Can I eat Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) if I have bleeding?

Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) may generally be used for bleeding caused by deficiency of the liver and kidneys. However, if the bleeding is due to other causes or the cause is unknown, it is usually not appropriate to use Cornus officinalis. It is recommended to seek timely medical advice and determine the underlying cause under the guidance of a qualified physician before initiating any treatment.

For chronic bleeding symptoms caused by liver and kidney deficiency, such as menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, nocturnal emission, and premature ejaculation, Cornus officinalis can help consolidate the body's vital essence through its function of nourishing the liver and kidneys, thereby achieving a hemostatic effect. Cornus officinalis has astringent and hemostatic properties and can be used to treat symptoms such as hemoptysis, hematemesis, and epistaxis. In addition, it can regulate endocrine balance and improve vaginal bleeding caused by kidney deficiency.

If the cause of bleeding is unknown or the bleeding is severe, immediate medical attention should be sought rather than self-medicating with Cornus officinalis. In such cases, Cornus officinalis may not effectively stop the bleeding and could potentially delay proper treatment. If the bleeding is due to excess heat syndrome or blood stasis syndrome, such as acute traumatic bleeding, epistaxis caused by excessive internal heat, or bright red blood in stool, Cornus officinalis should not be used. Its astringent properties may hinder the elimination of heat toxins or blood stasis, thus worsening stagnation or heat pathogenic factors and being detrimental to hemostasis.

When using Cornus officinalis, it is important to follow medical advice and avoid long-term or excessive consumption to prevent adverse reactions. A light diet should be maintained, and adequate rest is necessary to avoid overexertion.

References:

[1] Liu Xiangfeng, Wu Yu, Yang Chaoyan, et al. Metabolomic and pharmacokinetic study on the protective effects of Cornus officinalis against myocardial ischemia injury [J]. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2025, 50(05):1363-1376.

[2] Chen Ni, Liu Qianqian, Deng Yingying, et al. Current application status of health products containing Cornus officinalis [J]. Chinese Patent Medicine, 2024, 46(11):3768-3771.