Eucommia leaf stem

Eucommia (Eucommia ulmoides) is a small <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree" title="Tree" >tree</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_plant" title="Native plant" >native</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China" title="China" >China</a>. It is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_threatened" title="Near threatened" class="mw-redirect" >near threatened</a> in the wild, but is widely cultivated in China for its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark" title="Bark" >bark</a>, and is highly valued in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbology" title="Herbology" class="mw-redirect" >herbology</a> such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine" title="Traditional Chinese medicine" >Traditional Chinese medicine</a>.

It is one of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbology#50_Fundamental_herbs" title="Chinese herbology" >50 fundamental herbs</a> used in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbology" title="Chinese herbology" >Chinese herbology</a>, where it is called dùzhòng (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language" title="Chinese language" >Chinese</a>: <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%9D%9C" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:杜" >杜</a><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%BB%B2" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:仲" >仲</a>).

Eucommia bark is a superb Yang Jing tonic, used to strengthen the back (especially the lower back), skeleton, and joints (especially the knees and ankles). Eucommia is believed to confer strength and flexibility to the ligaments and tendons. It is often used by athletes to strengthen the entire body. Eucommia is considered to be one of the great longevity tonics of Chinese Tonic herbalism.