Tonify Yin - Actions & Indications

bei sha shen

Actions

• Nourishes LU/ST yin

• More strongly nourishes and enriches yin, better suited for ST

• Cools serious yin xu with fire blazing in LU/ST

• Generates fluids

Indications

• Heat injuring the LU yin; dry, nonproductive cough, dry mouth, thirst

• Pathogenic heat injuring ST yin; dry and parched mouth, thirst, irritability

nan sha shen

Actions

• Nourishes LU/ST yin

• Moistens exterior

• Lighter, less dense, slightly bitter, better at expelling phlegm, better suited for LU

• Cools serious yin xu with fire blazing in the LU/ST

• Generates fluids

Indications

• LU yin xu; dry, nonproductive cough

• Consumptive cough with blood in sputum, hoarseness d/t chronic cough

• Used in aftermath of febrile disease or yin xu causing dryness of the mouth or throat, accompanying constipation

• Dry, itchy skin esp aggravated by cold, dry weather

xi yang shen

Actions

• Nourishes yin, tonifies qi

• Cools fire from yin xu

• Cooler and milder than Ren Shen

Indications

• Yin xu; heat signs, chronic unabating fever, aftermath of febrile disease with weakness, irritability, and thirst

• LU qi and Yin xu with depleted fluids, blazing fire from xu impairing the clearing and dispersing function of the LU; long-term wheezing, coughing up blood-streaked sputum

• LU yin xu; cough, coughing up blood, loss of voice

mai men dong

Actions

• An herb of the HT

• Nourishes yin of LU and ST

• Clears HT heat, calms Shen

• Moistens intestines

Indications

• LU Yin xu; hacking dry cough, cough with thick sputum that is difficult to expectorate, coughing up blood. Most suitable when the cause is pathogenic warm-dry or dryness that has turned to fire

• ST yin xu; Dry tongue and mouth

• Constipation, dry mouth, irritability d/t aftermath of febrile disease or any pattern of yin xu

• Irritability d/t yin xu or warm-heat pathogen disease at ying level

tian men dong

Actions

• Coldest yin tonic

• Nourishes KD, plus LU and ST yin

• Generates fluids

• Moistens intestines

• Wasting and thirsting in all 3 jiaos

Indications

• Yin xu heat in upper jiao; dry mouth

• LU dryness; dry mouth, nonproductive cough, or productive cough with scanty viscous sputum that may be streaked with blood

• LU/KD yin xu; wasting and thirsting, consumption with low-grade fever

• Constipation d/t dry intestines

shi hu

Actions

• Nourishes ST yin

• Clears deficiency heat

Indications

• Yin xu; parched mouth, severe thirst, intractable fever. Commonly occurs when the fluids are injured d/t warm pathogen disease

• Heat from yin xu and depleted fluids with recalcitrant low-grade fever, dry/painful throat, and red tongue with no coat

• KD/LV xu; diminished visual acuity, dizziness, weakness of low back and legs

yu zhu

Actions

• Nourishes LU and ST yin without cloying

• Extinguishes wind (dizziness, tremors, spasms)

• Softens/moistens sinews

• Can help release exterior, does not retain pathogens

• Nourishes HT and calms Shen

Indications

• LU/ST dry heat or yin xu; cough, dry throat, irritability, thirst, steaming bones, wasting and thirsting with intense hunger and constipation

• Wind generated by insufficient fluids leading to pain and spasms in the sinews

• Dizziness caused by yin xu and internal wind

• Used in yin xu constitutions with externally contracted wind-heat

bai he

Actions

• Nourishes yin of the LU and HT

• Calms Shen and clears HT heat

• Can be used as a food

• Key herb for Lily Bulb Disease (Bai He Bing)

Indications

• Dry LU/LU heat; cough and sore throat esp when chronic cough d/t LU heat injuring yin

• Intractable low-grade fever, insomnia, restlessness, irritability in the aftermath of febrile disease

• Palpitations d/t insufficiency of qi and yin

mo han lian

Actions

• Nourishes LV and KD yin without cloying

• Clears heat

• Stops bleeding

• Blackens hair

Indications

• LV/KD yin xu; dizziness, blurred vision, vertigo, premature greying

• Yin xu with bleeding d/t heat in the blood; vomiting/coughing of blood, nosebleeds, blood in the stool, uterine bleeding, and esp bloody urine

nu zhen zi

Actions

• Nourishes LV and KD yin without cloying

• Clears heat

• Benefits eyes

• Blackens the hair

Indications

• LV/KD yin xu; dizziness, spots before eyes, soreness of lower back, premature greying, tinnitus

• Interior heat d/t yin xu

• Diminished visual acuity d/t KD/LV yin xu

hei zhi ma

Actions

• Tonifies LV/KD

• Augments Yin and Blood

• Lubricates intestines

Indications

• LV/KD yin xu; blurred vision, tinnitus, dizziness

• Used to recover from severe illness, increases quantity of breast milk

• Blood or yin xu; headaches, dizziness, numbness, esp numbness that worsens with activity

• Constipation d/t dry intestines or blood xu

gui ban

Actions

• Strongly tonifies LV and KD yin

• Nourishes yin, anchors yang

• Subdues yang

• Strengthens bones

• Cools blood

• Nourishes HT blood

• Stabilizes and unblocks Ren and Chong

Indications

• Liver yang rising; fever, night sweats, dizziness, tinnitus, steaming bones

• LV/KD yin xu; internal wind, facial spasms, tremors of hands and feet

• KD yin xu; low back soreness, weakness in legs, retarded bone development in children, failure of fontanel closing

• Red and/or white vaginal discharge or uterine bleeding

• Excessive menses, uterine bleeding caused by chaotic movement of hot blood

• HT xu; anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness

• Nonhealing sores and ulcerations

gui ban jiao

Actions

• Same properties as Gui Ban

• Richer, more cloying

• Almost exclusively enriches yin

bie jia

Actions

• Tonifies yin, subdues yang

• Invigorates blood, promotes menses

• Clears deficiency heat

• Softens hardness, disperses clumps

Indications

• Yin xu; fever, steaming bones, nightsweats, consumption. Often used in cases of stirring wind

• Chest and flank accumulations causing pain and amenorrhea

• Malarial disorders with palpable masses

• Excessive menses d/t hot blood

• Internal clumping in children