Warm Interior Expel Cold: Hu Jiao

hu jiao

胡椒 fructus piperis nigri

this is black pepper.

Large Intestine and Stomach (yangming organs, like Bi Ba, the long pepper)

small dose: 1.5- 3 grams

CI: PREGNANCY

"primarily a digestive herb"

1. Warms the middle / Disperses Cold

* Stomach cold - vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Xiao Hui Xiang

xiao hui xiang

小茴香 fructus foeniculi vulgaris

this is fennel seed. i'm running out of time, so no picture.

Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach

3 - 9 grams

Acrid
WARM (not hot)

"excellent in small doses to adjust the qi of the middle burner and dispel lower burner cold"

1. Disperses Cold / Warms the Liver and Kidneys / Stops pain

* encourages movement in the Liver channel (hence its use in western herbal-ogy for lactation enhancement) or in the lower burner: cold bulging disorders, lower abdominal pain due to cold

2. Regulates qi & harmonizes the stomach

* abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite, vomiting

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Gao Liang Jiang

gao liang jiang

高良姜 rhizoma alpiniae officinari

gao = tall, liang = good, jiang = ginger.

this is galanga.

HOT
Acrid

Goes only to Spleen and Stomach.

For this category, a big dose 3 - 9 grams.

CI: Yin from heat deficiency

1. Warms the middle / Alleviates Pain

* epigastric and abdominal pain
* vomiting
* hiccup
* diarrhea due to cold in the middle burner

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Ding Xiang

ding xiang

丁香 flos caryophylli

this is a clove.

Acrid
WARM (not hot!)

Kidney
Spleen and Stomach

Small dose: just 1 - 3 grams

"Pure yang..." and "aromatic"...for vomiting and hiccups due to cold in the stomach -- upper burner rebellion. Ding Xiang also warms the kidneys / lower burner to treat impotence and a "cold sensation in the vagina."

1. Warms the middle burner / Directs Rebellious qi down

* cold stomach vomiting
* hiccups
* pain
* diarrhea

2. Warms the Kidneys / aids the yang

* impotence
* clear vaginal discharge (womb cold from deficiency)

CI: Internal heat.

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Bi Ba

bi ba

荜茇 fructus piperis longi

bi = piper, ba = grass

HOT
Acrid

Stomach and Large Intestine (yangming)

Small dose: 1.5 - 4.5 grams

My favorite line in Bensky about Bi Ba...it "kills meaty odor." Bi Ba is primarily a food digesting herb that expels stomach cold by warming the middle and driving qi downward. It will release cold that is buried deep in the digestive tract, specifically, cold that is in the Large Intestine.

1. Warms the middle / stops pain

* epigastric & abdominal cold & pain
* vomiting, belching, hiccups

2. Dispels cold qi from the bladder

* turbid urine or urinary dysfunction d/t cold from deficiency in the lower burner

3. Applied as a powder for toothache

CI: Yin deficient heat.

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Chuan Hua Jiao

chuan jiao (PAIN in Middle Burner w/ vomiting and diarrhea due to deficiency cold or roundworms)

川椒 percarpium zanthoxyli bungeani

chuan = river / stream, jiao = spices

Chuan Jiao is the sichuan pepper you get on your food in Chinese restaurants.

Smallish dose: 3 - 6 grams.

Kidney
Spleen / Stomach

HOT (drying)
acrid (dispersing)
TOXIC

CAUTION IN PREGNANCY.
CI for blazing fire due to yin deficiency (it's hot, after all)

"Pure yang!"

"Best at dispersing cold, drying dampness, and killing parasites."

Chuan Jiao...

1. Warms the middle burner (like Wu Zhu Yu) / Disperses Cold / Alleviates Pain

* SP/ST cold from deficiency of yang -- cold/pain in abdomen with vomiting and diarrhea

2. Kills parasites & alleviates abdominal pain

* auxiliary herb for abdominal pain due to roundworms

3. In a compress Chuan Jiao can be used as a vaginal wash for irritation and itching, or for cold qi of the scrotum with swelling.

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Wu Zhu Yu

wu zhu yu (MOSTLY LIVER ORIENTED - cold congealed in channel w/ pain, ALSO FOR SP/ST - diarrhea due to cold, and LEADING FIRE DOWN - stop vomiting)

吴茱萸 fructus evodiae rutaecarpae

wu = name of a warring state, both zhu and yu mean dogwood.

Dosage is small, 1.5 - 4.5 grams.

Acrid (dispersing),
bitter (downward directing),
HOT (and violently drying!),
slightly TOXIC

Wu Zhu Yu travels to the Spleen and Stomach, the Liver, and the Kidneys.
Only two other herbs go to the Liver: Rou Gui and fennel (Xiao Hui Xiang).

"Best at warming the Liver and Stomach to stop nausea, but also very effective for dredging Liver constraint..."

Functions:

1. Warms the Middle (disperses Cold); Promotes movement of qi (and therefore alleviates pain)

see the warm fire in the belly:
* LV and ST channel disorders manifesting as cold congealing or phlegm leading to headache, epigastric pain / nausea, drooling, no taste sensation, pale tongue, WIRY/weak pulse
* bulging cold disorders in LV channel area
* dysmenorrhea

2. Wu Zhu Yu directs rebellious qi down & stops vomiting (for hot OR cold disorders)

* acid regurg / vomiting

3. Wu Zhu Yu warms the Spleen -

* stops diarrhea due to deficient cold of Spleen and Kidneys

Remember, it is TOXIC, so not for long term use. Not for yin deficient heat because it is very drying!!!

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Rou Gui

rou gui

肉桂 cortex cinnamoni cassiae

rou = meat/flesh, gui = cinnamon

Rou gui is the bark of the cinnamon tree. It wears a lot of hats in its mission to warm the body back up. It does so directly, by warming the lower gate; it takes initiative and acts like a real leader as it pushes the warmth through the blood breaking up cold stagnation; and like a wilderness guide, Rou Gui leads the warmth back to where it belongs; and finally it gets girly and acts like a cheerleader encouraging blood tonics to make qi and blood!

HOT (or "very" warm - strongly unblocks cold obstructions), acrid (disperses), and sweet (tonfies)

Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen (all the yin organs except the lungs)

on the CITES list

small dose: just 1.5 to 4.5 grams, added at the end
in powders or pills, just 1-2 grams

CAUTION: PREGNANCY, fire blazing from yin deficiency, excessive heat in the interior

Rou Gui VS Fu Zi: Has many similarities to Fu Zi, but "whereas Fu Zi enters all 12 channels, and particularly assists the governing vessel," Rou Gui sticks to the four yin channels (HT, LV, SP, KD). Because Rou Gui is dispersing, it is not good to use it with the collapse of yang. Fu Zi is the herb for collapse of yang - it is primarily warming, and only mildly acrid. "Rou Gui is slower acting than Fu Zi, but more tonifying."

Rou Gui VS Gui Zhi: Rou Gui, being a root, is good for the lower burner and interior warming / stopping pain. Gui Zhi, being the cinnamon twig, is good for the upper body, and dispersing cold from the exterior.

Functions:

1. Fortifies Kidney and Spleen Yang / Warms Heart Yang / Fortifies Yang

* for the many problems associated with the dimming of the flame in the gate of vitality / waning of Kidney yang:

* coldness: aversion to, cold limbs, weak back, impotence, frequent urination
* SP / KD yang weakness: abdominal pain/cold, lack of appetite, diarrhea
* wheezing (KD not grasping qi)
* deficient Heart Yang causing painful obstruction in the chest (oh, cold, cold heart!)

2. Disperses Deep Cold / Warms and Unblocks Channels and Vessels / Alleviates Pain

* when deep cold causes qi stagnation or blood stasis:
period troubles: amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea;
cold-damp bi
yin-type boils, and yucky sores that don't heal

* it enters the blood & might be used in very small doses to encourage the blood-moving action of other herbs.

3. Rou Gui takes the fire by the hand and leads it back to its source, the lower jiao:

* deficient yang rising up (flushed face, wheezing, severe sweating), weak/cold lower limbs, deficient/rootless pulse. THIS IS TRUE COLD / FALSE HEAT! Ohhh! Or called heat above, cold below.


4. Encourages the creation of qi and blood

* used in conjunction with blood tonics, like a cheerleader.

Warm Interior Expel Cold: Gan Jiang

gan jiang

干姜 dry rz zingiberis

gan = dried, jiang = ginger

HOT and ACRID

Heart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach
(the only one from this group that goes to the Lung; and only one of three that go to the Heart)

"The principal herb for warming the middle burner."

1. Warms the Middle and Expels Cold

* warms spleen and stomach in excess AND deficient cold due to insufficient yang qi
* dispels wind and damp that seep into lower burner

(What this means is diarrhea caused by cold.)

2. Rescues devastated yang and expels interior cold

* very weak pulse
* cold limbs

3. Warms the Lungs / Transforms thin mucous

* thin, watery, white sputum

4. Warms the channels / Stops bleeding

* chronic bleeding, pale in color - especially uterine bleeding - accompanied by ashen face, cold limbs, soggy, thin pulse (CI BLEEDING FROM HEAT)

CI: Yin deficient heat
CAUTION: PREGNANCY


THREE GINGERS:

Gan Jiang (dried ginger): HOT, Treats Interior Cold - warms middle jiao to relieve diarrhea

Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger): WARM, Treats exterior Wind Cold - warms middle jiao to relieve nausea

Pao Jiang (soaked ginger): Warms channels, Stops bleeding, Treats deficiency and cold

Warm Interior / Expel Cold: Fu Zi

fu zi

附子 radix laterialis praeparatus aconiti carmichaeli

Supposedly fu zi translates to "appendage" in English. When I look up the characters separately, it translates into "rely on seed."

One of the funniest parts of TCM school is the way people talk about the herb Fu Zi. They talk about it a lot because it's supposed to be really hot. And then someone will say casually, almost flippantly, "It's just aconite." Like they are saying, "It's just water" or some other commonly known, harmless substance. And the first person will then say (a little quietly, because of course they are the ONLY person in the whole universe who doesn't know what aconite is), "Um, what's aconite?" And the other person will look confused. "I don't know." They finally admit after a little pause.

Well, what the heck IS aconite, dammit!

According to Wikipedia:

Aconitum (pronounced /ˌækəˈnaɪtəm/ A-co-ní-tum^[1]), known as aconite, monkshood, wolfsbane, leopard's bane, women's bane, Devil's helmet or blue rocket,^[2] is a genus of flowering plant belonging to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). There are over 250 species of Aconitum.

Since there are OVER 250 SPECIES of Aconite (and it's a plant, by the way!) no wonder no one knows what aconite is. Here is what Wikipedia says about aconite, the Chinese herb Fu Zi:

Aconitum carmichaelii is a flowering plant species of the genus Aconitum in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to East Asia, particularly in China and Japan. It is commonly known as (traditional Chinese: 烏頭附子; pinyin: Wu-tou Fu-zi) in Chinese, and 鳥兜 (トリカブト Torikabuto) in Japanese. It is considered a medicinal herb by some and the root is most commonly used to effect circulation, restore yang and expel cold. It is sometimes used topically in Dit Da Jow liniment. If not prepared properly by a trained person, it is deadly when taken internally.

Aconite is pretty! That's what it is! And the Zi in "Fu Zi" means seed, but I think it should mean purple in this case!

So, now that THAT'S cleared up, the functions of Fu Zi:

It goes to the Heart, Kidney, and Spleen.
It is HOT, Acrid, and TOXIC.

IMPORTANT: Some say it is only hot if combined with Gan Jiang (dried ginger).

Bensky says Fu Zi is "pure yang" (though looking at the picture of it, I might refute that claim just a little - it sure is pretty!). It is also considered one of the strongest herbs in the pharmacopoeia, and can rescue and revive "devastated yang in cases of lesser yin disorders, for warming and tonifying seriously weak yang qi regardless of which organ is involved."

1. Revives Yang and Rescues from Rebellion:

* devastated yang with abundant cold yin (diarrhea, chills, faint pulse occurring after severe vomit, diarrhea, sweating)
* assists heart yang to unblock vessels, improves circulation, and tonifies KD yang to augment fire and avoid loss of primal yang

2. Warms fire, assists yang

* problems associated w/ weakness of Heart, Spleen, or Kidney yang

3. Disperses cold, warms channels, alleviates pain

* wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially when COLD predominates
* cold blocking organs, channels, sinews, bones, blood vessels
* yin-flat abscesses

CI: PREGNANCY; those who are yin deficient but have abundant yang; true heat & false cold!

In order to reduce its toxicity, pre boil it for thirty to sixty minutes, please. Overdose involves nervous system symptoms (burning, numbness of mouth and tongue, numb limbs, body; restlessness, dizziness, blurry vision, loss of vision (whoa!); DIGESTIVE symptoms: severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, salivation; and CIRCULATORY symptoms: palps, low blood pressure, hypothermia, arrythmias, circulatory failure, trouble breathing, shock and...DEATH!

Warm Interior & Expel Cold

Used for treating interior cold - internally generated or acquired through invasion of cold into the organs from the exterior. The herbs will disperse the cold and enliven the yang. These herbs are best used in cases where the yang has receded and the yin is over abundant casuing the cold to stagnate, and therefore the qi to stagnate leading to abdominal pain, and SP qi deficiency symptoms.

Some warm interior herbs can rescue the yang from collapse, to warm the lungs, and to warm the liver. But the primary pattern is SP/ST cold (nausea, vomiting, belching, diarrhea, feelings of cold in abdomen and chest).

Related to herbs that tonify yang, herbs that warm the interior are more active , acrid, and drying. They can lead to fluid depletion if used without caution when yin deficiency, blood loss or heat already exist.

1. Fu Zi - HOT and TOXIC - Kidney, Spleen, Heart - aconite - hot only if combined w/ Gan Jiang

2. Gan Jiang - HOT and ACRID - Heart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach - dried ginger

3. Rou Gui - HOT and ACRID and SWEET - Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen - cinnamon bark

4. Wu Zhu Yu - HOT and ACRID and BITTER and TOXIC - Kidney, Liver, Spleen, Stomach

5. Chuan Hua Jiao - HOT and ACRID and TOXIC - Kidney, Spleen, Stomach - sichuan pepper

6. Bi Ba - HOT and ACRID - Large Intestine and Stomach (yangming) - long pepper

7. Ding Xiang - WARM and ACRID - Kidney, Spleen and Stomach - Cloves

8. Gao Liang Jiang - HOT and ACRID - Spleen and Stomach - galanga

9. Xiao Hui Xiang - WARM and ACRID - Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach - Fennel Seed

10. Hu Jiao - HOT and ACRID - Large Intestine and Stomach - Pepper

Fennel and Cloves: only two warm herbs, the rest are hot.
Fu Zi, Wu Zhu Yu, Chuan Hua Jiao are all Toxic.

Go to Heart (3): Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, and Rou Gui

Go to Kidney (6): Fu Zi, Rou Gui, Wu Zhu Yu, Chuan Hua Jiao, Ding Xiang, Xiao Hui Xiang

Go to Large Intestine and Stomach: Bi Ba and Hu Jiao (the two peppers go to the yangming, and only two herbs that don't go to the spleen)

Go to Spleen and Stomach (both) (6): Gan Jiang - dried ginger, Wu Zhu Yu, Chuan Hua Jiao - sichuan pepper, Ding Xiang - cloves, Gao Liang Jiang - galanga, Xiao Hui Xiang - fennel seed

Go to Spleen only (2): Fu Zi - aconite, Rou Gui - cinnamon bark

Go to Liver (3): Rou Gui - cinnamon bark, Wu Zhu Yu, and Xiao Hui Xiang - fennel seed

Go to Lungs (1): Gan Jiang

Tonify Yang: Zi He Che

zi he che

紫河车 placenta hominis

zi = purple, he = river, che = vehicle

What is the vehicle for the zi he (purple river)? Well, it's the placenta. I know it's not politically feministically Berkeley correct, but ... yeech. I'm not really gunning to chew up my own (or anyone else's) blubbery bag of bloody yuckiness that flops out after birth. Still, it's good for you! Maybe dried up and put in pill form, I might consider it if I really needed it. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as a practitioner if it would help someone. After all, it's what fed us from gamete to baby. Must have a lot of power in that blubbery bag of blood. Still. Yeech.

Considered sweet, salty, and warm, Zi He Che goes to Kidney, Liver, and also to the Lung. Dosage is just 2 to 3 grams. It is to be used with caution long term, and not to be used as a stand alone herb for yin deficient heat. Too warming, I suppose.

It makes sense then, that Zi He Che is good for tonifying qi, blood, and essence, deficiency, emaciation, steaming bones, night sweats, impotence, infertility, wheezing, and insufficient lactation. It does indeed make sense. Maybe I should get over it.

"A medicinal that tonifies dual deficiency of yin and yang...restor(ing) the root and return(ing) the primal qi."

1. Tonifies Liver, Kidneys / Augments Essence

* infertility, impotence, spermatorrhea, decreased libido, low back pain, lightheadedness, tinnitus

2. Augments qi / Nourishes Blood

* emaciation, pallor, insufficient lactation (after major sickness), unrelenting seizures

3. Tonifies Lung qi / Augments Kidney Essence

* acute or chronic cough and wheezing due to Lung and Kidney deficiency; consumption with night sweats.

No pictures with this one.

Tonify Yang: Gou Ji

gou ji

狗脊 rhizoma cibotii barometsis

Gou Ji looks like jerky treats for your dog. Its name means dog spine. The plant it comes from is a fern, which looks spine like. Gou Ji is on the CITES list, so we don't have a sample in our kits.

9 - 15 grams
Kidney & Liver
WARM
bitter & sweet

Before Gou Ji (sore back and urinary incontinence):

Gou Ji's sweetness tonifies the kidney and liver (I'll bet my dogs can do that, too) and Gou Ji's bitterness dries dampness. It is warm (like my dogs) and so promotes movement and unblocks stagnation (and my dogs right now are eyeballing me to get my ass out of this chair and take them to the park, or at the very least, play fetch with the toy squirrel). Because of Gou Ji's involvement in the liver channel, it tonifies the sinews and bones. The fact that it goes to the kidneys brings its tonification function to the lower back and knees. It expels cold, wind, and damp. Functionally, it is compared with the horny goat (yin yang huo). Not surprisingly, the horny goat is better at making you horny, while the dog spine - Gou Ji - excels at treating sinews and bones (powerfully expelling wind damp because dogs expect you to get out there and play and walk and run and chase).

Three primary functions, already mentioned above, but presented here in a linear manner:

1. Tonifies Liver and Kidneys, strengthening sinews and bones

* stiff, sore, weak lower back, spine, lower extremities

2. Expels wind-damp

* wind-damp bi (sore and numb - which might happen after you romp around with the wild dogs)

3. Warms and Stabilizes the Kidneys

* incontinence (will help you to be house trained!)
* vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea (no cute comments here)

After Gou Ji:

Tonify Yang: Tu Si Zi

tu si zi

菟丝子 semen cuscutae chinensis

tu = dodder / creeper, si = silk, zi = seed

NEUTRAL!

(sexual function, vision, spleen deficient diarrhea, calms fetus)

acrid & sweet

Kidney and LIVER

CI: Yin def. heat (even though it is neutral, it tonifies yang); scanty, dark urine

6 - 15 grams

Not in our kits because Tu Si Zi is considered a noxious weed.

"An outstanding herb!" Why??

* It tonifies both yin AND yang! And does it without gumming you up.
*Like radiant heated floors, it warms you without drying you out.
* Tu Si Zi secures the essence while moving the primal yang.
* Tu Si Zi has a wide scope of action - very versitle (remember, it's neutral, so can warm or cool, tonify or faciliate, dry or moisten
* Tonfies Kidneys, nourishes Liver, warms Spleen, assists Stomach

Who cares if it grows all the over the place! If only people knew the benefits of Tu Si Zi, it wouldn't be a problem - it'd get picked alright!

Specifically, its functions are:

1. Tonifies Kidney Yang, Augments Yin, Secures Essence and Urine

* SEXUAL FUNCTION: impotence, nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation, vaginal discharge

* URINARY FUNCTION: urinary frequency

* PAIN: sore, painful back

* Tinnitus

2. Tonifies Kidneys and Liver and improves VISION

* dizziness, blurred vision, spots before eyes/floaters

3. Benefits Spleen and Kidneys

* SPLEEN DEFICIENCY: diarrhea/loose stools, lack of appetite

4. Calms Fetus

Tonify Yang: Gu Sui Bu

BEFORE GU SUI BU:



........ GU SUI BU......for sudden hair loss, fractured bones, loose teeth! All fixed up, you'll be ready to put on your Blue swede shoes, which rhymes with Gu Sui Bu (sorta) and you can go out and dance (and your blood will be even more invigorated!) the new dance called the Gu Sui Bu with your lovely hair flowing, fixed fractured leg a jiggin', and your teeth won't fall out on the dance floor (smile!). Go GU SUI BU....!

gu sui bu

骨碎补 radix dryariae

gu = bone, sui = busted, bu = patch

A bandage for your bones! It kind of looks like a band-aid, too.

LIVER, and Kidneys

Warm and Bitter

9-21 grams

"Primarily used for repairing shattered bones" assisted by ability to invigorate the blood. It can also be thought of as a band-aid for the teeth because it directs floating yang down. Because of its actions in the blood, Gu Sui Bu should not be used in cases of blood deficiency, blood fire, or if there is no blood stasis.

1. Tonifies Kidneys / Strengthens Bones:

* weak low back & knees
* diarrhea
* tinnitus
* loose, painful teeth
* bleeding gums d/t KD deficiency

2. Promotes mending of Sinews & Bones

* traumatic injuries involving fractures or torn ligaments

3. Stimulates hair growth (alopecia)


After Gu Sui Bu:

Tonify Yang: Xu Duan

xu duan

续断 radix dipsaci

xu = continue
duan = interrupt

"reconnect what is broken"

LIVER and Kidney
9-18 grams

Warm, bitter, acrid, sweet

CI: Painful obstruction from wind-damp-heat

(sinews & bones; invigorates blood; unblocks collaterals; alleviates pain; calms fetus - LV and KD able to now nourish the Chong and Ren, and stop uterine bleeding due to deficiency)

These little pieces of bark can be imagined as building a structure, like a house. A metaphor for Xu Duan's ability to nourish the Liver and Kidneys, providing support to the the sinews and bones. How do you know your house needs a retrofit? Well, you have:

* sore and painful lower back and knees
* Stiff joints
* weak legs

Xu Duan can tonify without causing stagnation, too! That's because it

2. Promotes the movement of blood, thereby removing obstruction and alleviating pain, while reconnecting the sinews and bones (generating flesh) -- taken internally or applied topically for:

* trauma
* breast sores
* pain and swelling in lower back and limbs from trauma

3. Habitual miscarriage due to deficiency bleeding can be prevented. Xu Duan will calm the fetus, stop bleeding during pregnancy that is due to deficiency in the Liver and Kidneys. They will now have enough support to support the Chong and Ren.

CI: May antagonize lei wan

Tonify Yang: Du Zhong

du zhong: LIVER and Kidneys ("the child makes the mother full")
(sinews & bones; smooth flow of qi and blood; calms fetus; dizziness due to LYR)

杜仲 cortex eucommiae ulmoidis

du = stop

zhong = go between / middle brother

WARM, Sweet, Acrid

Kidney and LIVER


1. Sinews and Bones (tonifies Liver and Kidneys):
In one ancient text, it says that Du Zhong is the bark of wood and in "its midst are silken threads which connect without breaking: the image of sinews, thus it can reconnect sinews and bones." In another passage of a different text, it explains Du Zhong's role in benefiting the Liver by moistening and tonifying it: "The child makes the mother full, so it also tonifies the Kidneys."

* weak, sore, painful lower back and knees
* fatigue
* urinary frequency

2. Promotes circulation / Aids in smooth flow of qi and blood:
Again, this is due to its fortification of the liver and is used for

* cold, damp, swollen back pain.

3. Calms the fetus (it kind of looks like a net that could be used to line the uterus, holding in the fetus, providing a warm lining)

* cold from deficiency of Kidneys w/ bleeding during pregnancy
* prevents miscarriage
* significant back pain in pregnancy

4. LYR causing dizziness and lightheadedness

CI: Heat from yin deficiency

Tonify Yang: Xian Mao

xian mao

仙茅 rhizoma curculiginis orchiodis

xian = immortal mao = grass

HOT, acrid, TOXIC

Goes to the Kidney (according to Bensky). Dennis says it also goes to the liver.

Xian Mao....Harsh nature. STRONGLY tonifies Kidney yang, stimulating the fire at the gate of vitality:

* impotence, female and male infertility (cold womb or cold essence), irregular menstruation, nocturnal emissions

* incontinence

Xian Mao also Expels Cold and Eliminates Damp:

* cold damp bi with general pain
* weak bones and sinews (maybe why Dennis says it goes to the Liver)
* lower back and knee pain
* cold lower back and abdomen


Xian Mao is contraindicated in yin deficient heat (it's hot), and not for long term use (it's toxic...daily dose over 12 grams should not be exceeded. Recommended dose is 3 to 9 grams. Signs of overdose include numb limbs and swollen tongue.)

Tonify Yang: Yi Zhi Ren

yi zhi ren

益知仁 fructus alpiniae oxyphyllae

yi = benefit

zhi = knowledge

ren = benevolence (according to the dictionary); nut (according to Bensky)

Funny the name of this herb makes it sound like it will make you smarter, but the indications are all about not pooping or peeing your pants!

To remember the function I will just picture Yi Zhi Ren, which looks like little nuts, in a diaper.
or a big nut in a diaper
Yi Zhi Ren warms the Kidney and retains the ESSENCE to hold in urine

Yi Zhi Ren warms the spleen and stops diarrhea

Yi Zhi Ren is warm and acrid, and is contraindicated for lower burner problems due to heat.

IMPORTANT COMPARISION Bu Gu Zhi VS Yi Zhi Ren Like Bu Gu Zhi, it goes to the Spleen and Kidneys. Yi Zhi Ren and Bu Gu Zhi are similar in function, but Yi Zhi Ren more directly and strongly warms the Spleen yang, while Bu Gu Zhi more directly warms the Kidney yang. Yi Zhi Ren is more appropriate for diarrhea due to cold Spleen /Stomach, and Bu Gu Zhi more appropriate for cock's crow diarrhea due to Kidney yang deficiency.

Tonify Yang: Bu Gu Zhi

bu gu zhi

bu = restore
gu = skeleton
zhi = grease / lard

补骨脂 fructus psoraleae corylifoliae

Kidneys
Spleen

acrid
bitter
very warm or HOT

Summary of functions in pictures:
Bu Gu Zhi for Impotence

Bu Gu Zhi for Wheezing (KD not grasping qi)


Bu Gu Zhi for Diarrhea due to yang deficiency in Spleen and Kidneys

And Bu Gu Zhi topically for vitiligo (skin pigment loss) and alopecia and psoriasis.


In Chinese medicine, Bu Gu Zhi is said to astringe kidneys to hold in primal yang, and astringe spleen to stop diarrhea. Through astringing and warming the Kidneys and Spleen, Bu Gu Zhi assists with the following symptoms / conditions:

impotence / premature ejaculation
enuresis / urinary frequency
cold painful lower back / weak lower back & extremities

helps Kidneys grasp qi (wheezing)

stops diarrhea due to cold from deficiency in spleen and kidneys

and finally, Bu Gu Zhi is said to help with pigmentation loss in the skin (vitiligo), alopecia (sudden hair loss), and psoriasis when applied topically


Bu Gu Zhi, and isolated chemical compounds found in it, have been studied by the "Western" biomedical scientific community (research occurring in Asia as well). The seed has been found to serve as a Dopamine transporter, Noradrenaline transporter, and reuptake inhibitor; it may be developed into new medicines for disorders such as Parkinson's disease, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or cocaine addiction. Other research has shown that Bu Gu Zhi is associated with hepatotoxicity in some individuals (toxic to the liver) and should be used with caution, particularly when applying it topically.

It is contraindicated for use with yin deficient heat constipation (due to its very warm / hot nature).

Tonify Yang: Hu Tao Ren

hu tao ren (walnut)

胡桃仁 semen juglandis regiae

Lung, Large Intestine, Kidney

WARM

Sweet

9-15 grams in decoctions; 9-30 grams eaten by themselves

Because walnut tonifies the Kidneys and is warming it is in the Tonify Yang category, but looking at the indications it does not explicitly tonify yang. Walnuts, as we know, are oily and moist, and rather gentle. They serve as an "assistant herb" or as "food therapy." Specific indications:

A. Tonifies Kidneys / Strengthens Back and Knees

1. Cold, painful back and knees
2. Frequent urination

B. Warms the Lungs / Helps Kidneys to Grasp Qi

1. Lung deficient chronic cough / wheezing that worsens on exertion

C. Moistens Intestines and Unblocks Bowels

1. Elderly or fluid damaged constipation

Tonify Yang: (Hu) Lu Lu Ba

hu lu ba ("foreign reed")

胡庐巴 semen trigonellae foeni-graeci

fenugreek seed

4.5 - 9 grams

Liver and Kidney

WARM
Bitter

For some reason, Fenugreek (or its zangy Chinese name Hu Lu Ba) is not included in the Mayway herb kit. I guess most people already know what it looks like, but it is not coming to my mind as something familiar. All my memory holds is an association with a bad tasting licorice thing. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

Hu Lu Ba's indications:

A. Warms Kidneys / Disperses Damp Cold / Alleviates Pain:

1. Abdominal / Flank Distension and Pain (due to cold type bulging disorders)
   
2. Bulging Disorders (in abdomen and testicles)
   
3. Cold Damp Leg qi (soreness and swelling, heaviness, cold, pain)
   

This is the first herb of the tonify yang category that does not explicitly treat impotence and infertility. Bensky gives a tongue and pulse that go along with this herb:

T: white, greasy coating
P: deep and slow

If I knew what a "cold type bulging disorder" looked like, I would definitely post a picture. Here's a bulging Greek anyway. Oh, that sounds bad.

Tonify Yang: Ba Ji Tian

Ba Ji Tian

Ba = desire ji = blade tian = heaven / sky / god

巴戟天 Ba Ji Tian

Kidney

Slightly warm

Acrid and sweet

6-15 grams

Also known as Indian Mulberry, I think Ba Ji Tian looks like segmented coyote poo, but I tasted it, and it is pretty tasty and sweet. Similar to Yin Yang Huo, Ba Ji Tian also treats impotence and infertility, as well as wind-cold-damp and strengthens the sinews and bones. Since it is moistening, it is not overly drying. As it is gentle and mild, it is often used with other herbs to tonify the yang without injuring the yin (such as rou cong rong, which is definitely moistening and goes to the Large Intestine).

Specific Indications:

A. Tonifies Kidneys / Fortifies Yang:

1. impotence / infertility (Though this herb has been in use since the Shennong Ben Cao Jing, we now know that it works due to studies using rats...poor rats...)
   
2. premature ejaculation
3. urinary frequency / incontinence
4. irregular menstruation
5. cold/painful lower abdomen
6. weak, sore back

B. Disperses Wind-Damp / Strengthens Sinews and Bones

1. Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Syndrome w/ Kidney deficiency
2. Tight muscles in lower backs and legs
3. Joint pain / difficulty moving

Contraindicated with Damp-Heat, or yin deficient heat. Also contraindicated with urinary difficulties. It may antagonize Dang Shen.

Above, very strong sinews and bones, and he looks pretty fertile due to Ba Ji Tian.

Tonify Yang: Yin Yang Huo

yin yang huo (huo means "bean leaf" because it looks like a bean leaf...apparently)

阴阳霍 herba epimedii

Liver and Kidney

WARM

Sweet and acrid

Yang/Kidney tonification (impotence) and Wind Damp Cold Bi

Another name for this herb is "licentious (or horny) goat weed" because the goats would eat it and get to frolicking good times. This gives a good indication what it is used for. A less sexy name for it is "immortal spirit Spleen."

What is special about this herb, besides its effect on stoking the fire at the gate of vitality, is its ability to disperse wind-damp-cold in painful bi syndrome. Meanwhile, as it drives out the obstructions, it is also repairing the damage done by them (it does go to the liver, after all, which I believe governs the sinews). It's all true! (Bensky said so!)

Summary of functions:

A. Tonifies Kidneys / Fortifies Yang:

1. impotence / infertility
2. frequent urination
3. withdrawal
4. painful cold in lower back and knees

B. Dispels Wind-Damp-Cold / Unblocks the flow of yang qi (note, that it is ACRID)

1. Spasms / Cramps in hands / feet
2. Joint pain / Difficult movement
3. Numbness in extremities
4. Numbness, contraction following wind stroke

Ying Yang Huo is contraindicated in cases of yin deficient fire. It also should not be decocted for a long time -- it can injure the yin (it is very drying -- I encourage you to eat a little piece).