Ingredient Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)

Yu Yu Liang

Limonite · 禹余粮

Limonite (FeO(OH)) · Limonitum

Also known as: Yu Liang Shi (禹粮石)

Yu Yu Liang (Limonite) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Yu Yu Liang is a mineral substance (a form of limonite, an iron-containing compound) used in Chinese medicine primarily to stop chronic diarrhea and control abnormal bleeding. It is most commonly used for long-standing loose stools that have not responded to other treatments, as well as for prolonged uterine bleeding and excessive vaginal discharge. Because it works by binding and tightening, it treats the symptom rather than the root cause and is typically combined with other herbs that address the underlying weakness.

Category Astringent / Stabilizing herbs (收涩药) Herbs that astringe the Lungs and bind the intestines (敛肺涩肠药)
Therapeutic focus Digestive Health Menstrual Health Women's Health Digestive Regularity

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels entered

Stomach, Large Intestine

Parts used

Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Ingredient Does

Every ingredient has a specific set of actions — here's what Yu Yu Liang does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Yu Yu Liang is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Digestive Health Menstrual Health Women's Health Digestive Regularity

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Yu Yu Liang performs to restore balance in the body:

Astringes the Intestines and Stops Diarrhea Astringes and Stops Bleeding Astringes to Stop Vaginal Discharge

How these actions work

'Astringes the intestines and stops diarrhea' means Yu Yu Liang has a strong binding and tightening effect on the large intestine. Its heavy, mineral nature and astringent taste allow it to physically firm up the intestinal lining and reduce the passage of watery stools. This action is specifically used for chronic, long-standing diarrhea or dysentery where the intestines have lost their ability to hold contents, not for acute infections or early-stage diarrhea.

'Restrains and stops bleeding' refers to its ability to astringe and contain blood within the vessels, particularly in the lower body. This is applied to conditions like prolonged uterine bleeding (known as 'flooding and spotting' in TCM), blood in the stool, and hemorrhoidal bleeding. The herb's heavy, descending quality makes it especially effective for lower body bleeding disorders.

'Stops vaginal discharge' means Yu Yu Liang can tighten and firm the tissues of the lower reproductive tract, reducing excessive clear or white vaginal discharge. This applies when discharge is due to underlying weakness rather than infection, particularly when the Kidneys or Spleen are too weak to properly contain fluids.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Yu Yu Liang is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Yu Yu Liang addresses this pattern

When Spleen and Kidney Yang are both deficient, the body loses its ability to transform and contain fluids in the lower digestive tract. This leads to chronic diarrhea, often with undigested food, and the large intestine effectively 'slips' and cannot hold its contents. Yu Yu Liang's heavy mineral nature and astringent taste directly bind and tighten the intestines, countering the slippery, downward loss of fluids. Its sweet taste gently supports the Stomach while its astringent property provides the containment that the weakened Spleen and Kidney Yang can no longer maintain. However, because it only treats the symptom of leakage and not the underlying Yang deficiency, it is typically combined with warming, tonifying herbs.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Chronic Diarrhea

Long-standing loose stools that worsen with cold or fatigue

Rectal Prolapse

Prolapse from chronic bearing down

Urinary Or Fecal Incontinence

Inability to control bowel movements

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Yu Yu Liang 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

TCM views chronic diarrhea as a failure of the Spleen and Kidneys to properly transform and transport fluids. When the Spleen's warming and transporting function weakens, fluids accumulate and pour downward through the intestines unchecked. If the Kidney Yang is also depleted, the 'gate of vitality' at the base of the body loses its ability to close and contain. The result is watery stools that may occur many times per day, often worse in the morning or after eating, with fatigue and cold limbs.

Why Yu Yu Liang Helps

Yu Yu Liang directly addresses the 'slippery intestine' aspect of chronic diarrhea. Its heavy mineral substance and strongly astringent taste physically bind the intestinal lining, restoring its ability to hold contents. Classical sources describe it as being able to 'fill the emptiness of the intestine' and restore its normal retaining function. It works through the Stomach and Large Intestine channels, precisely where the leakage occurs. It is most effective when combined with Yang-warming herbs that address the root cause, as Yu Yu Liang itself only provides symptomatic containment.

Also commonly used for

Chronic Dysentery

Chronic dysentery with slippery, uncontrollable stools

Dark Blood In Stool

Chronic rectal bleeding

Thin Vaginal Discharge

Profuse clear or white vaginal discharge

Rectal Prolapse

Prolapse from chronic diarrhea and Qi sinking

Urinary Or Fecal Incontinence

Loss of bowel control from intestinal weakness

Ingredient Properties

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

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Astringent (涩 sè)

Channels Entered

Stomach Large Intestine

Parts Used

Mineral (矿物 kuàng wù)

Dosage & Preparation

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

Standard dosage

9-15g

Maximum dosage

Up to 20g in decoction for severe chronic diarrhea or bleeding, under practitioner supervision.

Dosage notes

The standard dose is 9-15g in decoction, and some sources extend this to 10-20g. As a heavy mineral, it must be decocted first (先煎) for at least 20-30 minutes before adding other herbs. It can also be ground into powder and taken in pill or powder form (入丸散), which is a common traditional preparation method. The calcined-with-vinegar form (煅禹余粮) is preferred clinically over the raw form, as calcination makes the mineral more friable, easier to decoct, enhances its astringent properties, and reduces trace arsenic content. When used for chronic diarrhea, it is typically combined with Chi Shi Zhi for synergistic effect. For uterine bleeding, it may be combined with astringent and blood-stabilizing substances such as Long Gu and Hai Piao Xiao.

Preparation

Must be decocted first (先煎, xian jian). As a heavy mineral, Yu Yu Liang requires extended decocting time of 20-30 minutes before other herbs are added to the pot. Alternatively, it is commonly used in pill or powder form (入丸散). The calcined form (煅禹余粮) is clinically preferred: the raw mineral is broken into pieces, heated until red-hot in a crucible, then quenched in vinegar (every 100g of mineral uses 30g of rice vinegar). This process is sometimes repeated several times. Calcination makes the mineral porous and crumbly, greatly improving decoction extraction and enhancing astringent potency.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same ingredient can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Yu Yu Liang does

Processing method

The raw mineral is broken into small pieces and placed in a fire-resistant container. It is heated with strong fire until glowing red-hot, then removed and immediately quenched in vinegar (30 kg vinegar per 100 kg of mineral). After cooling, it is crushed or ground to powder.

How it changes properties

Calcining and vinegar-quenching makes the mineral brittle and porous, allowing it to be ground to fine powder and releasing its active iron components more readily during decoction. The astringent and binding effect becomes stronger. The vinegar itself is sour and astringent, further enhancing the herb's ability to contain and restrain. The basic thermal nature remains similar (neutral to slightly cool), but the clinical astringent potency increases notably. Calcining also reduces arsenic content that may be present as an impurity, improving safety.

When to use this form

The calcined form is the standard clinical form and is preferred in nearly all applications. It is easier to decoct, releases active components more effectively, and has stronger astringent action. The raw form is rarely used in decoction. Use the calcined form for chronic diarrhea, bleeding, and vaginal discharge.

Common Ingredient Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Yu Yu Liang for enhanced therapeutic effect

Chi Shi Zhi
Chi Shi Zhi 1:1 (equal parts, classically one jin each in the Shang Han Lun formula)

This is the most classical pairing for Yu Yu Liang. Both herbs astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea, but they work through complementary mechanisms. Yu Yu Liang is heavier and more neutral, primarily entering the Qi level to stabilize the Stomach and firm the intestines. Chi Shi Zhi is sweet and warm, entering the Blood level to warm the interior and promote tissue healing. Together they address both the Qi and Blood aspects of intestinal weakness, producing a much stronger containment effect than either herb alone.

When to use: Chronic diarrhea or dysentery that has persisted for weeks or longer, with slippery stools that cannot be controlled, fecal incontinence, or rectal prolapse from prolonged straining. Also used for chronic uterine bleeding.

Hai Piao Shao
Hai Piao Shao 1:1

Yu Yu Liang and Hai Piao Xiao (cuttlefish bone) together provide strong astringent and absorptive effects on the lower reproductive tract. Hai Piao Xiao astringes and absorbs dampness while also restraining bleeding, and Yu Yu Liang adds heavy mineral containment. The combination addresses both abnormal vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding simultaneously.

When to use: Chronic vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) or persistent uterine bleeding from deficiency, especially when the discharge is profuse and watery or the bleeding is prolonged and pale.

Long Gu
Long Gu 1:1

Long Gu (dragon bone) and Yu Yu Liang are both heavy mineral substances with astringent properties. Long Gu adds a calming, spirit-settling effect and stronger fixation of the Chong and Ren vessels, while Yu Yu Liang provides direct intestinal and lower body containment. Together they powerfully restrain both intestinal slippage and uterine bleeding.

When to use: Severe or longstanding bleeding from the uterus or intestines, especially when accompanied by restlessness, palpitations, or anxiety from chronic blood loss.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Yu Yu Liang in a prominent role

Chi Shi Zhi Yu Yu Liang Tang 赤石脂禹余粮汤 King

This Shang Han Lun formula is the definitive showcase of Yu Yu Liang. Containing only two ingredients (Chi Shi Zhi and Yu Yu Liang in equal parts), it demonstrates Yu Yu Liang's core function of binding the intestines and stopping intractable diarrhea. The formula treats diarrhea 'in the lower burner' that has not responded to warming or harmonizing methods, highlighting Yu Yu Liang's role as a last-resort astringent for intestinal slippage.

Zhen Ling Dan 震灵丹 King

This formula from the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang uses Yu Yu Liang alongside Chi Shi Zhi, Zi Shi Ying, Dai Zhe Shi, and other heavy minerals (all calcined together). It showcases Yu Yu Liang's ability to stop uterine bleeding and stabilize the lower body, treating persistent flooding and spotting with spirit disturbance from chronic blood loss and Yang deficiency.

Comparable Ingredients

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

Chi Shi Zhi
Yu Yu Liang vs Chi Shi Zhi

Both astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea and bleeding, and they are often used together. The key difference is that Chi Shi Zhi is sweet and warm, making it better suited for cold-deficiency patterns and capable of warming the Middle Burner and promoting tissue healing. Yu Yu Liang is heavier, more neutral in temperature, and more purely astringent without a tonifying or warming effect. As the classical text Ben Cao Qiu Zhen notes, Yu Yu Liang is heavier than Chi Shi Zhi, while Chi Shi Zhi is warmer than Yu Yu Liang. Choose Chi Shi Zhi when there is more cold in the interior and tissue damage needs repair; choose Yu Yu Liang when pure astringent containment of the lower body is the priority.

Rou Dou Kou
Yu Yu Liang vs Rou Dou Kou

Both treat chronic diarrhea, but through entirely different mechanisms. Rou Dou Kou (nutmeg) is warm and aromatic, actively warming the Spleen and Stomach to restore digestive function and bind the intestines. Yu Yu Liang is a heavy mineral that provides purely physical astringent containment without warming. Rou Dou Kou is better when the root problem is Spleen Yang deficiency with poor digestion; Yu Yu Liang is better when the main issue is intestinal slippage and failure to contain, especially when the condition has resisted warming herbs.

Identity & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Yu Yu Liang

The classical text Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun (《雷公炮炙论》) specifically warns against two common look-alikes: (1) Shi Zhong Huang (石中黄), which appears reddish-black-yellow on the inside and has a bland, slightly acrid taste; and (2) Luan Shi Huang (卵石黄), which is egg-shaped with a sour taste and contains a small core inside. Both closely resemble authentic Yu Yu Liang but are considered harmful if consumed. Yu Yu Liang is also sometimes confused with Tai Yi Yu Yu Liang (太一禹余粮), which is a related but distinct mineral. Authentic Yu Yu Liang from limonite can be distinguished by its layered cross-section structure, heavy weight, yellowish-brown streak, and lack of a sandy or gritty sensation when chewed. Chi Shi Zhi (赤石脂, Halloysitum Rubrum) is a common clinical substitute due to similar astringent actions, though it differs in being warmer in nature.

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

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Yu Yu Liang

Non-toxic

Yu Yu Liang is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, as a mineral containing iron oxides, some considerations apply. Raw (unprocessed) limonite may contain trace amounts of arsenic adsorbed onto clay components. The standard calcination-with-vinegar processing (煅淬) reduces arsenic content significantly, making the processed form safer for clinical use. Mouse studies have established an LD50 of 8.25 g/kg by intravenous injection, with symptoms of toxicity including refusal of food and pulmonary swelling, but this route is not clinically relevant. At standard oral decoction doses (9-15g), no significant toxicity concerns have been reported. Long-term or excessive use should still be avoided, as large amounts of iron-containing minerals could theoretically cause gastrointestinal irritation.

Contraindications

Situations where Yu Yu Liang should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Pregnancy. Yu Yu Liang is a heavy mineral astringent that acts on the lower body. Its strongly binding and descending nature may be unsuitable during pregnancy.

Avoid

Acute diarrhea or dysentery due to excess damp-heat or food stagnation. Yu Yu Liang is an astringent that binds the intestines. Using it in acute conditions with pathogenic excess can trap the pathogen inside the body, worsening the condition. It is only appropriate for chronic, deficiency-type diarrhea where the pathogen has already been cleared.

Caution

Acute bleeding from excess heat (hot-blood patterns). Its hemostatic action is through astringency, not through clearing heat. Using it when excess heat is driving the bleeding fails to address the root cause and may trap heat internally.

Caution

Vaginal discharge due to damp-heat accumulation. Its astringent nature may retain pathogenic dampness and heat. It is appropriate only for deficiency-type leukorrhea with clear, thin discharge.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Use with caution during pregnancy (孕妇慎用). Yu Yu Liang is a heavy mineral with strong astringent and descending properties directed at the lower body. While it is not considered absolutely contraindicated, its astringent binding action on the lower digestive and reproductive tracts warrants caution. No specific teratogenic data exists, but classical sources consistently advise careful use in pregnant women. Avoid unless specifically indicated and prescribed by an experienced practitioner.

Breastfeeding

No specific classical or modern contraindications for breastfeeding have been documented. However, as a mineral medicine containing iron oxides and trace elements, it is prudent to use Yu Yu Liang during breastfeeding only when clearly needed and under practitioner guidance. The iron content is unlikely to transfer significantly through breast milk at standard doses, but prolonged use has not been studied in lactating women.

Children

Not commonly used in pediatric practice. If used for children with chronic diarrhea or related conditions, dosage should be reduced proportionally based on the child's age and weight, typically to one-third to one-half of the adult dose. As a mineral astringent, it should only be used in children under careful practitioner supervision, and only for deficiency-type conditions after any pathogenic excess has been resolved. Not suitable for infants.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Yu Yu Liang

No well-documented pharmaceutical drug interactions have been established for Yu Yu Liang specifically. However, as a mineral rich in iron oxides, the following theoretical considerations apply:

  • Iron-sensitive medications: The iron content may theoretically interfere with the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, levothyroxine, and bisphosphonates, all of which have reduced absorption in the presence of iron. If these medications are taken concurrently, they should be separated by at least 2 hours.
  • Antacids and acid-reducing drugs: Medications that alter gastric pH (proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers) may affect the dissolution and release of iron from the mineral matrix.
  • Anticoagulants: Although Yu Yu Liang is used to stop bleeding through astringency, no direct pharmacological interaction with warfarin or similar anticoagulants has been documented. However, its hemostatic action could theoretically oppose the intended effect of anticoagulant therapy.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Yu Yu Liang

When taking Yu Yu Liang for chronic diarrhea or loose stools, avoid cold, raw, greasy, and hard-to-digest foods, which can burden the Spleen and counteract the herb's astringent action. Warm, easily digestible foods such as congee, cooked vegetables, and mild soups are preferable. Classical sources for certain formulas containing Yu Yu Liang note to avoid pungent foods such as raw onion (葱) and garlic (蒜).

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Yu Yu Liang source mineral

Yu Yu Liang (禹余粮) is not a plant but a mineral substance. It is a form of limonite (褐铁矿), an amorphous iron hydroxide mineral with the primary chemical composition of basic iron oxide [FeO(OH)]. Limonite is a common iron ore that forms in the oxidation zones of iron-bearing mineral deposits. It also frequently develops through sedimentary processes in riverbeds, lakebeds, and marshlands.

In its natural form, limonite occurs as grape-like (botryoidal), kidney-shaped (reniform), mammillary, massive, or earthy aggregates. The colour ranges from brown to black in dense forms and yellowish-brown to yellow in earthy varieties. It has a yellowish-brown streak, a submetallic to earthy lustre, and is opaque. The hardness ranges from 1 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, and the specific gravity is 3.6 to 4.0. It also commonly contains impurities such as aluminium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphates, clay minerals, and organic matter.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Yu Yu Liang is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Can be collected year-round (全年可采). As a mineral, it is not dependent on seasonal growth cycles.

Primary growing regions

As a mineral (limonite ore), Yu Yu Liang is widely distributed. The primary producing regions historically include Henan province and Jiangsu province, with additional sources in Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Guangdong. Henan is particularly notable, where Yu Yu Liang is counted among the famous local medicinal materials (alongside the "Four Great Huai Medicines"). Limonite deposits form broadly in iron-bearing geological formations, especially in oxidation zones and sedimentary environments, so the mineral is not geographically restricted in the way that plant-based herbs often are.

Quality indicators

Good quality Yu Yu Liang appears as irregular block-shaped aggregates, typically 5-10 cm long and 1-3 cm thick. The surface should be reddish-brown, greyish-brown, or light brown, often with yellow powder adhering to it. The cross-section should display distinctive layered banding with alternating deep brown and light brown or pale yellow layers. The layers vary in hardness, with softer portions that can be scratched by a fingernail. The overall piece should feel heavy and hard. It should have minimal odour and a bland taste, and when chewed it should not feel gritty or sandy (no sand-grain sensation). Avoid pieces that are excessively earthy, crumbly throughout, or that contain obvious rock inclusions or sandy impurities.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Yu Yu Liang and its therapeutic uses

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》)

Original Chinese: 「味甘，寒。主咳逆，寒热烦满，下赤白，血闭症瘕，大热。炼饵服之，不饥、轻身、延年。生池泽及山岛中。」

English: Sweet in flavour, cold in nature. Treats cough with counterflow, alternating cold and heat with irritability and fullness, diarrhea with red and white discharge, blood stasis and abdominal masses, and great heat. When refined and taken as a preparation, it prevents hunger, lightens the body, and prolongs life. Found in marshes and mountain islands.

Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》, Li Shizhen)

Original Chinese: 「禹余粮，手、足阳明血分重剂也。其性涩，故主下焦前后诸病。」

English: Yu Yu Liang is a heavy substance that acts on the Blood level of the Hand and Foot Yangming channels [Stomach and Large Intestine]. Its nature is astringent, hence it mainly governs various conditions of the lower body, both front [urogenital] and back [rectal].

Ben Cao Qiu Zhen (《本草求真》)

Original Chinese: 「禹余粮功与石脂相同，而禹余粮之质，重于石脂，石脂之温，过于余粮，不可不辨。」

English: The functions of Yu Yu Liang are similar to those of Chi Shi Zhi [Halloysitum Rubrum]. However, Yu Yu Liang is heavier in substance than Chi Shi Zhi, while Chi Shi Zhi is warmer in nature than Yu Yu Liang. This distinction must not be overlooked.

Ben Cao Hui Yan (《本草汇言》)

Original Chinese: 「禹余粮，养肺金，固大肠之药也。凡属水土不和，清浊混乱诸疾，用之奏效。」

English: Yu Yu Liang nourishes the Lung-Metal and secures the Large Intestine. For all conditions where Water and Earth are disharmonious and clear and turbid are mixed up, its use is effective.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Yu Yu Liang's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Yu Yu Liang (禹余粮, literally "Yu's surplus grain") is one of the oldest mineral medicines in the Chinese pharmacopoeia. It was first recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》), the earliest Chinese materia medica, where it was classified as an upper-grade (上品) medicine, placing it among substances considered safe for long-term use and capable of prolonging life. The name references a legend about the sage-king Yu the Great (大禹), who was said to have left surplus food provisions during his flood-control labours. According to the Bo Wu Zhi (《博物志》), people believed that Yu discarded his remaining food into the river, where it transformed into this medicinal stone. Some scholars have noted that the character 禹 in archaic usage could refer to a type of insect rather than the historical figure, suggesting the name may be even older than the legend.

Clinically, Yu Yu Liang became most famous through the Shang Han Lun (《伤寒论》) of Zhang Zhongjing, where it appears in the formula Chi Shi Zhi Yu Yu Liang Tang (赤石脂禹余粮汤). This formula treats persistent diarrhea in the lower digestive tract that does not respond to warming the middle. The pairing of Yu Yu Liang with Chi Shi Zhi (Halloysitum Rubrum) became one of the most celebrated mineral combinations in Chinese medicine. Classical commentators noted that while both substances astringe the intestines, Yu Yu Liang is heavier and works more on the Qi level, whereas Chi Shi Zhi is warmer and works more on the Blood level, making them complementary when combined. The Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun (《雷公炮炙论》), an influential text on herbal processing, warned practitioners to distinguish authentic Yu Yu Liang from two look-alikes: "Shi Zhong Huang" (石中黄) and "Luan Shi Huang" (卵石黄), cautioning that misuse of these substitutes could cause intestinal dryness.