Marlberry
Marlberry (Zi Jin Niu)
Botanical Name: Ardisia japonica
Marlberry (Ardisia japonica), not to be confused with mulberry (Morus alba), is often used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) for treating respiratory infections and a wide variety of other ailments, including injuries, jaundice, and snake bites.
Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – Marlberry v. Mulberry.
Below is an overview of marlberry, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of marlberry.
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Western
Name: Marlberry
Also Known As: Japanese Ardisia, Ardisia, Coralberry
Organs/Systems: Respiratory, Circulation
Key Actions: Antispasmodic, Hemostatic, Antiviral, Anti-Inflammatory, Antitumor
Key Medicinal Uses: Coughs (including bloody coughs), bronchitis, wheezing, asthma, improves circulation, aching joints, and cancer.
Eastern
Pin Yin: Zi Jin Niu
Also Known As: Ai Di Cha
Meridians: Liver, Lung
Key Actions: Clears Heat, Moves Blood, Eliminates Phlegm, Relieves Inflammation
Key Medicinal Uses: Bronchitis, coughs, coughs with blood, asthma (especially chronic asthma), tuberculosis, earaches, rheumatism, cancer, paralysis, edema, malaria, traumatic swellings and injuries, jaundice, stomach or menstrual cramping, snake bites, pain, birth complications, broken bones, diarrhea, improve circulation of Blood.
Basic Habitat / Botany:
A popular ornamental ground cover for gardens, Marlberry is known for its small pink or white flowers and bright red berries. It is popular for shady gardens and can grow to be 6-12 inches tall. The berries persist throughout the winter. They are essentially a drupe; they are initially red and then, when ripe in the winter, become deep purple and even black. Ardimisia is in the primrose family of plants.
Marlberry is native to East Asia, Japan, and Korea. It thrives in shade to partial shade. It can invade hardwood forests as it spreads rapidly. It likes tropical and sub-tropical regions. It has escaped cultivation in the U.S. and now grows wild in Florida, South Carolina, and even Texas.
Parts Most Frequently Used: Leaf, Root, Whole Plant
Flavors/Temps: Bitter, Pungent, Cooling
Caution: Considered safe when used as directed. Very large doses can be toxic to the kidneys.
Key Constituents: Myristicin, Methanolic, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Essential oil (including Camphene, Terpinene, Limonene, Myrcene, Geraniol, Termineol, Eugenol), Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Fiber Iron, Vitamin C, Saponins, Coumarins, Benzoquinones, Flavonoids
History/Folklore: Marlberry (Ardisia japonica), not to be confused with mulberry (Morus alba), is commonly used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) to treat a variety of ailments, from bronchitis, menstrual cramps, jaundice, to rheumatoid arthritis. It is considered one of the 50 Fundamental Herbs in TCM for treating bronchitis.
Marlberry is often used in combination with other herbs to relieve stomach or menstrual cramping or painful swellings. It is also combined with other herbs to help treat jaundice and purify Blood.
Studies are indicating that marlberry possesses potential for aiding in the treatment of HIV. A decoction made from the leaves has been shown to help treat coughs, uterine bleeding, and possibly prevent cancer.
Its roots have diuretic properties.
In Japan, marlberry, along with winter jasmine, is used together as part of the New Year decorations as a symbol for good fortune and a fresh start. It is identified with resilience and renewal as its berries ripen in the winter.
In Japan, marlberry is also used in a traditional form of Japanese horticulture known as “In – Koten”..
Marlberries are a popular berry for birds, especially as they are available in the winter when other berries are not yet ripe. It is often grown as a popular ground cover.
Some say the ripe berries are edible, but in general, there is more caution advised as ingesting large quantities of the herb can be toxic to the kidneys. Therefore, in general, the berries are not recommended as edible for human, pet, or livestock consumption. Some sources indicate that the young leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked as a vegetable.
Resilience
Marlberry is considered a symbol of resilience and renewal due to its evergreen nature and ability to thrive in various conditions.
“Point”
The plant’s botanical name, Aradisia, derives from the Greek aradis, meaning point, about the pointed anthers of the flowering shrubs.
Containers
Ardisia is also popularly grown in containers or indoors.
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