The Eden Institute Biblical Herbalism Education

Eden Apothecary · Herb Profile

Cornelian Cherry

Cornus officinalis

Also known as Shan Zhu Yu

Pronounced shahn joo yoo; Cornelian Cherry: kor-NEE-lee-un; Cornus officinalis: KOR-nus oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss

Warm, sour, astringent tonic: the great securer that gathers scattering essence, qi, blood, and sweat back to the Kidney and Liver, holding a deficient, leaking terrain together without excessive drying.

At a glance

Botanical name
Cornus officinalis
Family
Cornaceae
Part used
Ripe fruit flesh, pit removed; the dried flesh is called Shan Yu Rou. The pit is traditionally discarded because it is held to have the opposite, dispersing effect and can promote the very leakage the flesh restrains.
Taste
Sour, Astringent
Temperature
Warm
Moisture
Neutral

Safety at a glance

In pregnancy

NEEDS REVIEW: Not covered by the AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook and lacking formal safety studies. Traditionally used only within practitioner-prescribed Kidney-tonifying formulas, some of which are given for threatened miscarriage from Kidney deficiency, and it is not a documented abortifacient; but consumer sources conflict (some vendors flag avoidance). Given the absence of formal data, avoid self-prescription in pregnancy and use only under a qualified practitioner. (No AHPA/NCCIH monograph; vendor safety labels; Bensky et al. 2004.)

While breastfeeding

NEEDS REVIEW: No specific lactation data located and no traditional contraindication reported; not covered by AHPA or NCCIH. Given the absence of formal data, restrict to practitioner-guided use during breastfeeding. (No AHPA/NCCIH monograph.)

For children

Traditionally used at reduced pediatric doses within TCM formulas for childhood enuresis and night sweats under practitioner supervision. The pitted fruit flesh is a low-toxicity, food-like fruit. Reserve concentrated extracts and any collapse-dose amounts for practitioner oversight.

Cautions

Use the pitted flesh (Shan Yu Rou) only; the seed is not used. High collapse-rescue doses (30-60 g) are practitioner- or hospital-administered, not for self-dosing. Its sour-astringent, warming nature can lock in an unresolved infection or aggravate damp-heat, so it is held until any active exterior or damp-heat pathogen is cleared.

General contraindications

Damp-heat of the lower jiao, painful or difficult urination from heat, blazing ministerial fire with priapism or frequent erections, and unresolved exterior or excess (acute infectious) conditions. Not for self-treatment of shock or collapse, which is a medical emergency.

Stewardship

Commercially orchard-cultivated at scale in China (notably Henan and Zhejiang) and not listed as at-risk; not a United Plant Savers species (that registry covers North American natives). Prefer cultivated, pit-removed flesh from reputable suppliers and confirm it is sulfite-free and correctly identified as Cornus officinalis rather than adulterant Cornaceae fruit.

In the traditional record

Not named in the canonical biblical texts. An East Asian materia medica herb, first recorded in the Chinese classic Shennong Ben Cao Jing (c. 200 CE) as Shan Zhu Yu; native to China, Korea, and Japan.

Which herbs suit your body?

The same herb can calm one person and wire another. Our free assessment reads your pattern across temperature, moisture and tone, then matches herbs to it.

Take the free assessment Open Cornelian Cherry (Shan Zhu Yu) in the Apothecary

Teaching children at home? Eden's Table builds a full herbalism curriculum around plants like this one.