curcumae Radixuma

Curcuma Tuber

About yu jin

Yu Jin (郁金) is the tuber of curcuma, a member of the ginger family, recorded as Radix Curcumae. It is acrid and bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Lung and Liver channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that invigorate the Blood.

Names

Pinyinyu jin
Chinese郁金
Latin NameCurcumae Radixuma·Radix Curcumae
English NameCurcuma Tuber·turmeric root tuber
Japaneseukon
Koreanulgeum

Classification

Channels
Lung, Heart, Liver
Flavour
Acrid, Bitter
Temperature
Cold
Part used
Tuber
Family
Zingiberaceae
Species
Curcuma aromatica
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood, dispels stasis, moves Qi, relieves pain and speeds the healing of chronic sores

  • Blood stasis from trauma, used internally and topically
  • Chronic sores
  • Stagnant Liver Qi with pain in the chest, flanks or abdomen, or painful periods
  • Liver Qi stagnation with Heat signs, for which it is especially suited
  • Irregular periods and distending abdominal masses from stagnant Qi and Blood
  • Constrained Liver Qi affecting the Stomach
  • Enlarged liver and spleen of the kind seen in cirrhosis

Clears Heat and cools the Blood

  • Heat at the Blood (Xue) level with nosebleed, vomiting of blood or blood in the urine
  • Nosebleed at the start of the period (inverted menstruation), where it is especially useful
  • Early periods or blood-streaked menses when Heat forces Blood out of the vessels

Clears the Heart and Pericardium and opens the orifices

  • Phlegm-Heat or Damp-Heat clouding the Heart orifices, with anxiety, agitation, disorientation, seizures or manic behavior

Benefits the Gallbladder and resolves jaundice

  • Gallbladder disorders, including gallstones
  • Jaundice, including jaundice from Damp-Heat

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-15g; Tincture: 2-5ml3-15 g2-5 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Caution with

Drug interactions