Eucommia bark
The bark of the eucommia hardwood tree, sold by dispensaries as salt-fried strips; genuine bark shows fine silvery latex threads when snapped. Mildly sweet and woody, it simmers quietly in pork-bone pots without changing the flavour much, contributing body rather than aroma.
TCM properties
Nature · warming Flavour · sweet Meridians · liver、kidney
Traditional food therapy
In Cantonese food therapy it is the classic bark for the waist and knees, traditionally paired with morinda root in strengthening pots to nourish the liver and kidneys and firm sinew and bone; tradition also uses it to steady pregnancy under practitioner guidance.
Cautions: read first
- Take care with yin deficiency and rising fire
- Not while you have a cold
Preparation
Herbal shops mostly sell it shredded and salt-fried, the form held to support the kidney better. Just rinse it.
Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source
Zunyi, Guizhou (known as the home of Chinese eucommia) and Sichuan
Availability in Australia
Herbal shops / specialists
