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.