Herbs that Tonify Yin Flashcards
Bei Sha Shen
sweet, sl bitter, sl cold
LU, ST
9-15
1. Nourish the Lu yin, clear LU heat (dry, productive cough from heat injuring the LU yin)
2. Nourish the ST yin, generates fluids (dry/parched mouth, thirst, irritability. Esp when dt pathogenic heat)
Nan Sha Shen
sweet, cool, sl bitter
LU, ST
9-15
1. Moistens the LU, stops coughs (for dry, nonproductive cough dt LU yin def)
2. Nourish the ST, generates the fluids, clears heat (used in aftermath of febril disease or when deficency causes dryness of the mouth or throat. Also for acc sx of constipation.)
3. Moistens the exterior (dry, itchy skin esp aggrivated by cold, dry weather)
Xi Yang Shen
sweet, sl bitter, cold
HT, KD, LU
3-6 (usually cooked seperately in a double boiler)
1. Benefits the qi, generates fluids, and nourishes the yin (yin deficiency with heat signs and chronic, unabated fever)
2. Nurtures the LU yin and clears fire from the LU (for LU qi and yin deficiency with depleted fluids and blazing fire from deficiency, which impairs the clearing and dispersing functions of the LU
Mai Men Dong
sweet, sl bitter, sl cold
HT, LU, ST
6-15
1. Moistens the LU, nourishes the yin (whenever LU yin has been injured. Usually with pathogenic warm dryness or dryness that has transformed into fire)
2. Augments the ST yin and generates fluids (dry tongue and mouth dt insufficient ST yin)
3. Moistens the Intestines (constipation, dry mouth, irritability- aftermath of a febrile disease or any pattern of yin deficiency )
4. Clears the HT and eliminates irritability (irritability dt yin deficiency or a warm-heat pathogen disease at the nutritive level. In both cases, fever and irritability worsen at night)
Tian Men Dong
sweet, bitter, v. cold
KD, LU
6-12
1. Nourishes the KD yin and clears LU heat (yin deficiency with heat signs in the upper burner. Also dry lung patterns)
2. Moistens the LU, nourishes the KD, generates fluids (LU and KD yin def, esp wasting, thirsting d/o in all three burners)
Shi Hu
sweet, sl salty, bland, sl cold
KD, ST
6-12
1. Nourishes the yin, clears heat, generates fluids (yin deficiency with parched mouth, severe thirst, intractable fever. Most common when fluids are injured in the course of a warm pathogen disease)
2. Enriches the KD yin and reduces heat from deficiency (heat of yin deficiency and depleted fluids)
3. Tonifies the KD, augments the essence, and brightens the vision (diminished visual acuity, dizziness, and weakness of lower back and legs associated with KD and LV deficiency)
Yu Zhu
sweet, sl cold
LU, ST
6-15
1. Nourish the yin and moistens dryness (LU and ST dry heat or yin deficiency patterns. Also steaming bone d/o and wasting thirsting d/o with intense hunger and constipation)
2. Extinguishes wind and softens and moistens the sinews (wind generated by insufficient fluids leading to pain and spasms in the sinews. Also for dizziness dt yin deficiency and internal stirring of wind. Can be used for external wind heat invasion and yin deficiency)
Bai He
sweet, sl bitter, sl cold
HT, LU,
9-30
1. Moistens the LU, clears heat, stops cough (dry lung or lung heat coughs and sore throat. Esp with chronic cough dt Lu heat that has injured the yin.
2. Clears the HT and calms the spirit (intractable low grade fever, insomnia, restlessness, and irritability in the aftermath of a febrile disease. Also for palpitations brought on by insufficiency of qi and yin.
Mo Han Lian
sweet, sour, cool
KD, LV
9-15
1. Nourishes and tonifies the LV and KD yin (for LV and KD yin deficiency with dizziness, blurred vision, vertigo, and premature greying of the hair)
2. Cools the blood, stops bleeding (patterins of yin deficiency with bleeding dt heat in blood. Esp bloody urine)
Nu Zhen Zi
bitter, sweet, cool
KD, LV
9-18
1. Nourishes and tonifies the LV and KD (yin deficiency of the LV and KD)
2. Augments the LV and KD and clears heat from deficiency (internally generated heat from yin deficiency)
3. Augments the LV and KD and improves the vision (diminished visiual acuity in patients with LV and KD deficiency)
Hei Zhi Ma
sweet, neutral
KD, LV, LI
9-30
1. Nourishes and fortifies the LV and KD (yin deficiency of LV and KD. Also, help patients recover from severe illness and increase quantity of breast milk)
2. Nourishes the blood and extinguishes wind (H/a, dizziness, and numbness dt blood or yin deficiency. Esp for dizziness that worsens with activity)
3. Moistens and lubricates the intestines (constipation dt dry intestines or blood deficiency)
Gui Ban
salty, sweet, cold
HT, KD, LV
15-45
1. Nourishes the yin and anchors the yang (yin deficiency with ascendant yang. Also yin deficiency of LV and KD that generates internal wind symptoms)
2. Benefits the KD and strenghtens the bones (KD yin deficiency)
3. Nourishes the blood, enriches the yin, stabilizes the Ren and Chong (red and/or white vaginal discharge or uterine bleeding)
4. Cools the blood and stops uterine bleeding (excessive menstruation or uterine bleeding caused by chaotic movement of hot blood)
5. Nourishes the blood, tonifies the HT (HT deficiency with anxiety, insomnia, dt HT deficiency
6. Also for non healing sores and ulcerations,
Bie Jia
salty, sl cold
LV, SP
9-30
1. Nourishes the yin and anchors the yang (yin deficiency with fever, steaming bone disorder, night sweats, consumption. Also, symptoms of internal stirring of LV wind)
2. Invigorates the blood, promotes menstruation, dissipates nodules (sx chest and flank accumulations causing pain and amenorrhea as well as malarial disorders with palpable masses. Also for excessive menstruation dt hot blood)
3. Heavily anchors and causes to descend, unblocks and facilitates the functions of the blood vessels (for problems in children dt internal clumping)
Yin Er
sweet, bland, neutral
LU, ST
3-9
1. Nourishes the ST yin, moistens the LU, generates fluids (for yin deficiency with ascendant yang esp with such sx as emaciation and sensations of heat in five center. Often used for LU consumption. More comonly used as a food than decoctions or pills)
2. Nourish LU yin (LU heat with dry, non productive cough or blood streaked sputum.)
Chu Shi Zi
sweet, cold
LV, KD
6-12
1. Tonifies the LV and KD yin (LV and KD yin deficiency)
2. Clears the LV and clears the eyes (superficial visual obstruction from heat in the LV channel)
3. Tonifies the KD yin and augments the KD qi (edema and urinary difficulty dt stoppage of water associated with KD qi dysfunction)
