🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Many classical herbal texts describe Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) as sweet in taste, neutral or slightly cold in nature, capable of gently nourishing liver and kidney yin. I do not entirely agree. Goji berries originate from northern China, much like citrus fruits come from Guangdong and Guangxi.
Most northerners share a common experience: eating too many citrus fruits can cause "heatiness," whereas people from Guangdong and Guangxi do not experience this. Similarly, Goji berries likely behave similarly. Otherwise, why would there be the saying: “Travel a thousand miles from home, do not eat Goji berries.” Some interpret this saying as Goji berries being red, thus entering the heart channel and stimulating heart fire and stirring up lower fire (kidney fire)—a view I consider overly rigid. Qing Dynasty scholar Zhao Qiguang wrote in *Bencao Qiyuan*: “(After consuming Goji berries) when pathogenic heat subsides, the lesser fire is nourished and vitality restored, hence it is said to assist yang and boost qi—not implying that neutral or cool herbs can truly strengthen yang.” This indicates that Goji berries not only nourish yin but also assist yang and boost qi. This statement clarifies that Goji berries are not neutral or cold in nature.
*De Pei Bencao* states: “Goji berries are sweet, slightly warm and moist. They enter the foot Shaoyin and Jueyin channels, nourishing liver yin and benefiting kidney yang.” This may offer a more reasonable description of Goji berries.
As Goji berries are sweet and sticky, they are rarely used alone in prescriptions. Only in *Shoushi Baoyuan* by Gong Tingxian is there a formula called “Goji Berry Paste,” made by boiling Goji berries until black, directly targeting the kidney to nourish it. Gong Tingxian believed Goji berries are slightly warm, and boiling them to black enhances their water nature, making them more effective for kidney nourishment. While this method is cumbersome, clinically I find that pairing Goji berries with Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) yields excellent results for kidney yin deficiency.
Generally, Goji berries are used in combination with other herbs. As *De Pei Bencao* notes: “(Goji berries) paired with Ophiopogon (Maidong) treat dry cough; combined with Northern Five-Flavor Berry (Beiwuwei) generate heart fluid; combined with pepper and salt, treat kidney issues and relieve qi stagnation pain; paired with Atractylodes and Poria, tonify yin without causing diarrhea.” These combinations are more concise and insightful than many other herbal references and are worth studying. Yet, in practice, few physicians use Goji berries. I believe this is because Goji berries' yin-nourishing power is inferior to Rehmannia glutinosa (Shudi), while their yang-assisting effect surpasses that of Rehmannia.
Nevertheless, Goji berries remain highly valued in health preservation. For example, the famous “San Pao Tai” tea consumed by Hui Muslims relies critically on the combination of green tea and Goji berries. Removing green tea would undermine its ability to nourish yin, strengthen the spleen, and clear heat. Green tea travels down the kidney and bladder channels, directing Goji berries straight to the kidney, preventing their nature from lingering in the upper and middle burners and weakening their ascending and floating properties. Green tea also clears heat, relieves irritability, and eliminates heat from the lesser yang channel, allowing Goji berries to nourish the lesser yang fire and thus achieve the goal of nourishing yin and clearing heat. Similar effects are seen when paired with licorice, though prolonged use may promote dampness and phlegm production.
In conclusion, Goji berries have a slight warming nature, and it is best to pair them with cooling herbs in clinical use. For example, for internal heat due to deficiency, add Raw Rehmannia (Shengdi), Ophiopogon (Maidong), Softshell Turtle Shell (Biejia), and Artemisia (Qinghao). For cough due to yin deficiency and lung heat, add Tian Dong (Asparagus), Loquat, and Bai Bu (Stemona). For eye health, the ancient formula combines equal parts Goji berries and Chrysanthemum, made into pills with honey. Today, the two are commonly steeped in water and consumed, producing excellent results.