Herbs that Tonify the Yang

Patterns of yang deficiency are typically linked to the kidneys, spleen, and heart. Since the kidneys are the seat of primal yang, these patterns are typically treated with herbs that address kidney yang deficiency.

Kidney yang deficiency chiefly manifests as systemic exhaustion and feeling cold. Additionally, the following symptoms are seen:

TIRED:
withdrawal into oneself

COLD:
fear of cold
cold extremities

SORE / WEAK:
a sore, weak lower back
sore, weak lower extremities
contraction, stiffness of joints

SEXUAL /REPRODUCTIVE DYSFUNCTION:
impotence, fertility issues
spermatorrhea
watery vaginal discharge

URINARY DIFFICULTIES:
enuresis
polyuria
nocturia
profuse, clear urine

SWEATING:
Spontaneous or profuse sweating

NO THIRST coupled with DAMP ACCUMULATION

BREATHING:
wheezing / weak breathing

DIARRHEA:
daybreak diarrhea

COMPLEXION:
Pale

Tongue: Pale and enlarged
Pulse: Deep & Weak & Slow

In Western language, yang deficiency is akin to adrenal exhaustion, deep depression, and failure to thrive.

THE HERBS:
Because patterns of cold show up with yang deficiency, the herbs treating yang deficiency tend to be warm or hot. Just two in this group of eighteen are neutral (and two are hot) -- all the rest are warm. Therefore, these herbs are contraindicated for fire patterns and yin deficiency (which often comes with an accompanying heat).

Herbs that treat yang deficiency "have an affinity for the heart, spleen, and kidney." That said, I find it curious, and sort of frustrating, that none of the herbs actually go to the heart, and only two go to the spleen. Of the eighteen herbs, all of them do go to the kidney, eleven also go to the liver, four to the lung, three to the large intestine, and two to the spleen. So, that is interesting, and tells me something else is going on with yang deficiency that involves the liver.

The herbs list:

Lu Rong ("deer antler" - expensive) - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Ge Jie ("clam lizard" - Gecko - expensive) - LUNG, Kidney, NEUTRAL

Dong Chong Xia Cao ("Winter bug summer herb" - Chinese caterpillar fungus - cordyceps - expensive) - LUNG, Kidney, WARM

Ru Cong Rong ("flesh medicine hibiscus" - cistanche -- on CITES list) - LARGE INTESTINE, Kidney, WARM

Suo Yang ("lock yang" or "yang locker" - cynomorium) - LIVER, LARGE INTESTINE, Kidney, WARM

Yin Yang Huo ("horny goat weed") - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Ba Ji Tian ("greatly desire sword heaven") - KIDNEY ONLY - sl. WARM

(Hu) Lu Lu Ba (fenugreek) - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Hu Tao Ren ("barbarian peach kernel" - walnut) - LUNG, LARGE INTESTINE, Kidney - WARM

Bu Gu Zhi ("tonify the bone fat" - psoralea fruit) - SPLEEN, Kidney - HOT!

Yi Zhi Ren ("benefit intelligence seed" - alpinia fruit) -SPLEEN, Kidney, WARM

Xian Mao ("immortal grass" - curculigo) - LIVER, Kidney, HOT, TOXIC

Du Zhong ("stop middle brother" - eucommia bark) - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Xu Duan ("restore the broken" - Himalayan teasel root) - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Gu Sui Bu ("broken bone mender" - drynaria) - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Tu Si Zi ("rabbit string seed" - dodder seed - USDA restricted / noxious weed) - LIVER, Kidney, NEUTRAL

Gou Ji ("dog spine" - cibotium - CITES list) - LIVER, Kidney, WARM

Zi He Che ("purple river vehicle" - dried human placenta - illegal in US) - LUNG, LIVER, Kidney, WARM