Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Yang
Pattern: Kidney Yang deficiency failing to grasp the Lung Qi
Key Symptoms: Aching lower back, course and rough skin and muscles, cough
Ingredients
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Hu Tao Ren
| 300g | |
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Pinyin: Hu Tao Ren
Chinese: 胡桃仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Juglandis
Taxonomy: Juglans regia
English: Walnut |
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Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney, Liver and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Kidneys, replenishes Jing and strengthens the back and knees
Kidney Yang Deficiency with a Cold and painful back and knees and urinary frequency
Kidney Jing Deficiency
- Warms and astringes the Lungs, resolves cold Phlegm, arrests wheezing and helps the Kidneys grasp Qi
Lung and Kidney Deficiencies with chronic cough and wheezing that worsens with any exertion
Kidney unable to grasp Lung Qi
- Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
Constipation from Deficient Fluids and Blood
Constipation in the elderly
Constipation due to injured Fluids following a febrile disorder
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Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction, or eaten as food.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with effulgent fire, cough and loose stool due to phlegm-heat. |
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Bai Jiu
| 950ml | | |
Pinyin: Jiu
Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine |
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Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
- Warms Yang and Expels Cold
All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
- Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
Temporary low mood, celebration
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Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.
The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire. |
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Subsitutions:
Bai Jiu (white alcohol) traditionally means distilled rice wine but can be substituted with any clear 40% spirit.
Preparation: Crush Hu Tao Ren in a pestle and place in a large jar with the alcohol. Seal the lid and store for one month. Take 60ml three times per day.
Actions: Supplements the Lungs and Kidneys, boosts the Jing, transforms Phlegm, stops coughing, moistens the muscles and skin
Contraindications: Damp-Heat conditions and long term use due to the harmful effects on continuous alcohol consumption.
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.
