Author: Zhang Xi Chun / Zhang Shou Fu, 張錫純 / 張壽甫
Year: 1918-1934
Source: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western (Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, 醫學衷中參西錄)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Yin
Pattern: Consumptive disease due to Yin Deficiency and Dampness
Key Symptoms: Fever accompanied by shortness of breath, coughing, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, loose or watery stools and inhibited urination
Secondary Symptoms: Signs of Yin deficiency such as emaciation, hot flashes, night sweats, weak and sore lower back and knees
Tongue: Red and peeled, may also be swollen
Pulse: Deficient, rapid and slippery
Ingredients
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Shan Yao
| 120-180g | | (fresh) |
Pinyin: Shan Yao
Chinese: 山药
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Taxonomy: Dioscorea polystachya syn. batatas
English: Chinese Yam / Shu Yu |
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Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Kidney |
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Spleen, nourishes Stomach Yin and stops diarrhoea
Spleen or Stomach Deficiency with diarrhoea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating and anorexia
- Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin
Lung Qi and/or Yin Deficiency with chronic cough
- Tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing
Kidney Qi Deficiency with spermatorrhea, urinary frequency and vaginal discharge
消渴 Xiao Ke due to Qi and Yin Deficiency
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, sharpen the ears and eyes, make the body light, make one free from hunger and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生). Despite being a starchy vegetable, this may still have been an appropriate addition to a ketogenic diet as the starches are mostly resistant and many of its other compounds have been shown to have blood glucose reducing effects, making it a potential important source of this essential nutrient group while engaging in a low carbohydrate diet.
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Standard Dosage: 5-30g in decoction. Very large doses, up to 500g have been used in trials for diabetes management.
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Preparation: Decoct the Shan Yao to yield 2 large bowls of liquid. Use as a substitute for tea, sipping while warm.
Actions: Enriches Yin and drains Dampness
Notes:
Usually followed up with Shu Yu Zhou.
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
