Cornus officinalis has a long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine, where it is known as 'Shan Zhu Yu' and is used to reduce secretions including heavy menstrual bleeding, sweating, excessive urine, spermatorrhoea and premature ejaculation. The fruit of the plant is antibacterial, antifungal, hypotensive, antitumor, astringent, diuretic, hepatic and tonic. It is harvested when fully ripe, dried, decocted (without the seed) for the treatment of arthritis, fever, senile lumbago, diabetes, cystitis and tinnitus. It has also been shown to have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Bacillus dysenteriae and Staphylococcus. The stem bark is astringent, antimalarial and tonic.

Cornus- Dogwood or cornel, bunchberry.

officinalis- sold in shops, applied to plants with real or supposed medicinal properties.