Pinyin: Xian Mao  Chinese: 仙茅
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Curculiginis
English: Golden-Eye Grass Rhizome / Curculigo

Tastes: Sweet, pungent, hot, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys and strengthens Yang
   Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, urinary incontinence, nocturnal emissions and irregular menstruation Infertility from either a Cold Womb (women) or Cold Essence (men) Weakening of Ming Men Fire
2. Expels Cold and eliminates Dampness(strengthens bones and sinews)
   Obstinate Cold Damp Bi with generalized pain, a sense of weakness in the bones and sinews and lower back and knee pain (especially useful for Cold abdominal or lower back pain) Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with effulgent fire, and long term usage, because it is toxic.

Pinyin: Yin Yang Huo / Xian Ling Pi  Chinese: 淫羊藿 / 仙靈脾
Pharmaceutical: Herba Epimedii
Taxonomy: Epimedium brevicornum, sagittatum, pubescens seu koreanum
English: Horny Goat Weed / Barrenwort / Bishop's Hat / Fairy's Wings

Tastes: Sweet, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang and increases the libido
   Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, infertility, urinary frequency, forgetfulness, withdrawal and painful, Cold lower back and knees
2. Dispels Wind-Cold-Dampness and warms and unblocks the flow of Yang Qi (strengthens the sinews and bones)
   Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with spasms, or cramps in the hands and feet, joint pain and numbness in the extremities Contractures, numbness or hemiplegia following Wind-Stroke

Standard Dosage: 5-15g in decoction.

Pinyin: Wu Jia Pi  Chinese: 五加皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Acanthopanacis
Taxonomy: Eleutherococcus senticosus
English: Siberian Ginseng Bark

Tastes: Pungent, bitter and sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Dispels Wind-Dampness, nourishes (warms) the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens sinews and bones
   Chronic Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with underlying Kidney and Liver Deficiencies generating weak or soft bones or sinews
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing places it in the inferior class of woods and says: "It boosts the qi and heals limpness, enabling a [limp] child to walk instantly," suggesting it supplements the Kidney Qi of children born lame and therefore Jing deficient.
2. Transforms Dampness and reduces swelling
   Urinary difficulty, oedema, and Cold Damp “Leg Qi”
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing says "It also treats flat abscesses, sores and genital erosion."
3. Tonifies the Qi while suppressing Parasites
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
   Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
   The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing says it treats "Heart and abdominal mounting qi and abdominal pain."

Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction, or soaked in wine.
Cautions: Caution must be taken to have the correct species. Cortex Periplocae (Xiang Jia Pi) is often mistaken for this herb but contains toxic cardiac glycosides which could be dangerous, as well as poorer therapeutic effects and none of the adaptogenic properties of Wu Jia Pi (Complemedis.com).