Yin deficiency is often caused by the aftermath of febrile diseases, prolonged illnesses that deplete Yin fluids, or excessive emotional stress, sexual activity, and the consumption of warming and drying substances, leading to a deficiency of Yin fluids. This results in the body losing its nourishing and moistening substances. Additionally, when Yin fails to control Yang, Yang heat becomes relatively excessive, generating internal heat, which manifests as symptoms of deficiency heat, dryness, and restlessness.
Yin deficiency can coexist with Qi deficiency, blood deficiency, Yang deficiency, Yang hyperactivity, essence deficiency, fluid deficiency, and dryness evil, often presenting as patterns such as Qi and Yin deficiency, Yin and blood deficiency, dual deficiency of Yin and Yang, Yin deficiency with Yang hyperactivity, essence deficiency, Yin fluid deficiency, and internal dryness due to Yin deficiency, which can further develop into pathological changes like Yin collapse and wind movement.
Yin deficiency can affect various organs, with slight differences in etiology and pathogenesis:
1. Lung Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by insufficient Lung Yin and the internal generation of deficiency heat. It is often caused by prolonged coughing, tuberculosis affecting the lungs, or damage to Yin fluids during the later stages of febrile diseases. The lungs govern the clearing and descending of Qi and prefer moistening; insufficient Lung Yin leads to internal heat, causing the lungs to become heated and resulting in coughing. The heat scorches the fluids, producing phlegm that is scant and sticky. With Lung Yin deficiency, the upper body cannot moisten the throat, leading to dryness and thirst, while the lack of nourishment for the muscles results in emaciation. Internal heat can cause afternoon tidal fever, five hearts heat, night sweats, and flushed cheeks; heat disturbing the Yin can lead to night sweats; if deficiency heat rises, it can cause a flushed complexion; if the lung collaterals are scorched, it can lead to blood-streaked phlegm; the throat loses Yin fluids and is steamed by deficiency fire, resulting in hoarseness. The tongue is red with little moisture, and the pulse is thin and rapid, all indicative of internal heat due to Yin deficiency.
2. Heart Yin Deficiency
This condition refers to the deficiency of Heart Yin, which fails to nourish the heart, leading to a decline in its functions related to blood and spirit. The main causes include prolonged illness depleting Yin blood, excessive blood loss, insufficient generation of Yin blood, or emotional distress, Qi stagnation, and internal heat, resulting in overall Yin blood deficiency and Heart Yin damage.
3. Stomach Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by insufficient Stomach Yin. It is often caused by chronic stomach diseases, or during the later stages of febrile diseases when Yin fluids have not been restored, or due to a preference for spicy foods, or emotional distress leading to Qi stagnation and fire that depletes Stomach Yin.
4. Spleen Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by insufficient Spleen Yin, leading to impaired nourishment and weak transformation. It is often due to external heat illnesses that deplete Yin fluids, or a constitution that is inherently Yin deficient, or emotional distress causing liver Qi stagnation that scorches Yin fluids, or excessive consumption of spicy foods, or the inappropriate use of warming herbs.
5. Liver Yin Deficiency
This condition refers to the loss of Yin fluids, leading to a lack of moistening in the liver, with Yang not controlling Yin, resulting in internal heat disturbance, primarily manifested as dizziness, dry eyes, rib pain, and heat sensations. It is also known as Liver Deficiency Heat.
6. Kidney Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by insufficient Kidney Yin, leading to weakened nourishing and moistening functions. It is often due to an inherently Yin deficient constitution, prolonged illness damaging the kidneys, excessive sexual activity, febrile diseases damaging Yin, or the excessive use of warming and drying substances.
Common clinical manifestations of Yin deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia with vivid dreams, forgetfulness, weakness in the lower back and knees, increased sexual desire, nocturnal emissions, scanty or absent menstruation in women, emaciation, dry throat and mouth, tidal fever, five hearts heat, night sweats, flushed cheeks, a red tongue with little coating or no coating, and a thin rapid pulse.
Yin deficiency often arises from blood deficiency, with “Yin deficiency generating internal heat,” presenting as five hearts heat, dry mouth and throat, irritability, coarse breathing, yellow urine, and dry stools; a weak constitution, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, poor mental state; menstrual irregularities, pallor, pigmentation, chloasma, and butterfly rash; menopausal issues; premature menopause; commonly seen in women and various hyperactive diseases such as tuberculosis and prolonged low-grade fever.
Yin deficiency can be observed in pathological changes across multiple organ systems, commonly seen as Lung Yin deficiency, Heart Yin deficiency, Stomach Yin deficiency, Spleen Yin deficiency, Liver Yin deficiency, and Kidney Yin deficiency. The common clinical manifestations of Yin deficiency, along with corresponding symptoms of organ-specific pathological changes, serve as the basis for differential diagnosis and treatment.
Differentiation and Treatment
1. Lung Yin Deficiency
The key points for differentiation are the common symptoms of lung disease and the presence of internal heat due to Yin deficiency.
Symptoms: Cough without phlegm, or scant and sticky phlegm, dry throat and mouth, emaciation. Afternoon tidal fever, five hearts heat, night sweats, flushed cheeks, and in severe cases, blood-streaked phlegm, hoarseness, red tongue with little moisture, and thin rapid pulse. Treatment principle: Nourish Yin and moisten the lungs. Main formula: Bai He Guo Jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction). Ingredients: Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root), Shu Di (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Bei Mu (Fritillaria), Bai He (Lily Bulb), Dang Gui (Angelica), Shao Yao (Peony), Gan Cao (Licorice), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), Jie Geng (Platycodon), etc.
Examples: Common formulas for treating Lung Yin deficiency with cold:
(1) Sang Ye (Mulberry Leaf) and Bo He (Peppermint) decoction with Laiyang pear syrup is suitable for cough due to Lung Yin deficiency and rebellious Lung Qi.
(2) Wind-heat cold granules combined with Yin-nourishing and Lung-clearing syrup for treating severe cases of Lung Yin deficiency with wind-heat.
(3) Moistening Lung and cough-stopping granules are suitable for Lung Yin deficiency with phlegm-heat that does not disperse, and is affected by wind-heat.
(4) Xiao Er Zhi Sou Jin Dan (Children’s Cough Syrup) is suitable for children with inherent Yin deficiency and phlegm accumulation, with Spleen and Stomach stagnation, affected by wind-heat.
(5) Sang Ju Gan Mao Pian (Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Cold Tablets) combined with autumn pear syrup for mild cases of Lung Yin deficiency.
2. Heart Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by common symptoms of heart disease and the presence of Yin deficiency.
Symptoms: Often seen in those with inherent liver and kidney insufficiency, true Yin depletion, or during the later stages of febrile diseases when Yin is not restored, leading to insufficient Yin blood, which fails to nourish the heart and calm the spirit, resulting in palpitations, insomnia, vivid dreams, forgetfulness, night sweats, irritability, heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, red tongue tip, little coating, and thin rapid pulse. There may also be flushed cheeks, dizziness, and other symptoms. Treatment principle: Nourish Heart Yin, clear the heart, and calm the spirit. Main formula: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Heavenly Emperor Heart-Supplementing Pill). Ingredients: Dang Gui (Angelica), E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Yu Zhu (Polygonatum), Yuan Shen (Polygala), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Zao Ren (Jujube Seed), Bai Zi Ren (Biota Seed), Long Gu (Dragon Bone), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Hu Po (Amber), Zhen Zhu Mu (Mother of Pearl), Shi Jue Ming (Abalone Shell), Huang Lian (Coptis), Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf), Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Shi Lian Zi (Lotus Seed), Deng Xin Cao (Juncus), etc.
3. Stomach Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by common symptoms of stomach disease and the presence of Yin deficiency.
Symptoms: Insufficient Stomach Yin leads to excessive Stomach Yang, generating internal heat, causing heat stagnation in the stomach, disharmony of Stomach Qi, and Stomach Yin deficiency, resulting in dull pain in the epigastric region, lack of appetite. Dry mouth and throat; constipation. Epigastric fullness and discomfort, dry retching and belching. Red tongue with little moisture, thin rapid pulse, indicating internal heat due to Yin deficiency. Treatment principle: Nourish Stomach Yin and clear Stomach heat. Main formula: Jia Jian Yu Nu Jian (Modified Jade Woman Decoction). Ingredients: Yu Zhu (Polygonatum), Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root), Sha Shen (Glehnia), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Jie Geng (Platycodon), Bai Wei (Cynanchum), Gan Cao (Licorice), Hong Zao (Red Dates), Dan Dou Chi (Fermented Soybean).
4. Spleen Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by weak Spleen function and the presence of deficiency heat.
Symptoms: Insufficient Spleen Yin leads to impaired transformation, resulting in reduced appetite, bland taste, abdominal distension after eating; accompanied by fatigue, emaciation, dry lips, constipation, red urine, and five hearts heat. Red tongue with dry coating or bare, thin rapid pulse or thin and choppy pulse, indicating insufficient Yin fluids. If characterized by intestinal dryness and constipation, with a thin and choppy pulse, it is termed Spleen Deficiency Syndrome. Treatment principle: Strengthen the Spleen and nourish Yin. Main formula: Spleen Deficiency Ma Ren Wan (Spleen Deficiency Hemp Seed Pill). Ingredients: Huo Ma Ren (Hemp Seed), Huai Shan (Chinese Yam), Yu Zhu (Polygonatum), Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root), Sha Shen (Glehnia), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Gan Cao (Licorice), Hong Zao (Red Dates).
5. Liver Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by dizziness, dry eyes, rib pain, and symptoms of deficiency heat.
Symptoms: Dizziness, dry eyes, reduced vision, or dull pain in the ribs, facial heat or flushed cheeks, or twitching of the hands and feet, dry mouth and throat, five hearts heat, tidal fever, night sweats, red tongue with little coating, and thin rapid pulse. This condition is similar to Liver Blood deficiency, both presenting with dizziness, but the latter lacks heat symptoms, commonly seen with blurred vision, scanty menstruation, and numbness in the limbs. Treatment principle: Nourish and strengthen Liver Yin. Main formula: Yi Guan Jian (Linking Decoction). Ingredients: Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Shi Hu (Dendrobium), Dang Gui (Angelica), Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berry), etc.
6. Kidney Yin Deficiency
This condition is characterized by deficiency of Kidney essence and the presence of deficiency heat.
Symptoms: Dizziness, tinnitus, weakness in the lower back and knees, insomnia with vivid dreams, tidal fever, night sweats, five hearts heat, dry throat, flushed cheeks, red tongue with little moisture, and thin rapid pulse. In men, nocturnal emissions may be present; in women, scanty or absent menstruation. Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney Yin. Main formula: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill), Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Anemarrhena and Phellodendron Rehmannia Pill), etc. Ingredients: Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root), Dan Pi (Moutan Root), Ze Xie (Alisma), Fu Ling (Poria), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Huai Niu Xi (Achyranthes), etc.
Using medicinal pastes to treat Yin deficiency is also a very good option:
Take 100g of Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries), 100g of Hang Bai Ju (Chrysanthemum), 100g of Hang Bai Shao (White Peony), 150g of Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root), 150g of Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), 100g of Shan Yu Rou (Cornus), 100g of Dan Pi (Moutan Root), 120g of Fu Ling (Poria), 100g of Ze Xie (Alisma), 100g of Shi Hu (Dendrobium), 100g of Fo Shou (Buddha’s Hand), 100g of Di Gu Pi (Lycium Bark), 100g of Huai Niu Xi (Achyranthes), 120g of Zhi Huang Jing (Polygonatum), 120g of Zhi Shou Wu (Fleeceflower Root), 100g of Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), 120g of Nan Sha Shen (South American Ginseng), 120g of Bei Sha Shen (North American Ginseng), 100g of Zhi Yu Zhu (Polygonatum), 100g of Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel), 60g of Gan Cao (Licorice), 250g of Gui Jiao (Tortoise Shell), 250g of E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin).
[Historical Source] Jin Dynasty, Li Gao’s “Discussions on Internal and External Injuries” Volume on formulas, also known as Ren Shen Sheng Mai San (Ginseng Resuscitation Powder), Sheng Mai Yin (Resuscitation Drink).
[Composition]
Ren Shen (Ginseng), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra).
[Function] Tonifies Qi, restores pulse, nourishes Yin, and generates fluids.
[Indications] Used for Qi and Yin deficiency, palpitations, shortness of breath, and weak pulse.
[Dosage and Administration] Oral, 10ml each time, three times a day.
[Modern Applications] Sheng Mai Yin is a commonly used Chinese patent medicine in clinical practice. Whenever clinical symptoms of Qi and Yin deficiency appear, Sheng Mai Yin can be used as a basic treatment. Its properties are mild, with few side effects and good efficacy.
Sheng Mai Yin has been reported to be effective in treating heart diseases, especially in patients with coronary heart disease, whether in stable stages or during critical periods such as acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, and arrhythmias. For example, in a study at Tianjin Nankai Hospital involving 105 patients with acute myocardial infarction, among those with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (25 cases), the group treated solely with Western medicine had 13 cases, with 7 deaths; while the group treated primarily with Sheng Mai Si Ni Decoction, without any Western medicine, had 10 cases, with no deaths. It was concluded that patients with pale complexion, profuse sweating, and a weak pulse should use Sheng Mai Si Ni Decoction; if the skin is flushed, with slight sweating and a weak pulse, Sheng Mai San alone is sufficient. Some even believe that regardless of whether acute myocardial infarction is complicated by shock, the use of Sheng Mai San can significantly reduce mortality.
There have been reports of oral Sheng Mai Yin, 20ml each time, twice a day, treating 35 cases of coronary heart disease over a three-week course, with a total effective rate of 67.7%, significantly better than the control group (total effective rate of 29.2%, P<0.0). The total effective rate of the electrocardiogram was 34.8%, with significant differences between the treatment and control groups (P<0.0).
Sheng Mai San oral liquid was effective in treating 222 cases of angina pectoris, with an effective rate of around 70%. Other symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, weakness in the lower back and legs, dry mouth and throat, showed improvement in more than half of the cases after medication.
Sheng Mai Yin oral liquid showed peripheral vascular effects in 63 cases of coronary heart disease patients, with results indicating that after taking Sheng Mai Yin and placebo, cerebral and carotid blood flow and arterial lumen diameter increased significantly compared to before medication; blood flow velocity in the radial artery also increased significantly; hemodynamic measurements such as stroke volume (cardiac output), cardiac index, and left ventricular pump power all showed significant increases compared to before medication; left ventricular ejection resistance significantly enhanced.
Using Sheng Mai Yin in a randomized controlled trial for 50 cases of angina pectoris, with a Western medicine control group of 50 cases, both treatments lasted for 20 days. The clinical effective rate in the treatment group was 90%, with an electrocardiogram improvement rate of 56%, while the control group had a clinical effective rate of 88% and an electrocardiogram improvement rate of 50%. This indicates that Sheng Mai Yin is an effective anti-myocardial ischemia drug with very few side effects and can be used long-term.
Sheng Mai Yin was used to treat 42 cases of pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with the Sheng Mai Yin group taking 3g of red ginseng, 9g of Mai Dong, and 6g of Wu Wei Zi, decocted in water as tea, taken once daily for two months. The control group received oral dextroamphetamine. The efficacy was assessed based on five symptom clusters: behavioral abnormalities, lack of attention, poor acceptance, weak control, and consciousness disorders. Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05), but after treatment, the Sheng Mai Yin group showed significantly lower scores in each symptom cluster compared to the control group, indicating a certain clinical practicality.
Sheng Mai Yin was effective in treating coronary heart disease with Qi and Yin deficiency, with 13 cases showing significant effects and 5 cases showing improvement, resulting in a total effective rate of 90%, while the control group taking 5% glucose had a total effective rate of 50%.
Sheng Mai San oral liquid was effective in treating 20 cases of various arrhythmias, with satisfactory results; Sheng Mai San was effective in curing second-degree atrioventricular block caused by digitalis poisoning; Sheng Mai liquid was administered to 22 hospitalized patients with chronic congestive heart failure of grades II-IV, and after intravenous injection of 20ml Sheng Mai liquid for one hour, echocardiographic studies showed significant improvements in hemodynamics, including left ventricular contraction and relaxation functions.
Yi Xin Fang (Heart Benefiting Formula) (based on Sheng Mai San, combined with Shan Zhu Yu, He Shou Wu, Gou Zao, Dan Shen) was used to treat a group of coronary heart disease patients, showing a certain alleviating effect on angina pectoris, with an electrocardiogram efficacy of 53.09%, and also had a cholesterol-lowering effect, improving symptoms such as dizziness, chest discomfort, and limb numbness to varying degrees.
Reports indicate that Sheng Mai San has achieved good results in treating severe pulmonary heart disease, suggesting that Sheng Mai San for tonifying Qi and rescuing Yin is the first choice, with examples of Qi and Yin deficiency, internal and external evils, internal heat closure, Qi and Yin collapse, and Yang deficiency with water flooding, all effectively treated with Sheng Mai San as the basic formula with modifications.
Sheng Mai Yin was used in 42 cases of pulmonary heart disease during the remission period, showing significant efficacy in stopping cough, relieving asthma, calming the heart, and benefiting Qi. It should be taken promptly, generally after the acute attack stabilizes, and taken for more than two months for significant effects, especially important in winter and spring. Do not forget to treat the symptoms, and if there is edema or phlegm, combine with phlegm-dissolving and diuretic treatments.
Sheng Mai San combined with Si Ni Decoction was effective in treating one case of cardiogenic shock; Sheng Mai Yin with modifications was used to treat 40 cases of pulmonary heart disease complicated by hyperviscosity syndrome, achieving good results in improving cardiac and pulmonary function and blood rheology; Sheng Mai San (decoction, injection) has been clinically used to treat pulmonary heart disease, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, shock, pediatric hepatitis, neonatal sclerema, pediatric Qi syncope, and postoperative conditions, all showing varying degrees of efficacy; Sheng Mai San with modifications was effective in treating 16 cases of cardiomyopathy, achieving satisfactory results.
For Qi and Yin deficiency with blood stasis obstructing collaterals, Sheng Mai San combined with Dan Shen Decoction was used; for Qi and Yin deficiency with phlegm obstructing the lungs, Sheng Mai San combined with Ting Li Da Zao Xie Fei Tang was used; for Qi and Yin deficiency with Yang deficiency and water flooding, Sheng Mai San combined with Zhen Wu Tang and Wu Ling San was used. Sheng Mai Yin treats heart diseases belonging to Qi and Yin deficiency, with clear efficacy, such as acute myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, and angina pectoris.
Sheng Mai San with modifications was used to treat one case of carotid sinus syndrome, with very satisfactory results. In TCM differentiation, it was classified as Heart Yang collapse, Qi and blood deficiency, diagnosed as syncope. Ingredients: Ren Shen (Ginseng), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra), Fu Zi (Aconite), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Huang Qi (Astragalus), Dang Gui (Angelica), Huang Jing (Polygonatum). Decoction for oral administration.
The Health and Epidemic Prevention Station of Shangzhi County treated 121 cases of chronic Keshan disease with Sheng Mai San and digitalis, with 54 cases in the Sheng Mai San group achieving a cure rate of 70.2%, better than the digitalis group.
Sheng Mai San has a stabilizing effect on patients in shock. Reports indicate that in patients with infectious shock after resuscitation, where it is difficult to withdraw pressor agents, the use of Sheng Mai San has a stabilizing effect, using 15g of red ginseng, 30g of Mai Dong, and 9g of Wu Wei Zi as a daily dose, decocted three times, taken warm, while continuing anti-infection and anti-shock treatment measures. Once shock is completely corrected, pressor agents can be withdrawn. Among 10 cases, 9 were effective, with pulmonary shock stabilizing for an average of 2 days, biliary shock for an average of 3 days, intestinal shock for an average of 1.5 days, and urinary tract infection shock for an average of 2 days.
Sheng Mai Yin was primarily used to treat 31 cases of long-term hypotension with deficiency syndrome, achieving relatively satisfactory results.
XU’s treatment of 164 cases of epidemic hemorrhagic fever, with a control group of 42 cases and a Sheng Mai Tang group of 122 cases, showed that the Sheng Mai Tang group had 2 deaths (1.64%), while the control group had 7 deaths (16.64%). The Sheng Mai Tang group also had better blood pressure stabilization, and the time for blood urea nitrogen and creatinine to return to normal was superior to the control group; the incidence of oliguria and pulse closure due to acute renal failure was lower than in the control group; and the recovery of cellular immune function was earlier than in the control group, with fewer crises.
Sheng Mai Yin was effective in treating iron deficiency anemia: taken orally three times a day, one dose each time, it achieved satisfactory results in treating secondary anemia. It is believed that Sheng Mai Yin has the effects of tonifying Qi, generating fluids, and nourishing and strengthening, rapidly correcting anemia while also significantly improving symptoms of Qi and blood deficiency such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness, and can also nourish the Spleen and Stomach, increasing appetite, without the gastrointestinal discomfort associated with Western iron supplements.
Sheng Mai San was effective in treating 14 cases of neonatal sclerema, with satisfactory results. Infants aged 7 days were treated with Sheng Mai San combined with Fu Zi for half a month and recovered.
There are also reports of using modified Sheng Mai San to treat stubborn sweating in children. Ingredients include Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra), Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Di Gu Pi (Lycium Bark), and Hong Zao (Red Dates), taken daily; the dosage depends on the child’s size, with one dose effective, and 2-3 doses leading to recovery, with no side effects.
Sheng Mai San is used in high-altitude areas for deficiency, palpitations, chest pain, and syncope, showing quick effects; treating pulmonary tuberculosis with deficiency; modifications have shown efficacy in cancer prevention; modifications have been used to treat 78 cases of anovulatory infertility, with a pregnancy rate of 26.9% and an ovulation effective rate of 48.7%; treating pediatric syncope; treating burn scar pruritus in one case.
Sheng Mai Yin was effective in treating senile dementia, which includes senile dementia and vascular dementia (mostly multi-infarct dementia), characterized by a decline in memory, judgment, cognitive abilities, language barriers, and changes in personality and character. This product was used to treat 14 cases of senile dementia and 17 cases of multi-infarct dementia, both achieving good efficacy.
Sheng Mai San combined with low-dose dobutamine to treat refractory pulmonary heart disease heart failure, most patients showed a decrease in heart rate, with varying degrees of blood pressure increase, and significant improvement in cardiac function. Using low-dose dobutamine with Sheng Mai San not only ensures the positive inotropic effect of dobutamine but also reduces its side effects. The combination of the two has a synergistic effect, with reliable and safe efficacy, with no significant side effects in 24 cases, showing unique advantages and efficacy in treating refractory pulmonary heart disease heart failure. Dobutamine can only be administered intravenously and cannot be used long-term; once cardiac function improves, Sheng Mai San can be continued to consolidate the effect.
Sheng Mai San was effective in treating heat stroke and exhaustion in working cattle.
[Basic Research] Sheng Mai San has a preventive effect on heart failure. In experiments where the femoral artery or vein of rabbits was cut and blood was drawn, leading to cardiogenic shock, the use of Sheng Mai San showed an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LV EDP). Rabbits pre-treated with Sheng Mai San showed prolonged tolerance to hypoxia and delayed the time of abnormal elevation of LV EDP. Acute myocardial infarction often results in 40% left ventricular damage, and myocardial dysfunction is the main cause of elevated LV EDP. The prolonged elevation of LV EDP can reduce the degree of myocardial hypoxia. In a two-hour mortality calculation, the treatment group had a mortality rate of 33.3%, while the control group had 100%, P<0.05. The average blood loss in the treatment group was 19.7ml/kg, while the control group was 26ml/kg. Once shock occurs, the central venous pressure in the control group rises, while the Sheng Mai San group decreases, indicating that the treatment group had certain improvements in cardiac function. Reports have shown that Sheng Mai Yin oral liquid treated a group of 35 patients with coronary heart disease, observing platelet aggregation, plasma β-platelet globulin, thromboxane B, and 6-keto-prostaglandin, finding that Sheng Mai Yin oral liquid has an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and release function, thus benefiting the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease.
Experimental studies have shown that it can increase the concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in normal human blood, thereby reducing blood oxygen affinity. 2,3-DPG is a product of the glycolytic pathway in red blood cells and is the most important and lasting factor regulating hemoglobin oxygen saturation.
Sheng Mai San has certain application value in preventing heat stroke in aged rats.
After administering rhubarb liquid, mice exhibited diarrhea, bristled fur, reduced appetite, loose stools, and weight loss, resembling symptoms of Spleen deficiency. Subsequently, administering a small dose of Sheng Mai Yin tea bag treatment showed rapid weight recovery, but larger doses were less effective. Additionally, Sheng Mai Yin can significantly inhibit foot swelling caused by carrageenan and egg white, demonstrating strong anti-inflammatory activity against early inflammation. Experiments also showed that this formula can enhance the phagocytic function of phagocytes and significantly inhibit the twisting response in mice caused by acetic acid. The effects of Sheng Mai Yin oral liquid on cardiac output in rats showed that the Ginseng-based Sheng Mai Yin significantly increased cardiac output in rats, while the Codonopsis-based Sheng Mai Yin had no significant effect.
Pharmacological experiments of Sheng Mai San, oral liquid, and decoction formulations showed that the decoction and tea bag formulations have significant hypoxia resistance, inhibit mouse intestinal peristalsis, promote diuresis, and have blood replenishing effects; the tea bag formulation is slightly stronger than the decoction; the oral liquid’s pharmacological effects are generally weaker than those of the decoction and tea bag.
The immunological activity of Mai Dong polysaccharides shows that Mai Dong polysaccharides can significantly resist hypoxia, increase the weight of the spleen in mice, enhance the clearance of carbon particles in mice, stimulate the production of hemolysin in mouse serum, and counteract the decrease in white blood cell count caused by cyclophosphamide and 60Co irradiation, enhancing the agglutination rate of rabbit red blood cells. Among these, the hypoxia resistance, increase in immune organ weight, and carbon particle clearance effects are not significantly different from the same dose of Ginseng.
Mai Dong’s nourishing Yin effect experiments show that Mai Dong can lower plasma fibrinogen levels in normal rabbits, reduce red blood cell electrophoresis rates, inhibit platelet aggregation, increase the content of 6-keto-prostaglandin Fe in plasma, and increase the ratio of PGI y/TX Az, lowering serum triglycerides and urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid levels. These effects can be considered pharmacological bases for Mai Dong’s nourishing Yin effects, beneficial for preventing intravascular thrombosis and atherosclerosis. It also indicates that Mai Dong may be beneficial for treating patients with Yin deficiency diseases, especially those with coronary heart disease and cerebral thromboembolism.
Mai Dong polysaccharides have been shown to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic mice induced by alloxan, and oral administration of Mai Dong polysaccharides significantly reduced blood sugar levels in normal mice.
[Note] This formula was originally intended to treat Qi and Yin deficiency after heat injury. The combination of ingredients is appropriate, with stable properties and clear efficacy. In addition to being commonly used to treat cardiovascular diseases, this formula can be used with modifications for any condition characterized by Qi and Yin deficiency.