Source: Formulas Kept by the Wei Family
Category: Formulas that Stabilise and Bind
Pattern: Kidney Yang deficient and Cold causing increased urination
Key Symptoms: Frequent, clear and prolonged or enuresis to the point of incontinence
Tongue: Pale with a white coating
Pulse: Submerged and frail
Ingredients
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Yi Zhi Ren
| 9-12g | | (salt fried)
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Pinyin: Yi Zhi Ren
Chinese: 益智仁
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae
Taxonomy: Alpinia Oxyphylla
English: Sharp-leaf Galangal Pod |
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Tastes: Sweet, pungent, astringent, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Spleen |
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Kidneys and astringes Jing and urine
Frequent and copious urination, urinary incontinence and spermatorrhea or dribbling of urine due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
Kidney Jing not Consolidated
Irregular uterine bleeding
- Warms the Spleen, increases the appetite and stops diarrhoea and salivation
Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency with diarrhoea, Cold abdominal pain, excessive salivation and a thick, unpleasant taste in the mouth
Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea from Cold entering the Spleen and Kidneys
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Wu Yao
| 9-12g | |
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Pinyin: Wu Yao
Chinese: 烏藥
Pharmaceutical: Radix Linderae
English: Lindera Root |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen, Liver, Kidney and Gallbladder |
Actions & Indications:
- Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
Cold and Qi Stagnation with a stifling sensation in the chest, flank pain, epigastric and abdominal pain.
- Warms the Kidneys and disperses Cold
Urinary frequency or incontinence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency or Urinary Bladder Deficiency Cold
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Shan Yao
| 9-15g | | (dry fried) |
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: Combine equal amounts of the first two herbs with a paste made from the third and form into pills. Take 6g twice a day, originally with salted wine or rice water, today usually with boiled water. May also be prepared as a decoction with the dosages given.
Actions: Warms the Kidneys, dispels Cold, shuts of urinary frequency, stops leakage
Contraindications: Spicy and other stimulating foods should not be eaten while taking this formula.
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.
