Enriches the Yin and nourishes the Kidneys

• Sore and weak lower back
• Light-headedness, vertigo
• Tinnitus, hearing loss
• Night sweats
• Nocturnal and spontaneous emissions
• A red tongue with little coating
• A rapid, thin pulse

• There are two groups of three herbs; the first three tonify, and the second three are draining
• Shu di (chief) strongly enriches Kidney Yin and Jing.
• Shan Zhu Yu and Shan Yao (deputies) nourish the Liver and Spleen and restrain leakage to stabilise the Kidney Jing.
• Ze Xie (assistant) clears and drains any excess of Kidney Fire and it prevents the rich cloying Shu di from congesting the Kidneys and generating more Fire.
• Mu Dan Pi (assistant) clears and drains Liver Fire and counterbalances the warming properties of Shan Zhu Yu.
• Fu Ling (assistant) is bland and leaches Dampness from the Spleen; it is paired with Shan Yao to reinforce the Spleen function of nourishing the body.
• Fu Ling and Ze Xie work together to improve fluid metabolism and reduce fluid stagnation.

• Severe depletion of Fluids with Heat signs: swap Sheng di Huang for Shu di Huang
• Wasting and thirsting disorder: omit Ze Xie and add at least 30g of Tian Hua Fen
• Childhood nutritional impairment with abdominal distension and loose, watery stools: omit Shu di and add Bai Zhu, Jie Nei Jin and Sha Ren
• Optic neuritis, optic nerve atrophy or central retinitis: add Chai Hu, Dang Gui and Wu Wei Zi
• Empty Heat: add Han Lian Cao (10-30) to astringe and nourish Kidney Yin.
• Very short cycles with deficiency Heat: add Huang Qin (3-10), Mu Li (15-30).
• Palpitations & insomnia: add Bai Zi Ren (15), Lian Zi Xin (3), Sang Shen Zi (10).
• Dry mouth: add Xuan Shen (10-15), Mai Men Dong (10-15), Tian Men Dong (6-15).
• Constipation: add Gua Lou Ren (10-15), Zhi Mu (6-12).
• Very thin and weak: add Yu Zhu (10-15), Sha Shen (10-15), Huang Jing (10-15).

• This is the core formula for Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency.
• The Kidneys reside in the lower back; they govern the bones and are responsible for generating marrow.
• Kidney deficiency leads to a depletion of marrow and a weaker skeletal structure, especially in the lower back and legs.
• Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency involves Jing and Blood deficiency, which are unable to nourish the sensory organs in the upper body.
• Liver Blood nourishes the eyes, and light-headedness and vertigo reflect a lack of nourishment.
• Kidney Jing nourishes the ears, and tinnitus and hearing loss reflect less nourishment.
• A deficient Yin is unable to restrain substances in the night, causing night sweats and nocturnal emissions.
• The red tongue and lack of coating indicate Yin deficiency, as does the rapid, thin pulse.
• If Yin deficiency is severe, it will cause hot hands and feet, a flushed face and a dry, sore throat.
• If the heat transforms into Fire and ascends to the teeth, it can cause toothache.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for neurasthenia, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, chronic nephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, urinary tract infections (UTI) hypertension, failure to thrive, functional uterine bleeding, optic neuritis, optic nerve atrophy and central retinitis.

Use with caution when Spleen Qi deficiency or when there’s a greasy white tongue coat as it will cause indigestion or diarrhoea.

Enriches Kidney and Liver Yin, Clears Fire and Damp-Heat in the lower Jiao

• Night sweats, tidal fevers
• A dry throat, tongue and mouth
• Light-headedness, tinnitus, vertigo, dizziness
• Weak lower back and knees with aching and pain
• Steaming bones, spontaneous and nocturnal emissions
• Urinary difficulty and lower back pain from Damp-Heat in the lower Jiao with underlying Yin deficiency
• A red tongue with little or no coating
• A rapid, thin pulse that is large only in the proximal positions

• Shu di (chief) strongly enriches Kidney Yin and Jing.
• Shan Zhu Yu and Shan Yao (deputies) nourish the Liver and Spleen and restrain leakage to stabilise the Kidney Jing.
• Zhi Mu and Huang Bai (deputies) clear Heat, Drain Fire, enrich Yin, moisten dryness and generate fluids.
• Ze Xie (assistant) clears and drains any excess of Kidney Fire, and prevents the rich cloying Shu di from congesting the Kidneys and generating more Fire.
• Mu Dan Pi (assistant) clears and drains Liver Fire and counterbalances the warming properties of Shan Zhu Yu.
• Fu Ling (assistant) is bland and leaches Dampness from the Spleen; it is paired with Shan Yao to reinforce the Spleen function of nourishing the body.
• Fu Ling and Ze Xie work together to improve fluid metabolism and reduce fluid stagnation.

• Seminal emissions add Wu Wei Zi (9) and Jin Ying Zi (9) 
• Emotional tension add Yuan Zhi (9) and Fu Shen (9)

• The formula is for Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency with Empty Fire Flaring.
• The Kidneys reside in the lower back, govern the bones and are responsible for generating marrow.
• Kidney deficiency leads to a depletion of marrow and a weaker skeletal structure, especially the lower back and legs.
• Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency reduces their ability to nourish the sensory organs.
• Light-headedness, vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss reflect this lack of nourishment.
• Tidal fevers and dryness of the tongue, mouth and throat are due to Empty Heat.
• Yin deficiency and Empty Heat cause steaming bones and emissions.
• The red tongue and lack of coating indicate Yin deficiency, and the rapid, thin pulse overflowing pulse in the Kidney positions reflect the Empty Heat.
• Urinary difficulty is due to Damp-Heat obstructing the water passages in the lower Jiao, where Yin deficiency has already created stagnation.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for neurasthenia, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, chronic nephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, urinary tract infections (UTI) hypertension, failure to thrive, functional uterine bleeding, Meniere’s disease, vertigo, tinnitus, spermatorrhea, optic neuritis, optic nerve atrophy and central retinitis.

• Use with caution when Spleen Qi deficiency diarrhoea and there is a greasy white tongue coat
• Contraindicated for Kidney Yang deficiency

Enriches Kidney Yin, Nourishes Liver Blood

• Shu di, Dang Gui and Bai Shao (chiefs) nourish Liver Blood and enrich Kidney Yin and Jing.
• Shan Zhu Yu and Shan Yao (deputies) nourish the Liver and Spleen and restrain leakage to stabilise the Kidney Jing.
• Ze Xie (assistant) clears and drains any excess Kidney Fire, and prevents the rich cloying Blood tonics from congesting the Kidneys and generating more Fire.
• Mu Dan Pi (assistant) clears and drains Liver Fire and counterbalances the warming properties of Shan Zhu Yu.
• Fu Ling (assistant) is bland and leaches Dampness from the Spleen; it is paired with Shan Yao to reinforce the Spleen function of nourishing the body.
• Fu Ling and Ze Xie work together to improve fluid metabolism and reduce fluid stagnation.

• To further nourish Yin and clear any Empty Heat: add Sha Shen (9) and Nu Zhen Zi (9)
• To counteract the cooling and contracting Yin and Blood tonics: add a small dose of Tu Si Zi (6)

Nourishes the Yin and enriches the Kidneys

• The formula almost entirely consists of tonics:
• Shu di (chief) strongly enriches Kidney Yin and Jing.
• Shan Zhu Yu and Gou Qi Zi (deputies) nourish the Liver Blood and Yin.
• Shan Yao, Fu Ling and Zhi Gan Cao (assistants) benefits Yin and the Spleen to augment Qi and support Jing by stabilising and strengthening the Spleen.

• Heat in the Lungs with irritability: add Mai Men Dong
• Heat in the Spleen with frequent hunger: add Bai Shao
• Heat in the Kidneys with steaming bone disorder and profuse sweating: add Di Gu Pi
• Blood stasis: add Mu Dan Pi
• Reckless movement of Blood: add Sheng Di Huang
• Excess above and deficiency below: add Huai Niu Xi
• Blood deficiency with dryness and stasis: add Dang Gui
• Concurrent Spleen deficiency: add Sha Ren and Chen Pi
• Severe night sweats: add Wu Wei Zi

• This formula is for Kidney deficiency, especially of the Jing and marrow, and the most common aetiology is excessive sexual activity, usually from a young age.
• The Kidneys reside in the lower back, and they govern the bones and are responsible for generating marrow.
• Kidney deficiency leads to a depletion of marrow and a weaker skeletal structure, especially in the lower back and legs.
• Yin deficiency creates Empty Heat, which agitates the Jing, making it unrestrained and causing night sweats and spontaneous emissions.
• The depletion of fluids creates internal dryness (throat and mouth) and a thirst.
• The peeled red tongue indicates considerable Yin deficiency.
• A rapid, thin pulse indicates Yin deficiency.
• This formula is for more extreme Kidney Yin and Jing deficiency than Liu Wei di Huang Wan. 
• However, the formula is not as well balanced and the rich cloying herbs may create stagnation, and it does not treat Empty Heat.

Use with caution when there is Stomach and Spleen Qi deficiency