Zi Zhu (紫珠) — TCM Beautyberry Leaf for Blood Heat Bleeding & Wound Hemostasis

At a Glance

• Herb: Zi Zhu
• Chinese name: 紫珠 (Zǐ Zhū)
• Latin name: Callicarpae Macrophyllae Folium
• Nature: Cool
• Taste: Bitter / Astringent
• Meridian: Liver / Lung / Stomach
• Category: Herbs that Stop Bleeding
• Introduction: Zi Zhu (紫珠) is the dried leaf of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. or C. macrophylla Vahl (Japanese beautyberry or large-leaf beautyberry), ornamental shrubs in the mint family (Lamiaceae) cultivated across East and Southeast Asia, known for their spectacular clusters of metallic purple berries in autumn. The medicinal leaves were catalogued in the Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (1803 supplement) and are used primarily for their potent astringent hemostatic action combined with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Acteoside (verbascoside), luteolin, and intercedenside A demonstrate potent hemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities in modern pharmacology — clinical studies confirm significant reduction in surgical bleeding time and wound infection when Zi Zhu preparations are applied topically. Its accessibility as a garden plant and its effectiveness for traumatic and upper-GI bleeding have made it a widely used folk remedy throughout southern China.

Action

• Cools Blood and stops bleeding — hemoptysis, hematemesis, traumatic bleeding (internal and topical)
• Reduces swelling and detoxifies — carbuncles, infected wounds, burns
• Astringes wounds — topical hemostasis for cuts, surgical wounds, nosebleeds
• Antibacterial — reduces wound infection risk in traumatic and surgical bleeding

Clinical Application

• Hemoptysis and hematemesis from Blood Heat: combined with Ce Bai Ye, Da Ji
• Traumatic external bleeding: topical application of fresh leaf or powdered dried leaf
• Carbuncles, infected sores, and burn wounds: anti-inflammatory and antibacterial topical use
• Uterine bleeding and bloody stool from Blood Heat: combined with Di Yu and Huai Hua
• Surgical and dental bleeding: modern clinical use of Zi Zhu preparations for hemostasis

Precautions

• Dosage: 10–15 g dried in decoction; topical fresh or dried leaf as needed
• Cooling nature — use with caution in Cold-pattern bleeding
• Generally safe with no significant toxicity at standard doses
• Modern injectable forms (hospital use) should only be administered under medical supervision
• Well tolerated for short to medium-term use; appropriate for acute bleeding presentations
• Fresh leaf is stronger for topical use; dried leaf preferred for decoction

Formula

• Zi Zhu Chong Ji (紫珠冲剂) — patent granule formula; upper GI and respiratory tract bleeding
• Zi Zhu tablets and injections — modern hospital preparations for surgical bleeding control
• Combined with Xian He Cao and Bai Ji for chronic hemoptysis from lung disease
• Fresh leaf poultice or dried leaf powder: topical application for traumatic wounds and nosebleeds
• Combined with Huang Lian and Pu Gong Ying for infected carbuncles with bleeding

Combinations

• Beautyberry Leaf (紫珠) + Bletilla Rhizome (白及) + Notoginseng (三七) → stop hemoptysis and pulmonary bleeding
• Beautyberry Leaf (紫珠) + Agrimony Herb (仙鹤草) + Sanguisorba Root (地榆) → cool blood, stop lower GI and uterine bleeding
• Beautyberry Leaf (紫珠) (topical powder or fresh leaf mashed) → apply directly to external wounds — strong surface hemostatic
• Beautyberry Leaf (紫珠) + Honeysuckle Flower (金银花) + Forsythia Fruit (连翘) → clear heat-toxin, reduce swelling, infected wounds and abscesses
• Beautyberry IV preparation (紫珠注射液) → used in Chinese hospitals for acute GI bleeding and surgical hemostasis; strong rosmarinic acid content gives both hemostatic AND antimicrobial action — ideal for infected bleeding wounds

Pharmacological Effects

• Hemostatic
  • rosmarinic acid + tannins — among the most potent natural hemostatics
  • shorten bleeding and clotting time to under half normal
  • promote platelet aggregation and fibrin cross-linking
  • both topical and systemic efficacy
  • 紫珠注射液 approved for acute GI and surgical bleeding in China
• Anti-inflammatory
  • rosmarinic acid — very potent dual COX-2 and 5-LOX inhibition
  • comparable to indomethacin in some animal models
  • luteolin also inhibits NF-κB
• Antimicrobial
  • ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid — broad spectrum: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas
  • explains efficacy for infected wounds and abscesses
• Antiviral
  • rosmarinic acid — inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase, influenza neuraminidase, HSV
• Wound healing
  • promotes epithelial regeneration, reduces scar formation
• Antitumor; antioxidant
  • rosmarinic acid — very high ORAC
• topical use: fresh leaf mashed or powder applied directly to wounds — fast and effective; pharmaceutical: injectable preparation demonstrates clinical equivalence to etamsylate for acute GI bleeding

Classic Description

• Ben Cao Shi Yi: ‘Resolves all toxic substances — abscesses, throat impediment, flying corpse transmission, parasitic toxins, and toxins from snakes, bees, and rabid dogs — all decocted and taken as a drink; also decocted and used to wash swellings and sores; removes blood and promotes skin regeneration.’
• Chang Yong Zhong Cao Yao Shou Ce: ‘Astringes and stops bleeding; clears heat and resolves toxins. Treats nosebleed, hemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, uterine bleeding, upper respiratory infections, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and septicemia.’
• Sheng Cao Yao Xing Bei Yao: ‘Disperses blood stasis and reduces swelling; stops bleeding; eliminates toxins; reduces inflammation; kills parasites.’
• Fujian Zhong Cao Yao: ‘Stops bleeding and reduces inflammation; treats traumatic bleeding — mash fresh leaves for topical application, or dry, grind to powder, and apply topically.’