Properties: Pungent, bitter, sweet, warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Kidney
Divergent Zones: Taiyang
Divergent Channels: Bladder, Kidney
Extraordinary Vessels: Du
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones
Liver and Kidney Deficiency with stiffness, soreness or weakness in the lower back, spine and lower extremities
- Expels Wind-Dampness and relieves Bi syndrome
Wind-Damp Bi with pain, soreness or numbness
Especially useful for those with Wind-Cold-Dampness with underlying Liver and Kidney Deficiency (chronic Bi)
- Warms and stabilizes the Kidneys and prevents leakage
Urinary incontinence, spermatorrhea and vaginal discharge due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
Swelling of the legs after an illness
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used cautiously to patients with kidney deficiency accompanied with heat, difficulty in micturition or scanty deep-colored urine with pain.
Appears in 3 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
