Source: Concise Medicine (1587)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Yin and Yang
Pattern: Kidney Yin, Yang, Blood and Jing deficiency in the Ren Mai and Chong Mai
Key Symptoms: Emaciation, weakness, speratorrhoea, impotence, aching and weakness of the lower back and knees, daybreak diarrhoea
Pulse: Thin and frail
Ingredients
| Lu Jiao | 500g | |
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| Bui Ban | 250g | |
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Gou Qi Zi
| 90g | |
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Pinyin: Gou Qi Zi
Chinese: 枸杞子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Lycii
Taxonomy: Lycium barbarum seu chinense
English: Goji Berries / Wolfberries / Boxthorn Berries |
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Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and tonifies Liver and Kidney Blood and Yin
Blood and Yin Deficiency with sore back and legs, low-grade abdominal pain, impotence, nocturnal emissions, wasting and thirsting disorder and consumption
Liver and Kidney Deficiency
Added to baths during spring to promote skin health and delay aging
- Benefits Jing and brightens the eyes
Liver and Kidney Deficiency where Jing and Blood cannot nourish eyes with dizziness, blurred vision and diminished visual acuity
- Nourishes Yin and moistens the Lungs
Consumptive cough and wasting and thirsting disorder
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: In vitro testing suggests that unidentified wolfberry phytochemicals in goji tea may inhibit metabolism of other medications, such as those processed by the cytochrome P450 liver enzymes. Such drugs include warfarin, or drugs for diabetes or hypertension. However, no in vivo statistics support this. |
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Ren Shen
| 45g | | |
Pinyin: Ren Shen
Chinese: 人參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Panax ginseng
Taxonomy: Panax ginseng
English: Ginseng Root |
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Heart |
Actions & Indications:
- Powerfully tonifies Yuan Qi
Extreme collapse of Qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow breathing, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating and an almost imperceptible pulse (after blood loss, overly profuse sweating or other problems related to severe fluid loss - it can be used alone in these emergencies)
Collapse of Yang
Collapse of Yin
- Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhoea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum
- Tonifies Lung Qi
Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion
- Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst
Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids
- Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness
- Treats impotence
With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence
- Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions
Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light 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).
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction, 10-30g for exhaustion syndrome due to Qi deficiency.
Cautions: Antagonizing to Li Lu; the warm nature of sun-dried raw Ren Shen is weaker than that of Hong Shen. |
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Subsitutions:
In the UK both principle ingredients need to be substituted. Some suggestions include:
Lu Jiao == Rou Cong Rong + Xu Duan
Bui Ban == Han Lian Cao + Nu Zhen Zi
This will change the symbolic nature of the formula though, its name deriving from the two animal ingredients which are symbols of longevity, enabling them to enter the Extraordinary Vessels.
Preparation: Prepared as a syrup. Often taken with alcohol to balance any stagnation.
Actions: Nourishes and replenishes the Yin, tonifies the Jing, augments the Qi, tonifies and strengthens Yang
Contraindications: Stomach and Spleen deficiency or Empty Heat patterns.
Notes:
An Yin, Yang and Jing tonic wine might be a more suitable alternative to 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.
