Yew has long been used in folk remedies in China, and Kan Wei-sung notes in his book Pharmacological Botany that yew root reduces blood sugar, and can be used to treat diabetes and nephritis.
中國民間早以紅豆杉做為藥品，甘偉松編印的《藥用植物學》中記載紅豆杉枝葉、樹皮有降低血醣、治糖尿病與腎炎的效果。