Ch 12.4 Tonify Yin herbs

Question 1

(Bei) Sha Shen ***
“North Sand Ginseng”
(Glehnia root)

Answer 1

sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
LU, ST
Nourishes LU yin, clears LU heat; Nourishes ST yin, generates fluids
NOT w/cough d/t WC or internal cold from LU/ST xu

Question 2

Xi Yang Shen***
“Western Ocean Root”
(American ginseng root)

Answer 2

Sweet, slightly bitter, cold
HT, KD, LU
Nourishes yin, generates fluids, tonifies Qi, clears fire from deficiency; Nurtures LU yin, clears LU fire
NOT w/cold dampness obstructing middle, or stagnation fire

Question 3

Mai (Men) Dong ***
“luxuriant winter”
(Ophiopogon tuber)

Answer 3

Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
HT, LU, ST
Moistens the LU, nourishes yin; Augments ST yin, generates fluids; Moistens Intestines; Clears the HT, eliminates IRRITABILITY
NOT w/loose stools from SP xu, phlegm or mucus in LU/ST, or early WC coughs.

Question 4

Tian (Men) Dong ***
“Heavenly gate winter”
(asparagus tuber)

Answer 4

Sweet, bitter, very COLD
KD, LU
Nourishes the KD yin, clears LU heat; Moistens LU, nourishes KD, generates fluids
NOT w/diarrhea from xu or cold

Question 5

Shi Hu ***
“Bushel (goblet) of Stone”
(Dendrobium)

Answer 5

Sweet, slightly salty, bland, slightly cold
KD, ST
Nourishes the yin (KD!), clears heat (like from deficiency), generates fluids; Tonifies the KD, augments essence, and brightens vision
NOT in early stages warm EPF. Caution w/loose stools or thick greasy T d/t SP xu

Question 6

Yu Zhu ***
“Jade bamboo”
(scented Solomon’s seal rhizome, polygonatum)

Answer 6

Sweet, slightly cold
LU, ST
Nourishes yin and moistens dryness (LU/ST yin, w/out being cloying, can be used even in presence of EPF); Extinguishes wind, softens, moistens the sinews
NOT w/SP/ST xu, internal phlegm-damp, or loose stools d/t cold.

Question 7

Mo Han Lian ***
“Dark dye dry lotus”
(Eclipta)

Answer 7

Sweet, sour, cool
KD, LV
Nourishes and tonifies LV and KD yin (for premature greying); Cools the blood, stops bleeding
NOT w/SP and ST cold xu

Question 8

Nu Zhen Zi ***
“Persistent female seed”
(Privet fruit, Ligustrum)

Answer 8

Bitter, sweet, cold
KD, LV
Nourishes (yin) and tonifies the LV and KD; Clears xu heat; Improves vision; tonifies w/out cloying
NOT w/diarrhea from SP/ST cold from deficiency

Question 9

Gui Ban ***
“Turtle shell”
(terrapin shell)

Answer 9

Salty, sweet, cold (15-45g)
HT, KD, LV
Nourishes yin and anchors yang; Benefits the KD, strengthens bones; Nourishes blood, enriches yin, and stabilizes Chong and Ren Mai; Cools the blood and stops uterine bleeding; Nourishes blood, tonifies HT; also for non healing sores and ulcers
NOT during pregnancy or w/CD of ST

Question 10

Bie Jia ***

Chinese soft-shelled turtle shell

Answer 10

Salty, slightly cold (9-30g)
LV, SP
Nourishes the yin, anchors yang; INVIGORATES blood, promotes menstruation, dissipates nodules; Strong anchoring/descending action, unblocks and facilitates functions of blood vessels
NOT during pregnancy or w/cold from SP/ST xu

Question 11

Bai He **
“Hundred meetings”
(Lily bulbs)

Answer 11

Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold (9-30g)
HT, LU
Moistens LU (yin), clears heat, stops cough; Clears heat from HT, calms spirit