Yixian Pharmacy
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Yin deficiency constitution refers to a condition where there is insufficient yin fluid in the body due to dysfunction of the organs, leading to symptoms such as thirst, dry throat, and internal heat caused by yin deficiency. Common manifestations include flushed cheeks, heat in the palms and soles, night sweats, and internal heat; the tongue is red with little moisture and a thin coating, and constipation or dry stools may occur. Individuals may appear thin, have a short temper, feel irritable, and experience short sleep duration; they often complain of dry and tired eyes, blurred vision, dizziness, tinnitus, and dry skin; men may experience nocturnal emissions, while women may have scanty menstruation.
In daily life, we should conserve energy and protect our “yin”. One should not assume that being energetic and physically strong allows for indiscriminate consumption; often, we are overextending ourselves without realizing it. For example, long-term consumption of spicy and warming foods can easily deplete the body’s fluids, promoting or exacerbating yin deficiency; excessive exercise and sweating can lead to excessive loss of yin fluids; prolonged illness, staying up late, and emotional instability can easily lead to a yin deficiency constitution.
The key to supplementing a yin deficiency constitution lies in nourishing yin, following the principles of nourishing yin and clearing heat, and nourishing the liver and kidneys. Foods that are sweet and have a cool or neutral nature are good companions for those with yin deficiency. Individuals with yin deficiency should choose foods such as: Tremella (Yin Er), bird’s nest (Yan Wo), lily (Bai He), mung beans (Lv Dou), peas (Er Dou), spinach (Bo Cai), bamboo shoots (Zhu Sun), water spinach (Kong Xin Cai), lotus root (Lian Ou), winter melon (Dong Gua), loofah (Si Gua), bitter melon (Ku Gua), watermelon (Xi Gua), nori (Zi Cai), snow pear (Xue Li), pomelo (You Zi), white radish (Bai Luo Bo), tofu (Dou Fu), soy milk (Dou Jiang), Chinese cabbage (Da Bai Cai), and water bamboo shoots (Jiao Bai Sun).
Below, the Yixian pharmacist introduces ten herbs for nourishing yin for everyone’s reference.
Shashen (Sha Shen) is mentioned in ancient medical literature, later classified into two types in the “Compendium of Materia Medica” as Bei Sha Shen (North Sha Shen) and Nan Sha Shen (South Sha Shen). Both types have similar properties and effects, primarily used for lung and stomach yin deficiency. The main difference is that Bei Sha Shen has a stronger effect on nourishing the lung and stomach, suitable for lung and stomach yin deficiency with heat; Nan Sha Shen also has the effect of benefiting qi and resolving phlegm, making it more suitable for cough with phlegm dryness caused by qi and yin deficiency.
Mai Dong (Mai Dong) is the dried tuber of the perennial herb of the lily family. It has a sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly cold nature. It enters the lung and stomach meridians. It nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, benefits the stomach, and generates fluids, clearing the heart and relieving irritability. It can be used for dry cough with phlegm due to lung yin deficiency and dry heat, as well as for symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, constipation, and dry stools due to stomach yin deficiency or heat injuring stomach yin. Mai Dong can also be used for heart yin deficiency and heat evil disturbing the heart, leading to irritability and insomnia, with a red and dry tongue.
Mai Dong and Tian Dong (Tian Dong) are both yin-nourishing herbs, but many people cannot distinguish between them. Mai Dong is slightly cold and tends to nourish yin fluids, while Tian Dong is very cold and tends to moisten dryness and clear heat. Mai Dong is more focused on supporting the righteous qi, while Tian Dong is more focused on expelling evils. In addition to nourishing lung yin, Mai Dong can also nourish stomach yin and heart yin.
Yu Zhu (Yu Zhu) is the rhizome of a perennial herb in the lily family. It has a sweet taste, is slightly cold, and has the effects of nourishing yin, moistening dryness, clearing heat, generating fluids, and stopping cough. It is primarily used for dry cough with little phlegm due to lung yin deficiency, heat disease injuring fluids, irritability, thirst, and diabetes, and can be used as a nourishing medicine with health benefits.
Yu Zhu enters the lung and stomach meridians, nourishing the yin of the lung and stomach without being greasy, clearing heat without being excessively cold, making it a gentle and moistening remedy for dry cough and irritability due to lung and stomach yin deficiency. It can also treat external pathogens in cases of yin deficiency, used in conjunction with exterior-releasing herbs, having the characteristic of nourishing yin without retaining evils.
Shi Hu (Shi Hu) is first recorded in the “Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica” as a top-grade herb, classified among the yin-nourishing herbs. The variety known as Tie Pi Shi Hu (Iron Skin Dendrobium) is considered the best due to its iron-green skin.
Shi Hu has a sweet and slightly cold nature. It enters the stomach, lung, and kidney meridians. Its functions include generating fluids, clearing the stomach, nourishing yin, and clearing heat. It is used for heat diseases injuring fluids, thirst, yin deficiency with stomach pain, post-illness heat, and yin injury leading to dim vision. The “Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica” states: “It is used for injuries to the middle, relieving obstruction, lowering qi, and nourishing the five organs, strengthening yin, and long-term use benefits the stomach and prolongs life.” Therefore, when there is a lack of fluids, dry mouth, irritability, red or dry tongue, or no coating, Shi Hu is very effective. Shi Hu can also nourish the kidneys and improve vision, treating blurred vision and dim eyesight due to liver and kidney deficiency, especially suitable for the elderly.
Shu Di Huang (Shu Di Huang) is a processed product of raw Rehmannia root, characterized by its black, shiny surface, soft and pliable texture, sweet taste, and slightly warm nature. It has the effects of nourishing yin, replenishing blood, and benefiting essence and marrow. It is used for liver and kidney yin deficiency, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, tidal fever, night sweats, internal heat leading to thirst, blood deficiency with yellowish complexion, palpitations, irregular menstruation, dizziness, tinnitus, and premature graying of hair. Shu Di Huang is sticky in nature, which can hinder digestion, so it is contraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency, qi stagnation, phlegm accumulation, abdominal distension, and loose stools.
The difference between Shu Di Huang and Sheng Di Huang (Sheng Di Huang) is that Sheng Di Huang is cold in nature, functions to clear heat and cool the blood, nourish yin, and generate fluids to relieve thirst; while Shu Di Huang’s nature changes from cold to slightly warm, and its function also changes to become a blood tonic, with effects of nourishing yin and blood, and benefiting essence and marrow, used for blood deficiency and yellowish complexion, dizziness, etc.
Xuan Shen (Xuan Shen) is the root of the plant of the Scrophulariaceae family. It has a sweet, bitter, and salty taste, and a slightly cold nature, with effects of clearing heat, cooling the blood, nourishing yin, and reducing fire, detoxifying, and dispersing masses. It is primarily used for warm diseases with heat and blood, body heat, thirst, red tongue, rashes, bone steaming cough, restlessness, fluid injury leading to constipation, blurred vision, sore throat, and lumps. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” states: “Xuan Shen, possessing the nature of extreme yin, specializes in treating warm diseases, and its bitter taste helps to drain and descend, thus it can treat heat accumulation in the organs.” Note that it is contraindicated for those with dampness in the spleen and stomach and spleen deficiency with loose stools.
Ejiao (Ejiao) is a gelatin block made from the skin of the donkey after hair removal. The earliest pharmacological work in China, the “Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica”, records: “(Ejiao) is produced in Dongping County, made from boiling cowhide, originating from Dong’e.” Ejiao is a genuine medicinal material produced in Dong’e, and its name comes from its place of origin.
Ejiao is known as one of the “Three Treasures of TCM Nourishment” along with ginseng and deer antler. Ejiao has the effects of nourishing blood, nourishing yin, moistening dryness, and stopping bleeding. It is used for blood deficiency with yellowish complexion, dizziness, palpitations, irritability, and insomnia, as well as dry cough due to lung dryness. Note that although Ejiao is a nourishing product, it is not suitable for everyone, such as those prone to internal heat, those with blood stasis, menstruating women, and those with colds or diarrhea should avoid Ejiao. It should be used cautiously in those with spleen and stomach deficiency, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distension, and excessive phlegm.
Bai He (Bai He) has a sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly cold nature. It enters the heart and lung meridians. It has the effects of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and calming the heart and spirit. It is used for chronic cough due to yin deficiency, phlegm with blood, late-stage heat diseases, residual heat, or irritability and insomnia caused by emotional disturbances, as well as for abscesses and damp sores. Note that it is contraindicated for those with wind-cold cough and those with cold diarrhea.
Huang Jing (Huang Jing) is the dried rhizome of the plants D. officinalis, H. officinalis, or M. multiflora. Depending on its shape, it is commonly referred to as “Da Huang Jing”, “Ji Tou Huang Jing”, or “Jiang Xing Huang Jing”. According to the “Compendium of Materia Medica”, “Huang Jing is a superior product for nourishing the middle palace, benefiting qi, harmonizing the five organs, strengthening the muscles, and solidifying the bones, all of which are functions of nourishing yin.”
Huang Jing has a sweet and neutral nature, entering the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians. It has the effects of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, benefiting the spleen, and replenishing qi, primarily used for cough due to yin deficiency, dry cough due to lung dryness; spleen deficiency with fatigue, little appetite, and thirst; kidney deficiency with soreness in the lower back and knees, impotence, nocturnal emissions, tinnitus, dim vision, premature graying of hair, and general weakness. Note that Huang Jing is sticky in nature, which can promote dampness, so it is contraindicated for those with spleen deficiency with dampness, cough with excessive phlegm, and those with cold diarrhea.
Gui Jiao (Gui Jiao) is the carapace of the turtle, belonging to the family Testudinidae. It has the effects of nourishing yin, subduing yang, benefiting the kidneys, strengthening bones, nourishing blood, and stabilizing the menses. It is commonly used for yin deficiency with tidal fever, bone steaming, dizziness, internal wind movement, weakness of the muscles and bones, forgetfulness due to heart deficiency, and excessive menstrual bleeding.
Gui Jiao and Bie Jiao (Bie Jiao) can both nourish yin and clear heat, subduing yang and calming internal wind, used for yin deficiency with fever, yin deficiency with hyperactive yang, and yin deficiency with internal wind movement. Gui Jiao is particularly effective for nourishing yin, hence it is often used in yin-nourishing formulas; it can also benefit the kidneys and strengthen bones, treating soreness in the lower back and knees, while Bie Jiao is rarely used. Bie Jiao is better for softening and dispersing masses, commonly used for conditions like abdominal masses and malaria, which Gui Jiao does not treat.
Others include: Sang Shen (Mulberry Fruit), which nourishes blood and yin, generating fluids and relieving thirst; Mo Han Lian (Eclipta), which benefits the kidneys and nourishes yin, cooling the blood and stopping bleeding; Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum), which nourishes yin and clears heat, benefiting the liver and kidneys; Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena), which nourishes yin and reduces fire, moistening dryness and promoting bowel movements; Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries), which nourishes the liver and kidneys, benefiting essence and improving vision; Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus), which nourishes the liver and kidneys, securing the kidneys and astringing essence.
There are many Chinese patent medicines for yin deficiency, and it is necessary to differentiate and select appropriately. For symptoms such as dizziness and tinnitus due to liver and kidney yin deficiency, as well as soreness in the lower back and knees, insomnia with vivid dreams, and night sweats, one can choose Liu Wei Di Huang Wan; for those with yin deficiency and excess heat, Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan or Da Bu Yin Wan can be selected; for true yin deficiency, Zuo Gui Wan is appropriate; for insomnia due to heart yin deficiency, Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan is suitable; for cough due to lung and kidney yin deficiency, Bai He Guo Jin Wan or Yang Yin Qing Fei Wan can be chosen; for stomach pain due to stomach yin deficiency, Yin Xu Wei Tong Jiao Nang can be selected.
Images sourced from the internet, thanks to the image authors. The varieties involving manufacturers are for learning and understanding purposes only and do not represent a recommendation!
Original article, reproduction must indicate the author and work unit, and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Author: Chen Chuxiong
Editor: Liao Wanshan
Chief Editor: Xin Li
Initial Review: Qiu Kaifeng
Review: Wu Junyan
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