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Star/Top for easy access1. Shudi Huang (熟地黄) + Gouqi Zi (枸杞子) This is a common combination for nourishing the liver and kidneys, benefiting essence and replenishing blood. Shudi Huang is sweet, warm, and moistening, entering the liver and kidneys to nourish yin and replenish blood, benefiting essence and filling marrow, making it a key herb for nourishing yin and blood. Gouqi Zi is sweet, neutral, and enters the liver and kidney meridians, nourishing the liver and kidneys, benefiting essence and nourishing blood, and is known for improving vision. Both herbs enter the liver and kidney meridians, and their combined nourishing effects are enhanced, treating all conditions of essence and blood deficiency, including dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, lumbar and knee weakness, pallor, impotence, and premature graying, as well as pale complexion, palpitations, insomnia, and irregular menstruation. For treating true yin and blood deficiency, women with delayed menstruation and scanty blood, or pain in the lumbar and knees, or qi and blood deficiency with abdominal pain, they can be combined with Dang Gui (当归), Du Zhong (杜仲), Niu Xi (牛膝), and Rou Gui (肉桂), as in the formula from the “Jingyue Quanshu”. For treating both liver and kidney deficiency with dim vision, frequent black spots, or cataracts, they can be combined with Tu Si Zi (菟丝子), Rou Cong Rong (肉苁蓉), Ba Ji Tian (巴戟天), Che Qian Zi (车前子), and Gan Ju Hua (甘菊花), as in the “Yuyuan Fang” Seven Immortal Pills. For treating kidney deficiency and deafness, they can be combined with Huai Shan Yao (怀山药), Fu Ling (茯苓), and Shan Yu Rou (山萸肉), as in the “Buzhi Yiyao” Dihuang Decoction. For treating insufficient kidney water and unstable essence, they can be combined with Jin Ying Zi (金樱子), Shan Zha (山楂), Lian Rou (莲肉), Lian Hua Xin (莲花心), Qian Shi (芡实), Fu Ling, and Dang Gui, as in the “Yixue Zhengzhuan” Jinlong Dan. If there is insufficient essence and blood with false heat or qi stagnation, using Sheng Di Huang (生地黄) and Gouqi Zi together can also clear false heat, as Sheng Di Huang has a “smooth and flowing nature” that complements Gouqi Zi in replenishing essence and blood without causing qi stagnation. For treating liver and kidney yin deficiency with liver qi stagnation, they can be combined with Sha Shen (沙参), Dang Gui, Mai Dong (麦冬), and Chuan Lian Zi (川楝子), as in the “Xuming Yilai” Yiguan Decoction. For treating postpartum bone steaming and labor heat, they can be combined with Ren Shen (人参), Dang Gui, Mai Dong, Shi Hu (石斛), Chai Hu (柴胡), Hu Huang Lian (胡黄连), Shan Yao, and Huang Bai (黄柏), as in the “Fu Qing Zhu Nü Ke” Postpartum Chapter’s modified Dazao Decoction.2. Shudi Huang + Wu Wei Zi (五味子) These two herbs are commonly used together to nourish the lungs and kidneys, regulate qi, and relieve asthma. Shudi Huang excels at nourishing the kidneys and filling essence; Wu Wei Zi is sour, sweet, and warm, entering the lung, heart, and kidney meridians, adept at astringing the lungs and nourishing the kidneys, generating fluids, astringing sweat, stopping leakage, and calming the mind. The combination of Shudi Huang and Wu Wei Zi treats both the lungs and kidneys, with a nourishing aspect that also has a consolidating effect. Nourishing the kidneys moistens the lungs, and the synergy of metal and water enhances the nourishing power for both organs; while nourishing the lungs and kidneys, it also strengthens bone essence and consolidates lung qi. The kidneys are the root of qi, governing inhalation; the lungs are the master of qi, governing exhalation. This combination nourishes the kidneys, consolidates them, and restores the function of inhalation while also moistening the lungs and restoring the function of exhalation, addressing both the root and branch, and is effective for chronic cough and asthma. It is commonly used for lung and kidney deficiency or kidney deficiency unable to hold qi, leading to cough and asthma, often combined with Shan Yao and Shan Zhu Yu (山茱萸), as in the “Zheng Yin Mai Zhi” Duqi Pills and the “Yibu Quanshu” Mai Wei Di Huang Pills. This combination also helps consolidate the kidneys and stop leakage. Shudi Huang is sweet and warm, excelling at replenishing kidney essence; Wu Wei Zi is sour and astringent, able to consolidate the kidneys and stop leakage. The “Bencao Beiyao” states that it can “strengthen yin and astringe essence”; together they nourish the kidneys and astringe essence, addressing both root and branch, and are often used to treat conditions of unstable kidney essence, such as nocturnal emissions, tinnitus, lumbar and knee weakness, impotence, and infertility. For treating yin deficiency with excessive heat and unstable essence leading to nocturnal emissions, they can be combined with Huang Bai (黄柏), Mai Dong, Gouqi Zi, Shan Yu Rou, Tian Dong (天冬), and Lian Xu (莲须), as in the “Huizhi Tang” Nocturnal Emission Formula; for treating men with insufficient essence and difficulty in procreation, they can be combined with Tu Si Zi, Sheng Di Huang, Tian Dong, Mai Dong, Fu Shen (茯神), Huai Shan Yao, Lian Rou, Ren Shen, and Gouqi Zi, as in the “Ye Shi Nü Ke” Gu Ben Pills. This combination also nourishes yin, generates fluids, astringes yin, stops sweating, calms the mind, and nourishes the heart. Shudi Huang enters the heart and kidneys to nourish yin and replenish blood, while Wu Wei Zi can both benefit qi and astringe the lungs to stop sweating, as well as astringe heart qi and heart yin. Together, they have a strong nourishing effect, stopping sweating and restoring yin, ensuring sufficient blood and calming the spirit. They can be used to treat yin deficiency with night sweats, excessive sweating leading to loss of yang; or yin and blood deficiency, leading to insufficient nourishment of the heart spirit; or the condition of heart and kidney not communicating, leading to anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, and vivid dreams. For treating night sweats due to yin deficiency, they can be combined with Shan Zhu Yu, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu (白术), Di Gu Pi (地骨皮), and Sha Shen, as in the “Bian Zheng Lu” Yin Nourishing and Sweating Stopping Decoction. For treating excessive sweating leading to loss of yang and fluid depletion, they can be combined with Ren Shen, Huang Qi (黄芪), Mai Dong, Suan Zao Ren (酸枣仁), and Dang Gui, as in the “Lai Zheng Zhi Cai” Sweating Stopping Pill. For treating excessive worry leading to depletion of yin and blood, causing forgetfulness, anxiety, excessive dreaming, spontaneous sweating, five hearts feeling hot, dry eyes, and gradual weight loss with loss of appetite, they can be combined with Fu Shen, Ren Shen, Huang Qi, Suan Zao Ren, Yuan Zhi (远志), Bai Zi Ren (柏子仁), and Zhu Sha (朱砂), as in the “Yang Shi Jia Cang Fang” Nourishing Heart Pill.3. Shudi Huang + Shan Zhu Yu (山茱萸) These two herbs are commonly used together to nourish the liver and kidneys, astringe essence, and stabilize leakage. Shudi Huang nourishes the liver and kidneys, benefiting blood and essence; Shan Zhu Yu is sour, astringent, and warm, benefiting the liver and kidneys, reducing urination and astringing essence, and stabilizing leakage. Both Shudi Huang and Shan Zhu Yu can nourish the liver and kidney essence and blood, but Shudi Huang is more focused on nourishing the kidneys, while Shan Zhu Yu is more focused on nourishing the liver. The liver and kidneys share a source, and essence and blood support each other, enhancing the nourishing power for both organs; one focuses on nourishment while the other focuses on astringency. Shudi Huang excels at benefiting essence and filling marrow, while Shan Zhu Yu nourishes yin while also supporting yang and sealing essence, making it effective for stabilizing kidney essence. Therefore, the “Ji Yin Gang Mu” states: “(Shudi Huang) nourishes the water of the lower jiao, while combined with Shan Zhu (Yu) for warmth and astringency, it nourishes water to generate the liver.” This combination can be used for the following conditions: ① Dizziness, tinnitus, lumbar and knee pain, impotence, and nocturnal emissions due to liver and kidney deficiency, often combined with Shan Yao to nourish the liver, spleen, and kidneys together, enhancing its nourishing and stabilizing effects. As in the “Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue” Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and the “Jin Gui Yao Lue” Shen Qi Wan, both use these two herbs to nourish kidney yin essence; or combined with Gouqi Zi, as in the “Jingyue Quanshu” Zuo Gui Wan, Zuo Gui Yin, You Gui Wan, and You Gui Yin, all use these three herbs to jointly nourish the liver and kidneys, filling essence and replenishing blood. ② For treating excessive menstrual bleeding, irregular menstruation, and fetal movement instability due to liver and kidney deficiency, Shudi Huang and Shan Zhu Yu are effective for nourishing the kidneys and stabilizing leakage, often combined with Dang Gui and Bai Shao (白芍) to nourish liver blood and stabilize menstruation, as in the “Fu Qing Zhu Nü Ke” modified Si Wu Decoction. For treating both liver and kidney deficiency, leading to nocturnal emissions, leakage, excessive discharge, fetal movement instability, and postpartum bleeding, they can be combined with Ren Shen, Shan Yao, Yuan Zhi, Wu Wei Zi, and Tu Si Zi, as in the “Jingyue Quanshu” Gu Yin Decoction. ③ For treating true yin deficiency unable to contain original yang, leading to collapse of yin and yang, with symptoms of upward collapse, or sweating, or eyes rising, or heart palpitations; or downward collapse, or loss of essence, or urinary incontinence, or diarrhea; or both yin and yang deficiency, with heat above and cold below. Zhang Xichun favored this combination for treating yin deficiency unable to control yang collapse. Unlike previous treatments for collapse that prioritized Ren Shen and Fu Zi (附子), Zhang Xichun pioneered the use of Shan Zhu Yu as the first choice for collapse, highly praising its astringent and stabilizing effects. He stated: “Shan Zhu Yu can greatly gather and consolidate original qi, invigorate spirit, and stabilize essence. It has astringent properties while also promoting smooth flow, thus benefiting the nine orifices and circulating blood, treating liver deficiency with spontaneous sweating, liver deficiency with pain in the waist, and liver deficiency with internal wind, while gathering upright qi without trapping evil qi, unlike other sour astringent herbs.” He also said: “In cases of original qi collapse, it is always the liver that is involved. Therefore, in cases of extreme deficiency, liver wind must first move, and when liver wind moves, it is a sign of original qi wanting to collapse. The liver and gallbladder are interdependent; the gallbladder is Shaoyang, which governs cold and heat; the liver is Jueyin, and extreme deficiency also leads to cold and heat, resulting in excessive sweating. Since Shan Zhu Yu can both astringe sweat and nourish the liver, it is most effective for those with extreme liver deficiency and impending collapse of original qi.” He stated: “In cases of impending collapse, it is essential to use four taels of pure Shan Zhu Yu, or combine it with other herbs for support; even in critical situations, it can still be salvaged, far superior to merely using Ren Shen, Qi, or Shu.” He emphasized that the nature of Shan Zhu Yu not only nourishes the liver but can also gather qi and blood, yin and yang, when they are about to disperse. Therefore, the first choice for collapse should be Shan Zhu Yu. Zhang Xichun often used this combination with Shan Yao, Long Gu (龙骨), and Mu Li (牡蛎), as in the “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu” Jiji Decoction, where both Shudi Huang and Shan Zhu Yu are used in significant amounts. This reflects the treatment philosophy of using heavy doses for critical conditions. 4. Shudi Huang + Shan Yao (山药) These two herbs are commonly used together to nourish the kidneys, stabilize essence, and also benefit the spleen and lungs. Shudi Huang greatly nourishes yin blood, fills essence, and benefits marrow, making it a key herb for nourishing yin and blood. Shan Yao is sweet and neutral, entering the lung, spleen, and kidney meridians, able to evenly nourish the lungs, spleen, and kidneys, entering the kidneys to benefit and stabilize essence, and evenly nourishing both yin and yang; entering the spleen nourishes spleen qi and spleen yin; entering the lungs nourishes lung qi and lung yin. Shan Yao also has astringent properties, helping to stop diarrhea, discharge, and reduce urination. The combination of these two herbs is often used to treat kidney deficiency and essence deficiency, leading to nocturnal emissions, enuresis, frequent urination, night sweats, and clear, persistent discharge, as well as dizziness, tinnitus, and lumbar and knee pain; or lung and kidney deficiency leading to inability to hold qi, resulting in asthma; or spleen and kidney deficiency leading to diarrhea, fetal movement instability, etc. For treating kidney deficiency and nocturnal emissions, they can be combined with Qian Shi, Mai Dong, and Wu Wei Zi, as in the “Yixue Jicheng” Tian Jing Dan. For treating morning diarrhea due to spleen and kidney deficiency, they can be combined with Shan Zhu Yu, Bai Fu Ling (白茯苓), Ze Xie (泽泻), Wu Wei Zi, Bu Gu Zhi (补骨脂), and Tu Si Zi, as in the “Feng Shi Jin Nang” Yu Pi Guo Shen Di Huang Wan. For treating pregnancy-related spleen and kidney deficiency, with weak meridians and abdominal pain, and fetal movement instability, they can be combined with Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Shan Zhu Yu, Du Zhong, Gouqi Zi, and Bian Dou, as in the “Fu Qing Zhu Nü Ke” An Ding Er Tian Decoction. For treating lung and kidney deficiency, with yin deficiency unable to hold qi, leading to asthma, they can be combined with Shan Zhu Yu, Sheng Hang Shao (生杭芍), Niu Bang Zi (牛蒡子), Su Zi (苏子), and Sheng Long Gu, as in the “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu” Shu Yu Na Qi Decoction.5. Shudi Huang + Shan Zhu Yu + Shan Yao This combination of three herbs nourishes the liver, spleen, and kidneys, nourishing yin and stabilizing essence, commonly used to treat kidney yin deficiency or kidney essence deficiency. Shudi Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, and Shan Yao each enter the kidney, liver, and spleen meridians, respectively. Shudi Huang is sweet and primarily enters the kidneys, focusing on nourishing the kidneys, being a key herb for nourishing yin and kidney essence, excelling at replenishing kidney yin; Shan Zhu Yu is sour and primarily enters the liver, nourishing the liver and kidneys, with a focus on the liver, ensuring sufficient liver blood to nourish kidney yin; Shan Yao is sweet and neutral, primarily entering the spleen, evenly nourishing the spleen and kidneys, replenishing postnatal essence to support prenatal essence. Shan Zhu Yu and Shan Yao also have astringent properties, helping to prevent the loss of kidney essence and restoring the kidneys’ ability to store essence. This combination is often used for kidney yin deficiency, especially when accompanied by liver yin or spleen yin deficiency, as in the foundational yin nourishing formula “Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue” Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. This combination can be used with Ze Xie, Fu Ling, and Dan Pi to treat kidney yin deficiency; it is also used in famous formulas for true yin deficiency, such as the “Jingyue Quanshu” Zuo Gui Wan and Zuo Gui Yin, which use this combination as the basic structure for nourishing kidney yin. Additionally, this combination, with its nourishing effects on liver and kidney essence and blood, is often combined with warming yang herbs for kidney yang deficiency, as in the “Jin Gui Yao Lue” Shen Qi Wan and the “Jingyue Quanshu” You Gui Wan and You Gui Yin, which use this combination to nourish yin, benefit the kidneys, and replenish essence and marrow, seeking yang within yin. When using this combination to nourish the kidneys and yin essence, it is advisable to use a higher proportion of Shudi Huang, with a ratio of 2:1:1 for Shudi Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, and Shan Yao, as seen in the aforementioned Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Shen Qi Wan, Zuo Gui Wan, and You Gui Wan. However, in clinical practice, the dosage should be adjusted according to the condition and location of the disease; for instance, if there is yin deficiency unable to hold qi, with lung qi counterflow leading to asthma, it is advisable to use a higher amount of Shan Yao, which nourishes the lungs and has astringent properties, as in the “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu” Shu Yu Na Qi Decoction, where Sheng Shan Yao is used in a larger amount, with Shudi Huang at five qian and Shan Zhu Yu at five qian; or for treating true yin deficiency unable to control yang, leading to the collapse of yin and yang, Shan Zhu Yu should be used in larger amounts due to its ability to nourish the liver, stabilize the liver, and astringe essence, as in the “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu” Jiji Decoction, where both Shudi Huang and Shan Zhu Yu are used in significant amounts.6. Shudi Huang + Lu Rong (鹿茸) / Lu Jiao Jiao (鹿角胶) This is a common combination for nourishing the liver and kidneys, warming and replenishing essence and blood. Shudi Huang is sweet, warm, and rich, making it a key herb for nourishing yin and replenishing the kidneys, benefiting essence and filling marrow. Lu Rong is sweet and salty, warm in nature, entering the kidney and liver meridians; the “Bencao Gangmu” states that it can “generate essence, replenish marrow, nourish blood, and benefit yang.” Lu Rong is a product of blood and flesh, an animal-derived key herb for replenishing essence and blood, excelling at nourishing the yang of the liver and kidneys and benefiting essence and blood; Shudi Huang is the primary plant-derived herb for replenishing essence and blood, excelling at nourishing the yin of the liver and kidneys. The combination of these two herbs can warm and nourish the liver and kidneys, significantly replenishing essence and blood. It is suitable for conditions of insufficient essence and blood, leading to soft bones, delayed movement, fatigue, weight loss, lumbar pain, dizziness, deafness, and tinnitus; or kidney deficiency with impotence, nocturnal emissions, infertility, and women with cold discharge; or excessive bleeding due to deficiency of Chong and Ren, leading to excessive discharge. For treating liver and kidney deficiency with insufficient nourishment of the tendons, leading to weakness and inability to walk, they can be combined with Rou Cong Rong, Niu Xi, Tian Ma, Mu Guo, Tu Si Zi, and Wu Wei Zi, as in the “Zheng Ti Lei Yao” Si Jin Wan; for treating various deficiencies, with cloudy urination, and women with prolonged cold in the uterus, they can be combined with Dang Gui, Fu Zi, Sang Piao Xiao, Long Gu, and Fu Ling, as in the “Wei Shi Jia Cang Fang” Sheng Jin Wan; for treating postpartum bleeding, with continuous bleeding and weakness, they can be combined with Chi Shi Zhi, Dang Gui, and Mu Li, as in the “Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang” Shudi Huang San. Lu Jiao Jiao has similar properties to Lu Rong, being sweet, salty, and warm, entering the liver and kidney meridians, possessing pure yang properties, and having the ability to “nourish the liver and kidneys, benefit essence and blood,” making it a key herb for tonifying the kidneys, strengthening yang, replenishing essence and marrow, and strengthening tendons and bones. Lu Jiao Jiao is also effective for nourishing the liver and kidneys, benefiting essence and blood, though its effects are not as strong as Lu Rong. It is often combined with Shudi Huang to nourish the liver and kidneys, warm and replenish essence and blood, used for conditions of insufficient essence and blood, leading to lumbar and knee weakness, fatigue, weight loss, lumbar pain, dizziness, deafness, and tinnitus; or kidney deficiency with impotence, nocturnal emissions, infertility, and women with cold discharge. It can also be combined with Gui Jiao Jiao, Gouqi Zi, Shan Yao, and Shan Zhu Yu, as in the “Jingyue Quanshu” Zuo Gui Wan and You Gui Wan. Shudi Huang and Lu Jiao Jiao can also warm and nourish essence and blood, expelling toxins and promoting healing, used for kidney deficiency with insufficient essence, leading to yin abscesses, ulcers that do not heal, dark skin, and chronic non-healing ulcers, with clear, thin pus; or for conditions of swelling without a head, unchanged skin color, soreness without heat, and no thirst, with pale tongue and white coating, and deep, thin pulse, they can be combined with Rou Gui, Pao Jiang Tan (炮姜炭), Ma Huang, and Bai Jie Zi, as in the “Wai Ke Zheng Zhi Quan Sheng Ji” Yang He Decoction.End of text. Thank you for your patience in reading. If you find it helpful, please click “
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