A Contribution to Our Knowledge of Tu-chung — Eucommia Ulmoides

Abstract

Tu-chung is an officinal herbal drug of traditional Chinese medicine. It is obtained from the bark of Eucommia ulmoides. Since time immemorial the Chinese people have used it as a revitalizing and rejuvenating agent. Modern investigators in China found its antihypertensive action and this property has been confirmed by scientists outside of China. In this article, basic information for an understanding of tu-chung obtained from ancient Chinese records and modern reports of various investigators in several disciplines of plant sciences, and of physiologists, pharmacologists, physicians, and phytochemists, is presented. The author suggests that eucommia should be used only for the common name of the plant, and tu-chung be used for the drug. Eucommia is now widely cultivated in arboreta and botanical gardens as a rare plant outside of China. In China and the Soviet Union, plantations of eucommia are operated under government management for the production of gutta-percha. The author advocates that eucommia should be taken out of gardens and research laboratories and be put into plantations for the production of a safe antihypertensive natural drug. As by-products of the manufacture of the hypotensive product, a useful gum for industry, fine quality wood suitable for wooden shoes and clogs, and a high grade oil from the seed will make the cultivation of eucommia very rewarding.