Fruits and seedsTonifyingFructus Psoraleae
Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea Fruit)
補骨脂 · Bu Gu Zhi
Tonifying herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Warms kidney, assists yang, promotes qi absorption, regulates gasping, warm spleen, relieves diarrhea.
Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Fructus Psoraleae |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 補骨脂 · Bu Gu Zhi |
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| Medicinal Part | Fruits and seeds |
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| Efficacy Category | Tonifying |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried mature fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L.(Fabaceae) |
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| Nature & Flavour | Acrid, Bitter; Warm |
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| Channels Entered | Kidney, Spleen |
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What Is Bu Gu Zhi?
Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea Fruit) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in Chinese provinces of Henan, Sichuan, Anhui.
Nature & Flavour: Acrid, Bitter; Warm
Channels Entered: Kidney, Spleen
Bu Gu Zhi: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Fructus Psoraleae
Botanical Origin
The dried mature fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L.(Fabaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in Chinese provinces of Henan, Sichuan, Anhui.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is large, full, black.
Macroscopic Features
Fruit is flat round and kidney-shaped; one end relatively pointy, rare persistent calyx. Huai bu gu zhi is 4~5.5mm long, 2~4mm wide, 1mm thick; chuan bu gu zhi is relatively small. Externally blackish-brown or brown, with intricate net-like wrinkles. Relatively hard and brittle texture. After being broken, fruit skin and seed outer coat are tightly connected, the seed indented side has spotted hilum below the apex, chalaza at the other end, unobvious raphe. Outer skin is harder, inner is membranous, grayish-white; 2 cotyledons, thick, pale yellow to pale yellowish-brown, getting darker with prolonged storage. White material can be seen on both surfaces as small needle-like crystals when magnified. Embryo is extremely small. Connected petiole bases, with 5 breaches, grayish-yellow, hairy, with dense brown gland points. Distinctive aromatic odor; taste slightly acrid.
Traditional TCM Properties
Acrid, Bitter; WarmKidneySpleen
Traditional Functions
Warms kidney, assists yang, promotes qi absorption, regulates gasping, warm spleen, relieves diarrhea. Deficiency of kidney yang, cold of low, cold pain of waist and knees, impotence and seminalemission, frequent urination, urine emission, loose qi due to kidney, deficiency and gasping, deficiency of spleen and kidney, chronicle diarrhea, vitiligo, alopecia areata, psoriasis.
How Bu Gu Zhi Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Bu Gu Zhi is classified among the Tonifying herbs. It appears in 2 classical formulas in our library.
Formulas containing Bu Gu Zhi are traditionally used for:
DiarrheaAbdominal PainPoor AppetiteCold LimbsHair Loss
Classical Formulas Containing Bu Gu Zhi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bu Gu Zhi? Are po gu zhi and hu jiu zi the same herb?
Bu Gu Zhi (补骨脂) is the dried ripe fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. (also Cullen corylifolium). The pharmacopoeial name is Psoraleae Fructus. Older names include po-gu-zhi (破故纸), po-gu-zhi (婆固脂) and hu jiu zi. It is a Kidney-Yang tonic, not a snack. The characters “mend-bone-fat” must not be read as a license to chew it like a health nut.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Bu Gu Zhi?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Bu Gu Zhi is acrid, bitter and warm, enters the Kidney and Spleen channels, and acts to warm Kidney Yang, grasp Qi and calm wheezing, and warm the Spleen to stop diarrhea. It is used for Kidney-Yang insufficiency with impotence, seminal emission, frequent urination, cold lumbar and knee pain, deficient wheezing and cock-crow diarrhea. Topically it dispels wind and helps pigment in vitiligo and alopecia areata. It is acrid-warm and drying: it stokes Ming Men fire and warms Earth.
What is the difference between raw and salt-fried Bu Gu Zhi?
Raw Bu Gu Zhi is more acrid, warm and drying, stronger to warm Spleen and Kidney and stop diarrhea; the raw form is also common topically. Salt-fried Bu Gu Zhi is the usual official processed form: salt guides it to the Kidney, softens dryness and is preferred for impotence, cold lumbar pain, deficient wheezing and dawn diarrhea. Internal use is mostly the salted slice. Home pan-frying does not replace official processing and does not cancel liver-injury or photosensitivity risk.
Learn More About Bu Gu Zhi
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Bu Gu Zhi.
Read the Bu Gu Zhi Guide →
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.
