Herb Leaf (叶 yè)

Du Zhong Ye

Eucommia leaf · 杜仲叶

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. · Folium Eucommiae

Du Zhong Ye (Eucommia leaf) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Eucommia leaf comes from the same tree as the more commonly used Eucommia bark (Du Zhong) and shares many of its benefits. It is a warming herb traditionally used to strengthen the lower back and knees, support bone and joint health, and help manage blood pressure. In 2023, it was officially classified as a food-medicine dual-use substance in China, making it widely available as a health tea.

Category Yang-tonifying herbs (补阳药)
Therapeutic focus Bone and Joint Health Blood Pressure Support Lower Back and Knee Health Immune Support

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels entered

Liver, Kidneys

Parts used

Leaf (叶 yè)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Du Zhong Ye does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Du Zhong Ye is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Bone and Joint Health Blood Pressure Support Lower Back and Knee Health Immune Support

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Du Zhong Ye performs to restore balance in the body:

Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin Strengthens the Sinews and Bones Lowers Blood Pressure

How these actions work

'Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys' means this herb nourishes and strengthens the Liver and Kidney organ systems, which in TCM theory govern the health of tendons, ligaments, and bones respectively. When these systems are weakened, people may experience lower back pain, weak knees, dizziness, or fatigue. Eucommia leaf gently warms and replenishes these organ systems, making it especially suitable for people whose weakness is accompanied by cold sensations.

'Strengthens sinews and bones' refers to its ability to support the structural tissues of the body: tendons, ligaments, and the skeletal system. This action flows directly from its Liver and Kidney tonifying effect, since in TCM the Liver governs the sinews (tendons and ligaments) and the Kidneys govern the bones. It is commonly used for soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, as well as general limb weakness.

'Lowers blood pressure' is a modern clinical application recognized in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The leaf contains pinoresinol diglucoside and chlorogenic acid, which have been shown to relax blood vessels and reduce blood pressure. This makes Eucommia leaf particularly valued for people with hypertension who also have underlying Liver-Kidney deficiency.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Du Zhong Ye is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Du Zhong Ye addresses this pattern

Eucommia leaf is warm in nature and enters the Kidney channel, directly warming Kidney Yang. When Kidney Yang is deficient, its warming and supporting functions decline, leading to cold sensations in the lower back and knees, general fatigue, and frequent urination. The herb's warm, pungent nature counters the cold that accumulates when Kidney Yang is weak, while its tonifying action rebuilds the foundation of Yang in the lower body. Its ability to strengthen bones reflects the TCM principle that the Kidneys govern bones, so tonifying Kidney Yang directly improves bone and skeletal strength.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Lower Back Pain

Cold, aching lower back pain that improves with warmth

Knee Pain

Weak, sore knees

Eye Fatigue

Fatigue with cold limbs

Frequent Urination

Frequent or dribbling urination

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Du Zhong Ye is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Spleen and Kidney Qi Deficiency

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, hypertension is often understood as Liver Yang rising, which can stem from an underlying deficiency of Liver and Kidney Yin or Yang. When the Kidneys are weakened, they fail to anchor Yang downward, allowing it to surge upward and cause headaches, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure. In many older patients, this rising Yang coexists with deficiency in the lower body, producing simultaneous symptoms of high blood pressure above and weak lower back and knees below.

Why Du Zhong Ye Helps

Eucommia leaf addresses hypertension from the root level by tonifying the Liver and Kidneys. By strengthening the foundation of these organ systems, it helps the body anchor Yang Qi and prevent it from surging upward. Modern research has confirmed that Eucommia leaf contains pinoresinol diglucoside, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin, which promote blood vessel relaxation through the nitric oxide pathway and regulate the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. This dual action, working both through the traditional TCM mechanism of tonifying deficiency and through direct vascular relaxation, makes it especially well suited for hypertensive patients who also have lower back pain and general weakness.

Also commonly used for

Knee Pain

Chronic knee soreness and weakness

Dizziness

Dizziness from Liver-Kidney insufficiency

Hyperlipidemia

As part of blood lipid management

Osteoarthritis

Joint degeneration with weakness

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels Entered

Liver Kidneys

Parts Used

Leaf (叶 yè)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Du Zhong Ye — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

15-30g

Maximum dosage

Up to 30g in standard decoction; higher doses are used in Du Zhong tea protocols (up to 30g or more daily as tea infusion) but should be under practitioner guidance.

Dosage notes

The standard decoction dose is 15 to 30g. For general Liver and Kidney tonification and lower back/knee support, 15 to 20g is typical. For blood pressure support, higher doses around 20 to 30g are often used, sometimes as a daily tea rather than a traditional decoction. Salt-processed Du Zhong Ye (yan chao) is preferred when targeting the Kidney, as salt processing is classically understood to direct the herb's actions downward to the Kidney. When used as a tea (steeped rather than decocted), the active compounds may be less fully extracted, so slightly higher quantities are sometimes used.

Preparation

No special decoction handling required. Du Zhong Ye can be decocted normally with other herbs. It is also commonly prepared as a simple tea infusion (steeped in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes). Salt-processed Du Zhong Ye (yan chao du zhong ye) is a common processed form where the leaves are sprayed with salt water and dry-fried until lightly scorched, which is said to enhance the herb's Kidney-directing properties.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same herb can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Du Zhong Ye does

Processing method

The clean, dried Eucommia leaves are sprinkled evenly with salt water, left to absorb briefly, then stir-fried in a wok over moderate heat until slightly charred spots appear. The standard ratio is 2 kg of salt per 100 kg of leaves.

How it changes properties

Salt-frying enhances the herb's ability to enter the Kidney channel, strengthening its Kidney-tonifying and lower-back-supporting actions. The salt acts as a guide (引经药) directing the herb's effects downward to the Kidneys and lower body. The thermal nature remains warm. The processing also breaks down some of the gutta-percha (rubber content) in the leaf, allowing the active constituents to dissolve more readily into water during decoction.

When to use this form

Preferred when the primary goal is to tonify the Kidneys for lower back pain, knee weakness, or frequent urination. The salt-processed form is the standard clinical form for decoction, as it improves both the therapeutic direction and the extractability of active compounds.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Du Zhong Ye for enhanced therapeutic effect

Xu Duan
Xu Duan 1:1 (e.g. 15g each)

Eucommia leaf and Xu Duan (Teasel root) are a classical pairing for strengthening the Liver and Kidneys while supporting sinews and bones. Eucommia leaf excels at warming and tonifying to maintain structural integrity, while Xu Duan is better at reconnecting and knitting damaged tissue. Together they address both the underlying deficiency and the structural damage.

When to use: Chronic lower back and knee pain from Liver-Kidney deficiency, especially following injury or in cases where bones and tendons need repair alongside tonification.

Sang Ji Sheng
Sang Ji Sheng 1:1 (e.g. 15g each)

Sang Ji Sheng (Mulberry mistletoe) supplements the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens sinews and bones, and also expels Wind-Dampness. Paired with Eucommia leaf, the combination tonifies the root deficiency while simultaneously addressing any pathogenic Wind-Dampness lodged in the channels, providing more comprehensive relief for joint and back pain.

When to use: Lower back and knee pain in elderly patients where Kidney deficiency coexists with Wind-Dampness obstruction, or for hypertension with concurrent joint stiffness.

Niu Xi
Niu Xi 1:1 (e.g. 15g each)

Niu Xi (Achyranthes root) directs the action of herbs downward to the lower body and also tonifies the Liver and Kidneys. When combined with Eucommia leaf, Niu Xi guides the tonifying effect specifically to the lower back and knees, while adding its own Blood-invigorating properties to address any stagnation in the lower limbs.

When to use: Lower back pain and weak knees with heaviness in the legs, or when the therapeutic effect needs to be focused on the lower body.

Bu Gu Zhi
Bu Gu Zhi 1:1 (e.g. 10-15g each)

Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea fruit) is a strongly warming Kidney Yang tonic. Together with Eucommia leaf, the pair powerfully warms the Kidney Yang and strengthens the lower back, providing a more robust warming effect than either herb alone.

When to use: Kidney Yang deficiency with pronounced cold signs: cold lower back, frequent urination, impotence, or cold limbs.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Du Zhong
Du Zhong Ye vs Du Zhong

Du Zhong (Eucommia bark) and Du Zhong Ye (Eucommia leaf) come from the same tree and share very similar actions: both tonify the Liver and Kidneys and strengthen sinews and bones. The bark is the traditional medicinal part, is slightly stronger in tonifying action, and has an additional classical function of calming the fetus during pregnancy. The leaf is milder, more sustainable to harvest, and is particularly noted for its blood pressure-lowering effect. The leaf was officially added to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2005 as a substitute for many of the bark's clinical functions.

Xu Duan
Du Zhong Ye vs Xu Duan

Both herbs tonify the Liver and Kidneys and strengthen sinews and bones, but their strengths differ. Eucommia leaf is better at warming and maintaining structural integrity and also lowers blood pressure. Xu Duan excels at reconnecting damaged tendons and bones after injury and also invigorates Blood to address trauma. For chronic deficiency with no injury, Eucommia leaf is preferred; for post-trauma recovery, Xu Duan takes the lead.

Sang Ji Sheng
Du Zhong Ye vs Sang Ji Sheng

Both tonify the Liver and Kidneys and address lower back and knee pain. However, Sang Ji Sheng also expels Wind-Dampness from the channels, making it better for joint pain with a Wind-Damp component (stiffness that worsens in damp weather). Eucommia leaf is more purely a tonifying and warming herb, and is preferred when the primary problem is pure deficiency without significant Wind-Dampness.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Du Zhong Ye

Du Zhong Ye (Eucommia leaf) must be distinguished from Du Zhong Pi (Eucommia bark), which is the more traditionally used part of the same tree and has somewhat different clinical applications (bark is more commonly used for calming the fetus). The leaf is sometimes used as a substitute for the bark in clinical practice due to its lower cost and sustainability advantages, though they share similar active compounds. Leaves of other tree species could potentially be confused with Du Zhong Ye in the dried, crumbled state. The key authentication test is the presence of fine, elastic, silvery-white rubber threads visible when the leaf is broken. No genuine Du Zhong Ye substitute will have this characteristic guttapercha. Additionally, Du Zhong Ye should not be confused with Du Zhong Teng (杜仲藤, Parabarium micranthum), which is an entirely different plant used in folk medicine.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Du Zhong Ye

Non-toxic

Du Zhong Ye is classified as non-toxic in the Ben Cao Gang Mu and is recognized as a food-and-medicine dual-use substance in China. Animal toxicity studies show that oral administration of the water decoction at 40g/kg daily for 3 days in mice produced no abnormal effects, and 12g/kg daily for 21 days in rats showed no tissue damage. The intraperitoneal injection LD50 in mice is approximately 8.64 g/kg, but this route of administration is not clinically relevant to oral use. At standard decoction dosages (15 to 30g), there are no known toxic concerns. Prolonged continuous use beyond 3 weeks at high doses is sometimes cautioned against in popular sources, but this is not based on strong pharmacological evidence.

Contraindications

Situations where Du Zhong Ye should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

People with Yin Deficiency with Heat signs (such as dry mouth, night sweats, hot flashes) should avoid Du Zhong Ye. Its warm nature can worsen internal Heat when Yin is already depleted.

Caution

People with a constitutionally hot body type (manifesting as dry mouth, yellow scanty urine, irritability) should use with caution, as the herb's warm nature may aggravate Heat accumulation.

Caution

Individuals with estrogen-sensitive conditions (such as estrogen-dependent cancers) should avoid use, as Eucommia has demonstrated estrogenic activity in some research.

Caution

Those currently taking antihypertensive medication should use with caution due to potential additive blood pressure lowering effects. Blood pressure should be monitored.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Generally considered safe and potentially beneficial during pregnancy at standard doses. Traditionally, Du Zhong (bark) is a well-known herb for calming a restless fetus (an tai) and preventing miscarriage due to Kidney deficiency. While Du Zhong Ye (the leaf) is not as commonly used in classical pregnancy formulas as the bark, pharmacological studies show that water decoctions and alcohol extracts of Eucommia leaves have an inhibitory (relaxing) effect on the isolated uterus of rats and rabbits, which could theoretically support its traditional use in stabilizing pregnancy. However, formal clinical safety data specific to the leaf during pregnancy are lacking. Pregnant women should consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Breastfeeding

No specific safety data are available regarding the transfer of Du Zhong Ye constituents through breast milk. The herb has been consumed as a food-grade tea in China and Japan for decades without reports of adverse effects on breastfeeding women or infants. However, given the lack of formal pharmacokinetic studies during lactation, nursing mothers should use standard caution and consult a practitioner before use.

Children

No specific classical or modern paediatric dosage guidelines exist for Du Zhong Ye. As with most Chinese herbs, dosage for children should be reduced proportionally based on age and body weight, generally to one-third to one-half of the adult dose for children over 6 years. Its warm, tonifying nature means it is best suited for children with clear signs of Kidney or Liver deficiency (such as delayed skeletal development or weakness in the lower limbs) rather than for general use. Not typically used in very young children (under 3 years) without specific clinical indication and practitioner guidance.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Du Zhong Ye

Antihypertensive medications: Du Zhong Ye contains compounds (notably pinoresinol diglucoside and chlorogenic acid) with demonstrated blood pressure-lowering effects. Concurrent use with antihypertensive drugs (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics) may result in additive hypotensive effects. Blood pressure should be monitored if combining these.

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: Some phenolic compounds in Eucommia leaves may have mild blood-thinning properties. While clinically significant interactions have not been well documented, caution is advisable when combining with warfarin, heparin, or antiplatelet agents.

Hypoglycaemic medications: Animal studies suggest Du Zhong Ye may influence glucose metabolism and liver glycogen levels. Diabetic patients on insulin or oral hypoglycaemics should monitor blood sugar if using Du Zhong Ye concurrently.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Du Zhong Ye

When taking Du Zhong Ye to tonify the Liver and Kidneys, it is best to avoid excessive cold, raw foods (such as ice water, raw salads, cold dairy) which can impair Spleen and Kidney Yang and counteract the herb's warming, tonifying actions. Foods that support Kidney function, such as black sesame seeds, walnuts, bone broth, and dark-coloured beans, complement its therapeutic direction. For those using it to support blood pressure, a reduced-sodium diet is advisable to maximise effectiveness.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Du Zhong Ye source plant

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall, belonging to the family Eucommiaceae. It is the sole surviving species in its family, making it a rare living fossil unique to China and classified as a national second-class protected plant. The young branches are smooth and yellowish-brown with pith. The bark, branches, and leaves all contain a characteristic rubber-like substance (guttapercha).

The leaves are simple, alternate, elliptical or ovate, 7 to 15 cm long and 3.5 to 6.5 cm wide, with a pointed tip, a broadly wedge-shaped base, and serrated margins. Young leaves have soft hairs on both surfaces, while mature leaves are smooth above with sparse hairs along the veins beneath. The leaf stalk is 1 to 2 cm long. The most distinctive feature of the leaves is that when torn or broken, fine silvery-white elastic rubber threads can be seen connecting the fragments, much like the tree's bark.

The tree is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Flowers are small, without petals, appearing at the same time as the leaves or slightly before, blooming in April to May. The fruit is a flat, winged samara, oval-oblong in shape, ripening around September. The tree grows naturally in mountain forests and is widely cultivated across central and southern China.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Du Zhong Ye is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Summer to autumn, when branches and leaves are most lush and abundant, then sun-dried or dried at low temperature.

Primary growing regions

Du Zhong Ye is produced across central and southern China. The primary growing regions include Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Yunnan, Shaanxi (notably Lueyang County, which holds the designation "Hometown of Du Zhong" and whose Du Zhong has been recognized as a geographical indication product), Henan, Hunan (especially the Zhangjiajie/Cili area, home to the largest wild Eucommia forests in the world), Gansu, and Zhejiang. Historically, the finest bark was considered to come from Sichuan and Guizhou. The Qinling Mountains region of Shaanxi is noted for particularly high concentrations of active compounds (pinoresinol diglucoside and chlorogenic acid) in both bark and leaves.

Quality indicators

Good quality Du Zhong Ye consists of intact or minimally broken leaves that are yellow-green in colour with a slight sheen. When flattened, complete leaves should be elliptical or ovate, 7 to 15 cm long and 3.5 to 7 cm wide. The texture should be brittle and the leaves should crumble easily when rubbed. The key identifying feature is that when a leaf is broken, fine silvery-white elastic rubber threads (guttapercha) should be visible connecting the broken edges. The taste should be slightly bitter and the smell faint. Avoid leaves that are excessively dark, damp, mouldy, or lack visible rubber threads when broken, as these indicate poor quality or improper storage.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Du Zhong Ye and its therapeutic uses

《本草纲目》 Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen, Ming Dynasty)

Original: 杜仲叶

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Du Zhong Ye's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Du Zhong has one of the longest histories of any Chinese medicinal material, with records stretching back over 2,000 years. The bark (Du Zhong Pi) was first documented in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, where it was listed as a superior-grade herb. The name "Du Zhong" (杜仲) is traditionally attributed to a legendary figure named Du Zhong who discovered the tree's medicinal properties and is said to have achieved immortality through its use. Older names include "Si Xian" (思仙, "longing for immortality") and "Si Zhong" (思仲, "remembering Zhong"), reflecting these legends. Li Shizhen noted that the herb was also called "Mian" (檰) in the Jiangnan region because of its cotton-like rubber threads.

Historically, only the bark was used medicinally, requiring 15 to 20 years of tree growth before harvest. The pivotal shift came in the Song and Jin-Yuan periods, when practitioners first recognized that the leaves, flowers, and fruit had therapeutic effects similar to the bark. Modern pharmacological research confirmed that the active compounds in the leaves (particularly chlorogenic acid and pinoresinol diglucoside) are comparable to or even exceed those in the bark. As a result, Du Zhong Ye was officially included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2005, and in 2023, it was added to the national "food and medicine dual-use" list. The famous Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen expanded classical understanding by highlighting that Du Zhong is not merely a Kidney tonic, crediting the Jin Dynasty physician Wang Haogu with identifying it as a Liver channel herb that "moistens Liver dryness and supplements Liver deficiency." In Japan, Du Zhong tea made from the leaves became extremely popular beginning in the 1980s as a health beverage for blood pressure support.

Modern Research

5 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Du Zhong Ye

1

Health-Promoting Properties of Eucommia ulmoides: A Review (2016)

He X, Wang J, Li M, Hao D, Yang Y, Zhang C, He R, Tao R. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016, Article ID 5765873.

A comprehensive review of the active compounds in Eucommia ulmoides (bark, leaf, and seed) and their health-promoting properties. The review found that the plant's lignans, iridoids, phenolics, and flavonoids exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective activities. The leaf showed particularly strong antioxidant radical scavenging activity (81.4%), exceeding that of the roasted bark extract.

PubMed
2

Eucommia ulmoides Leaf Extract Protects Against Atherosclerosis in ApoE Knockout Mice (Animal study, 2020)

Hashikawa-Hobara N, Hashikawa N, Sugiman N, Hosoo S, Hirata T, Yamaguchi Y, Yamasaki H, Kawasaki H, Nishibe S. Journal of Food Science, 2020, 85(11): 4018-4024.

This study investigated the effect of Eucommia leaf extract (ELE) on atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. ELE reduced atherosclerotic lesions and suppressed inflammatory cytokine expression, with improvements in peritoneal macrophage function. The findings support the traditional cardiovascular applications of Du Zhong leaves.

3

Eucommia ulmoides Leaf (EUL) Extract Enhances NO Production in Ox-LDL-Treated Human Endothelial Cells (In vitro study, 2018)

Lee GH, Lee HY, Choi MK, Choi AH, Shin TS, Chae HJ. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2018, 97: 1164-1172.

This study showed that Eucommia leaf aqueous extract and its component aucubin significantly restored nitric oxide (NO) levels in human endothelial cells exposed to oxidized LDL. The findings help explain the vascular protective and blood pressure-lowering mechanisms of Du Zhong leaves at the cellular level.

4

Exploratory Single-Arm Clinical Trial on Eucommia Leaf Extract Effects on Blood Pressure and Oxidative Stress (Clinical trial, 2025)

Satonaka A et al. International Journal of Nephrology, 2025, 5598055, 10 pages.

A small exploratory clinical trial in 17 participants (including 9 with mild chronic kidney disease) administered a tablet containing Eucommia leaf extract for approximately 33 days. The study investigated effects on blood pressure and related clinical markers, building on the traditional use of Du Zhong tea for hypertension management.

5

Eucommia ulmoides Leaf Extract Ameliorates Steatosis Induced by High-fat Diet in Rats (Animal study, 2019)

Lee GH, Lee HY, Park SA, Shin TS, Chae HJ. Nutrients, 2019, 11(2): 426.

Rats on a high-fat diet were given Eucommia leaf extract at 100 or 200 mg/kg for 6 to 8 weeks. The extract prevented liver fat accumulation (hepatic steatosis) by reducing ER stress and oxidative stress and improving lysosomal function. This supports potential applications in fatty liver disease prevention.

PubMed

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.