Herbs that Tonify Yin

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic concepts, organ-specific deficiency symptoms, and specific herbal profiles for Yin-tonifying substances.

Herbs that Tonify Yin

Mostly sweet, cold or cool, moistening substances that generate fluids to treat dryness related to Yin Deficiency; they nourish the Lung, Stomach, Liver, or Kidney Yin.

Lung Yin Deficiency

Symptoms include a dry nonproductive cough, loss of voice, thirst, dry throat, and thick/sticky sputum; progresses to chronic dry cough with blood, low-grade tidal fever, or night sweats.

Stomach Yin Deficiency

Characterized by lack of appetite, irritability, thirst, dry mouth, and constipation, often following a severe febrile disease or due to diet/lifestyle.

Liver Yin Deficiency

Common symptoms include diminished visual acuity, dry/dull eyes, night blindness, dizziness, tinnitus, dry nails, and a low-grade sensation of Heat especially at night.

Kidney Yin Deficiency

Presents as dizziness, tinnitus, weakness of the low back/legs, Five Center Heat, afternoon low-grade/tidal fever, and a red/dry tongue with a thin/weak pulse.

Five Center Heat

A specific symptom of Kidney Yin Deficiency characterized by warm palms and warm soles ($5$ Center Heat).

Bei Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix)

Sweet, Sl. Bitter, Sl. Cold; nourishes Lung Yin, clears Lung Heat, and augments Stomach Yin to generate fluids. Dosage: $9-15\,g$.

Nan Sha Shen (Adenophorae Radix)

Sweet, Sl. Bitter, Cold; lighter and better at dispersing Phlegm and moistening the skin ('moistens the pore-ae'). Dosage: $9-15\,g$.

Xi Yang Shen (Panacea Quinquefolii Radix)

American Ginseng; Sweet, Sl. Bitter, Cold. Tonifies Qi and Yin, and cools Fire from Yin Deficiency. Dosage: $3-6\,g$.

Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix)

Sweet, Sl. Bitter, Sl. Cold. Nourishes Heart, Lung, and Stomach Yin, clears Heat, and quiets irritability. Dosage: $6-15\,g$.

Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Radix)

Wild Asparagus Tuber; Sweet, Bitter, VERY Cold. Nourishes Kidney and Lung Yin, used for the $100\,\text{Day Cough}$. Dosage: $6-12\,g$.

Shi Hu (Dendrobii Radix)

Sweet, Bland, Sl. Salty, Sl. Cold. Nourishes Stomach and Kidney Yin, clears Heat from deficiency, and brightens the eyes. Dosage: $6-12\,g$.

Yu Zhu (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma)

Scented Solomon’s Seal; Sweet, Sl. Cold. Nourishes Yin without being cloying; extinguishes Wind to treat aches/pains in Yin Xu patients with Wind Heat. Dosage: $6-15\,g$.

Bai He (Lilii Bulbus)

Lily Bulb; Sweet, Sl. Bitter, Sl. Cold. Enriches Lung Yin, drains Heat from the Heart, and calms the Shen. Dosage: $9-30\,g$.

Lily Disease (Bai He Zheng)

Detailed in the Jin Gui Yao Lue; symptoms include Shen disturbances, palpitations, bitter taste, and dark, scanty urine after a febrile disease.

Mo Han Lian (Ecliptae Herba)

Sweet, Sour, Cool. Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin, cools Heat, stops bleeding, and blackens hair. Dosage: $9-15\,g$.

Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus)

Privet Fruit (Female Chastity Seed); Bitter, Sweet, Cool. Safe for long-term use to tonify Liver/Kidney Yin and brighten vision. Dosage: $9-18\,g$.

Hei Zhi Ma (Sesami Semen Nigrum)

Black Sesame Seed; Sweet, Neutral. Tonifies Liver/Kidney, augments Yin/Blood, and lubricates the intestines for constipation. Dosage: $9-30\,g$.

Gui Ban (Testudinis Plastrum)

Fresh-water turtle shell; Salty, Sweet, Cold. Strongly tonifies Liver/Kidney Yin, anchors Yang, strengthens bones, and unblocks the Ren Mai. Dosage: $15-45\,g$.

Bie Jia (Trionycis Carapax)

Soft-shelled turtle shell; Salty, Sl. Cold. Tonifies Yin, anchors Yang, and specializes in softening areas of hardness/dispersing clumping. Dosage: $9-30\,g$.

Ji Zi Huang (Galli Gigeriae Vitellus)

Chicken Egg Yolk; Sweet, Neutral. Food therapy that nourishes Yin, tonifies Blood, and extinguishes Wind. Dosage: $1-2\,\text{yolks}$.

Bai Yin Er (Tremella)

White Wood Ear; Sweet, Bland, Neutral. Food therapy used to enrich Lung Yin and moisten the skin. Dosage: $3-9\,g\,\text{in decoction}$.