It has a strong bitter taste, and is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is a recognized herb in Kampo.

Tetradium ruticarpum is called 呉茱萸 (Goshuyu) in Japanese, used in Goshuyu-tou and Unkentou (ja:温経湯).

These are Kampo (漢方) preparations of mixed herbs, the former named after this plant.

[3] Allergic reactions have occasionally been reported in users of medicinal preparations of the plant.

[citation needed] There has been relatively little scientific study of Tetradium ruticarpum except for antioxidant capacity of one of its mixtures.