Fruits and seedsAstringentMume Fructus

Wu Mei (Mume Fruit)

Q: What is Wu Mei? Are Wu Wei Zi and Shan Zha the same?

Official Wu Mei (乌梅) is the dried near-ripe fruit of Prunus mume, smoked . The pharmacopoeial name is Mume Fructus . Wu Wei Zi is sour-sweet and warm: astringes and secures, boosts qi, generates fluid, supplements the Kidney and calms the Heart. Shan Zha is sour-sweet and slightly warm: disperses food, strengthens the Stomach, moves qi and disperses stasis. Write Wu Mei. Exterior pathogens and excess-heat accumulation are contraindicated.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Wu Mei?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Wu Mei is sour, astringent and neutral , enters the Liver, Spleen, Lung and Large Intestine channels, and acts to astringe the Lung, astringe the intestines, generate fluid and calm roundworm . It is used for chronic cough from Lung vacuity, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, vacuity-heat wasting-thirst, and roundworm reversal with vomiting and abdominal pain. Sour, astringent and securing, it suits chronic vacuity that fails to hold—not an unresolved exterior pathogen or excess-heat accumulation.

Q: What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a fluid tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 6–12 g . It is not a four-season “plum fluid tea.” An exterior pathogen or excess heat only closes further as it astringes. Chronic diarrhea and roundworm reversal need a practitioner to name a short course; they do not replace emergency care.

Q: How do you choose and store Wu Mei?

Choose nearly spherical or flattened fruits, black-brown, wrinkled, soft flesh, a hard stone, a distinctive odor and an extremely sour taste . Moldy, moth-eaten, non-sour or dirty lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Wu Mei; do not replace astringing the Lung, astringing the intestines, generating fluid and calming roundworm with schisandra or hawthorn by equal weight.

A practical guide to Wu Mei: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Mume Fructus
Chinese Name & Pinyin	烏梅 · Wu Mei
Medicinal Part	Fruits and seeds
The herb	Wu Mei is the dried, smoked, near-ripe fruit of Prunus mume. Wu Wei Zi and Shan Zha are different official drugs.
Nature and channels	Sour, astringent, neutral. Enters the Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Large Intestine. Sour astringency secures the Lung, astringes the intestines, generates fluids, and calms roundworm.
Pharmacopoeia line	Astringes the Lung. Astringes the intestines. Generates fluids. Calms roundworm. Used for enduring Lung-deficiency cough, enduring diarrhea and dysentery, deficiency-heat wasting-thirst, and roundworm reversal with vomiting and abdominal pain.
Pattern cues	Enduring Lung-deficiency cough. Enduring diarrhea and dysentery. Deficiency-heat thirst. Roundworm reversal.
In this article	Wu Mei versus Wu Wei Zi and Shan Zha. Astringing the Lung versus calming roundworm. Why an exterior pattern should not be astringed. Why enduring dysentery needs a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Wu Mei?

Wu Mei (乌梅; Wū Méi; Latin: Mume Fructus; English: smoked plum) is the dried near-ripe fruit of Prunus mume (Sieb.) Sieb. et Zucc., smoked. In Chinese medicine it is an astringent herb. It is sour, astringent, and neutral, enters the Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Large Intestine channels, and its core actions are to astringe the Lung, astringe the intestines, generate fluids, and calm roundworm. The teaching point is enduring Lung-deficiency cough, and enduring diarrhea and dysentery. It is not Wu Wei Zi. Schisandra is sour, sweet, and warm. It astringes, boosts qi, generates fluids, and supplements the Kidney to calm the Heart. It is not fresh plum. The fresh fruit does not convert to the smoked piece. Wu Mei Wan is for roundworm reversal. A practitioner sets it. It is not a home deworming formula. Exterior cough, excess-heat accumulation, and diarrhea or dysentery that has just started should not be astringed. Wasting-thirst needs a clinic.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Enduring Lung-deficiency cough
Enduring diarrhea and dysentery — seek care
Deficiency-heat wasting-thirst, roundworm reversal with vomiting and abdominal pain — seek care

The usual decoction dose is 6–12 g. Sour and astringent, it is not a daily “fluid smoked-plum” tea. Astringing when there is no deficiency traps the pathogen.

When the Lung will not hold, or enduring diarrhea is slipping, enduring cough and enduring dysentery are common. Wu Mei is sour and astringent. It secures, astringes, and generates fluids, which is why it appears in enduring-cough and enduring-diarrhea formulas. It secures more than it releases. A cough that has just started with an exterior pattern, and abdominal pain that refuses pressure from excess heat, get more closed if more astringency is added.

Wu Mei is not a catch-all cough or diarrhea plum. In exterior cough or excess-heat accumulation, using it alone can trap the pathogen. Whether it belongs in Wu Mei Wan should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Wu Mei: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Mume Fructus

Botanical Origin

The dried nearly mature fruit of Prunus mume (Sieh.) Sieb. et Zucc.(Rosaceae). Harvested in summer when the fruit is nearly ripe, dried in low temperature and then covered until it turned black.

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Shandong.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is large, thick, soft and moist, very sour.

Macroscopic Features

Sub-circular or sub-spherical shape, diameter is 1.5~3cm. Externally black or brownish-black, wrinkled unevenly, base has round fruit stem scar. Core is hard, oval, brownish-yellow, externally has indented dots. Seed is flat oval shape, pale yellow. faint odor, very sour taste.

Sourcing and Quality Identification

Historically, the most highly regarded Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) comes from regions like Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Fujian.

High Quality: A premium herb is irregularly round, dark black or brownish-black, and heavily wrinkled. It features a soft flesh, a hard pit with small dimples, a faint fragrance, and an extremely sour taste.
Inferior Quality: Confusing substitutes (like processed apricots or other plums) often have much thinner flesh, are noticeably less sour, and have differently shaped pits.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Sour, Astringent; NeutralLiverSpleenLungLarge Intestine

1. Historical Records

The understanding of Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) is deeply documented in classic texts:

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: Praised it for calming the body, resolving heat and restlessness, and addressing dead tissue.
Ming Yi Bie Lu: Highlighted its ability to stop diarrhea and relieve dry mouth.
Ben Cao Gang Mu: Expanded its uses to astringing the lungs for chronic coughs, stopping chronic diarrhea, calming roundworms (which cause abdominal pain), and generating fluids.
Zhong Hua Ben Cao: Today, its core functions are summarized as astringing the lungs to stop coughs, binding the intestines to stop diarrhea, calming roundworms, and generating fluids to quench thirst.

2. Evolution of Understanding

Throughout history, different TCM masters emphasized different strengths of this herb:

Some focused purely on its astringent power, using it heavily for chronic coughs and relentless diarrhea.
Others emphasized its ability to generate fluids and calm roundworms, noting that its sour nature soothes the digestive tract.
Crucially, later physicians added a vital safety warning: Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) should not be used in the early, acute stages of an illness (like a fresh cold or sudden acute dysentery). Because it "holds things in," using it too early can trap the external pathogen inside the body.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Astringes lung, astringes intestines, engenders fluid, calms worms. Apply to pulmondeficiency due to long term cough, lingering dysentery and diarrhea, asthenic fever and diabetes, vomiting and abdominal pain due to ascariasis, ascariasis of creeping figary tract.

1. Primary Focus: Astringing the Lungs and Binding the Intestines

Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) is traditionally used to astringe (hold in) Lung Qi and bind the intestines, making it ideal for managing chronic, consumptive conditions.

Chronic Coughs: Helps soothe persistent coughs accompanied by a weak voice and clear phlegm. It is often paired with herbs like Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry) to enhance its Lung-astringing effects.
Chronic Diarrhea: Used to manage prolonged diarrhea, dysentery, or dull abdominal pain. It is often combined with Rou Dou Kou (Nutmeg) and He Zi (Terminalia) for better bowel control.
Caution: Do not use during the early, acute stages of a cold, cough, or diarrhea. Its strong astringent nature can trap the "pathogen" inside the body, prolonging the illness.

2. Secondary Focus: Generating Fluids and Calming Roundworms

It is also highly valued for nourishing Yin fluids and soothing discomfort caused by intestinal parasites.

Generating Fluids: Relieves extreme dry mouth and excessive thirst caused by a lack of Yin fluids.
Calming Roundworms: Traditionally used to ease sudden abdominal pain, vomiting (sometimes vomiting clear fluids or roundworms), or cold limbs caused by roundworm disturbances. It is often combined with Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) and Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark) to balance the herbal formula and enhance the soothing effect.
Caution: People with a weak, cold stomach should avoid using it alone, as it may worsen digestive discomfort.

3. Common Herb Pairing: The Synergy

A classic clinical pairing is Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) with Hua Jiao (Sichuan Peppercorn).

The Synergy: Wu Mei is sour (which calms roundworms and generates fluids), while Hua Jiao is acrid and warm (which dispels cold and relieves pain). Together, they perfectly balance each other to calm parasites and soothe cold-induced abdominal pain.
Note: This is a specialized clinical combination that requires professional diagnosis. Do not attempt to mix and consume this at home.

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Key Chemical Components

Modern science reveals that Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) is highly rich in organic acids, which make up the largest portion of its active compounds (including citric acid, malic acid, and succinic acid). It also contains flavonoids and sterols. In laboratory settings, these components have shown potential antioxidant properties and the ability to gently regulate intestinal movement in animals.

2. Modern Pharmacological Focus

While traditional medicine looks at the whole body, modern lab studies mostly focus on:

Antioxidant Effects: Exploring how its organic acids clear free radicals in test tubes.
Digestive System: Observing how it might calm spasms or promote healthy movement in animal intestines.
Anti-Parasitic Potential: Noting how its highly acidic environment affects roundworms in lab models.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

Lab vs. Human Reality: Results from animal models or test tubes do not automatically equal clinical success in human patients.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Modern studies often use highly concentrated, isolated chemicals, which are completely different from brewing the whole Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) in a traditional water decoction.
Synergy: In TCM, the herb works holistically and is often combined with other herbs. A single isolated acid cannot replicate the healing effect of the complete, processed fruit.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Common Ground

Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) is frequently compared to Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry). Both are astringent herbs that:

Generate fluids to relieve dry mouth and thirst.
Target chronic consumptive issues like persistent coughs and spontaneous sweating.
Must be avoided during the early, acute stages of an infection.

2. Core Differences

Nature and Flavor: Wu Mei is neutral and heavily sour/astringent. Wu Wei Zi is warm, sour, and sweet, with a much more pronounced warming effect.
Primary Focus: Wu Mei excels at astringing the lungs, binding the intestines, and calming roundworms. Wu Wei Zi is better at tonifying the Kidneys and calming the mind (useful for insomnia and vivid dreams).
Mechanism: Wu Mei focuses purely on "holding things in" without offering much nourishment. Wu Wei Zi provides actual tonification to the Kidneys and Heart while astringing.
Contraindications: Because Wu Wei Zi is warm, it can worsen symptoms in people with "Yin deficiency with internal fire" or "damp-heat." Wu Mei is safer for a wider range of temperatures but is strictly forbidden during acute early-stage infections.

3. Summary of Differences

Simply put, Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) is a specialist for astringing leaks, generating fluids, and calming parasites. Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry) is better for astringing while actively nourishing the Kidneys and calming the mind. They are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Wu Mei

Wu Mei Wan

烏梅丸

Formula CategoryAstringent FormulasPrimary PatternCold AccumulationPrimary FunctionCalm roundworms, warm organs, clear heat, drain downwardRelated ConditionsAbdominal Pain·Diarrhea

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Qin Jiao Bie Jia San

秦艽鱉甲散

Formula CategoryYin-Tonifying FormulasPrimary PatternYin DeficiencyPrimary FunctionNourish yin, clear deficiency heatRelated ConditionsNight Sweats·Yin Deficiency Constitution·Fatigue & Low Energy·Dry Mouth & Throat

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Recipes

Wu Mei Hydration Tea:
- Ingredients: 3 pieces of Wu Mei (Smoked Plum), 5g Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), 3g Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel).
- Preparation: Rinse ingredients, place in a teapot, add boiling water, and steep for 10 minutes.
- Best for: Summer heat causing dry mouth, thirst, or mild Yin deficiency.
- Avoid if: You have a cold, weak stomach, or chronic loose stools. Drink 2-3 times a week; not for long-term daily use.
Wu Mei Porridge for Mild Diarrhea:
- Ingredients: 2 pieces of pitted Wu Mei, 10g stir-fried Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), 50g rice.
- Preparation: Boil the herbs for 20 minutes, remove the solids, and use the liquid to cook the rice into a porridge.
- Best for: Mild, chronic diarrhea and poor appetite due to weak digestion.
- Avoid if: Your diarrhea is acute, foul-smelling, or accompanied by severe pain. Use once every 2-3 days, for no more than 3 days total.

2. Preparation and Brewing

In traditional medicine, raw Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) is used for generating fluids and calming roundworms, while charred Wu Mei (Wu Mei Tan) is stronger for stopping chronic bleeding and diarrhea. For home dietary use, no special preparation is needed—just brew or boil it with other ingredients. Note: Clinical dosages in prescriptions differ entirely from dietary dosages. Do not use dietary amounts for medical treatment.

3. Dosage and Cycle

Clinical Use: Typically 6-12 grams, adjusted by a practitioner.
Home Use: Usually 2-5 pieces to achieve a pleasant sweet-and-sour taste.
Duration: Do not use continuously for long periods. Limit home use to 3 days at a time unless advised otherwise by a professional. Vulnerable populations (children, elderly, pregnant women) require strict dosage control.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It?

Acute Illness: Absolutely avoid if you have an acute cough from a fresh cold, or early-stage acute diarrhea. It will trap the pathogen and worsen the condition.
Weak Digestion: Those with a cold Spleen/Stomach, chronic cold stomach pain, or loose stools should avoid using it alone.
Pregnancy and Nursing: Consult a physician before use.
Allergies: Avoid if you are allergic to plants in the Rosaceae family.
Organ Impairment: People with liver or kidney dysfunction should only use under medical supervision.

2. Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

While TCM herbs don't typically "clash" with everyday foods, they can interact with modern medications.

Medication Absorption: The high acidity of Wu Mei (Smoked Plum) can neutralize alkaline medications, reducing their effectiveness.
Blood Sugar: Its fluid-generating properties might influence blood sugar levels, requiring careful monitoring if you take diabetes medication.
Consultation Required: Always consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are taking blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, or sedatives before adding this herb to your routine.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

Side Effects: Consuming too much can lead to acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. Long-term overuse can erode tooth enamel.
Action Plan: If you experience severe allergic reactions, continuous vomiting, breathing difficulties, or rapid worsening of symptoms, stop immediately and seek emergency medical care. Do not attempt to self-treat adverse reactions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wu Mei

What is Wu Mei? Are Wu Wei Zi and Shan Zha the same?

Official Wu Mei (乌梅) is the dried near-ripe fruit of Prunus mume, smoked. The pharmacopoeial name is Mume Fructus. Wu Wei Zi is sour-sweet and warm: astringes and secures, boosts qi, generates fluid, supplements the Kidney and calms the Heart. Shan Zha is sour-sweet and slightly warm: disperses food, strengthens the Stomach, moves qi and disperses stasis. Write Wu Mei. Exterior pathogens and excess-heat accumulation are contraindicated.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Wu Mei?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Wu Mei is sour, astringent and neutral, enters the Liver, Spleen, Lung and Large Intestine channels, and acts to astringe the Lung, astringe the intestines, generate fluid and calm roundworm. It is used for chronic cough from Lung vacuity, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, vacuity-heat wasting-thirst, and roundworm reversal with vomiting and abdominal pain. Sour, astringent and securing, it suits chronic vacuity that fails to hold—not an unresolved exterior pathogen or excess-heat accumulation.

How do you choose raw versus charred plum? Can Wu Wei Zi replace it?

Raw plum astringes the Lung, generates fluid and calms roundworm. Charring leans to astringing the intestines and stopping bleeding. Schisandra also supplements the Kidney and calms the Heart; it cannot replace calming roundworm by equal weight. Preserved plum is not equal-weight pieces.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a fluid tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 6–12 g. It is not a four-season “plum fluid tea.” An exterior pathogen or excess heat only closes further as it astringes. Chronic diarrhea and roundworm reversal need a practitioner to name a short course; they do not replace emergency care.

What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Contraindicated when there is an exterior pathogen outside or excess-heat accumulation inside. Pregnancy needs a practitioner’s assessment. Stop if abdominal pain worsens or fever appears. Severe abdominal pain and dehydration are an emergency.

Can Wu Mei astringe the Lung, astringe the intestines, generate fluid and calm roundworm?

It can help chronic cough from Lung vacuity and chronic diarrhea. Roundworm reversal joins asarum, dried ginger, coptis and aconite in Wu Mei Wan. It astringes the Lung, astringes the intestines, generates fluid and calms roundworm—not a specific for every cough or every abdominal pain.

Can Wu Mei be drunk daily as a fluid, diarrhea or cough tea?

Chronic vacuity that fails to hold may enter a short formula; an exterior pathogen or excess heat only closes further as it astringes. “Plum must generate fluid” does not replace assessment. Astringing the Lung, astringing the intestines, generating fluid and calming roundworm should name 6–12 g, raw or charred.

How do you choose among Wu Mei, Wu Wei Zi, Shan Zha, He Zi and Shi Jun Zi?

Smoked plum is sour-astringent and neutral: astringes the Lung, astringes the intestines, generates fluid and calms roundworm—chronic cough, chronic diarrhea and roundworm reversal. Schisandra is sour-sweet and warm: astringes and secures, boosts qi, generates fluid, supplements the Kidney and calms the Heart—Lung-Kidney vacuity panting. Hawthorn is sour-sweet and slightly warm: disperses food, strengthens the Stomach, moves qi and disperses stasis—food accumulation. Chebule is bitter-sour-astringent and neutral: astringes the intestines, stops diarrhea, astringes the Lung, stops cough and benefits the throat—chronic diarrhea and chronic cough. Quisqualis is sweet-warm: kills parasites and disperses accumulation—childhood parasite accumulation. Roundworm reversal favors Wu Mei (Wu Mei Wan); vacuity panting favors Wu Wei Zi; food accumulation favors Shan Zha; chronic diarrhea favors He Zi; childhood parasite accumulation favors Shi Jun Zi. They may be paired after pattern differentiation; an exterior pathogen or excess heat forbids large Wu Mei and He Zi.

Which herbs is Wu Mei combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Roundworm reversal joins asarum, dried ginger, coptis, aconite and Chinese angelica in Wu Mei Wan. Chronic diarrhea may join chebule and nutmeg after pattern differentiation. Write Wu Mei 6–12 g; do not replace calming roundworm with schisandra by equal weight.

How do you choose and store Wu Mei?

Choose nearly spherical or flattened fruits, black-brown, wrinkled, soft flesh, a hard stone, a distinctive odor and an extremely sour taste. Moldy, moth-eaten, non-sour or dirty lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Wu Mei; do not replace astringing the Lung, astringing the intestines, generating fluid and calming roundworm with schisandra or hawthorn by equal weight.

Related Products

Hoi Tin Wu Mei Wan (Mume Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $30.50

Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.