Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Yin
Pattern: Liver and Kidney Blood and Yin deficiency with empty Heat
Key Symptoms: Hot flashes, night sweats, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, dizziness and vertigo, premature greying of the hair
Ingredients
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Nu Zhen Zi
| 250g | |
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Pinyin: Nu Zhen Zi
Chinese: 女貞子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi
Taxonomy: Ligustrum Lucidim
English: Glossy Privet Fruit |
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Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cool
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiencies with dizziness, spots before the eyes, lower back soreness, premature graying of the hair and tinnitus
- Clears Deficiency Heat
Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising
- Improves vision
Diminished visual acuity in those with Liver and Kidney Deficiencies
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make one fat and strong, the body light and prevent forgetfulness. 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: 10-15g in decoction. Alcohol extracts may be preferable to extract the oleanolic and ursolic acid content.
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Bai Jiu
| 975ml | | |
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: Break up the herb in a mortar and pestle and place in a large jar with 9.75ml of alcohol and seal the lid for 5 days. Open, remove the dregs and store for use. Take 1-2 teacups twice per day warm on an empty stomach.
Actions: Supplements the Kidneys and enriches Yin, nourishes the Liver and brightens the eyes.
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.
