Gou Qi Gen – Lycium Root – Radix Lycii

Gou Qi Gen

English Name: lycium root

Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Lycii

Medica Category: Liver-Calming and Wind-Extinguishing Herbs

Properties: Gou Qi Gen enters the Liver channel; it is sweet in nature and cold in temperature.

What is Gou Qi Gen?:

The Chinese Herb Gou Qi Gen is the dried root of the goji berry plant (aka Chinese Wolfberry– Lycium chinense (Miller)). It is a vine-like, multi-stemmed shrub native Southern China that is found growing wild on hillsides, mountain slopes, roadsides, and disturbed areas. The plant is also cultivated commercially for its fruit. Gou Qi Gen is the dried roots of this plant, which are dug up in the winter, sliced, and dried for use as medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Gou Qi Gen:

Gou Qi Gen clears Liver heat and brightens the eyes and is used clinically to address redness, pain, excessive tearing, and swelling of the eyes. It can also be used in formula to address visual disorders that are rooted in deficiency (e.g. conjunctivitis and blurred vision).

Gou Qi Gen clears heat from the Liver channel to help address tendonitis and hepatitis.

–safety/clinical note:

Gou Qi Gen is cold in temperature and should be used with caution in persons with Spleen deficiency.