WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

The source is from the dry nearly ripe fruit of Prunus mume (Sieb.) Sieb. et Zucc.,family Rosaceae. The medicinal material is collected in summer when the fruit is nearly ripe. It is baked at a low temperature until the pulp is turns black with the peel has wrinkled. After the core is removed, the raw or carbonized form is used for medication.

[Medicinal Properties]: Sour, astringent and neutral; relate to the liver, spleen, lung, large intestine meridians.

[Medicinal Efficacies]: Astringe the lung; astringe the intestine; promote the production of body fluid; relieve ascaris colic.

[Clinical Applications]:

1. Prolonged cough due to deficiency of the lung      In treating prolonged cough with a small amount of sputum due to deficiency of the lung, or dry cough without sputum, it is often used together with Yingsuqiao and Kuxingren, such as in the formula Yifu Powder.

      2.Prolonged diarrhea or dysentery For prolonged diarrhea or dysentery, it can be used together with Yisuqiao, such as in the formula Guchang Pill. In treating hygropyretic dysentery, purulent hematochezia, it can be combined with Huanglian, such as in the formula Wumei Pill.

      3.Xiaoke (diabetes) due to deficiency heat  Its single decoction is effective in treating Xiaoke (diabetes) due to heat of deficiency type, or used together with Tianhuafen, Maidong, and Renshen, such as in the formula Yuquan Powder.

      4.Abdominal pain and vomiting caused by intestinal ascariasis            Ascaris becomes sedated when it meets a sour flavour, as this medicine is quite sour it is a good medicine for ascariasis. In treating abdominal pain, vomiting and cold extremities caused by intestinal ascariasis, it is often combined with Chuanjiao and Huanlian, such as in the formula Wumei Pill.

In addition, when carbonized it has the function of strengthening the Thoroughfare vessel and stop metrostaxis, it can treat metrorrhagia and metrostaxis and hemafecia. Also, it is able to eliminate sores accompanied with toxins by external application, such as pterygium and head sore.

[Usage and Dosage]: 3-10g is taken orally in a large dosage may be up to 30g. For external application, the amount should be appropriate, and it can be pounded or carbonized and then ground into powder. In order to stop bleeding and diarrhea, the carbonized form is applicable.

[Precaution]: If taken orally, it is contraindicated for patients with exogenous factors or those with stagnation of sthenic heat.

[Medicinal Comparison]:

[Similarities]: Wuweizi and Wumei have the same functions of astringing the lung to relieve cough, astringing the intestine to arresting diarrhea, and promoting the production of the body fluids to stop thirst. It can treat prolonged cough, diarrhea, thirst due to consumption of the body fluids, and Xiaoke (diabetes).

[Differences]: Wuweizi has the function of tonifying the kidney, securing essence, arresting sweating, benefiting qi, nourishing the heart and calming the mind. It is able to treat asthma and cough due to deficiency of the lung and kidney, manifesting as seminal emission, spermatorrhea, spontaneous perspiration and night sweating. Wumei has the function of relieving ascaris colic and alleviating pain, arresting bleeding and removing sores and poison. Its indications include abdominal pain caused by ascariasis, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, pterygium evagination by external applications. 

乌梅为蔷薇科植物梅Prunus mume （Sieb.）Sieb.et Zucc.的近成熟果实。主产于浙江、福建、云南等地。夏季果实近成熟时采收，低温烘干后闷至皱皮，色变黑时即成。去核生用或炒炭用。