INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
| Common English: | Chinese Yam Mountain Yam Rhizome |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet |
Neutral |
Kidney Lung Spleen |
9-30g Large dosage: 60-240g Diabetes: up to 250g Tincture: 2-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Spleen, nourishes Stomach Yin and stops diarrhea |
Spleen or Stomach Deficiency with diarrhea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating and anorexia |
Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin |
Lung Qi and/or Yin Deficiency with chronic cough |
Tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing |
Kidney Qi Deficiency with spermatorrhea, urinary frequency and vaginal discharge Xiao Ke due to Qi and Yin Deficiency |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Dry-fried Fr. Hordei Germinatus or Massa Medicata Fermentata |
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Spleen Deficiency with loose watery stools. |
A weak Spleen and Stomach with Food Stagnation. |
A weak Spleen and Stomach with Qi Stagnation. |
Rz. Polygonati Odorati |
Endoconcha Sepiae |
Cx. Phellodendri or Cx. Phellodendri |
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency with Stomach Yin Deficiency. |
Spleen Deficiency with profuse, thin, continuous and clear or red vaginal discharge. |
Spleen Deficiency with Damp-Heat leading to thick, yellow, foul-smelling vaginal discharge. |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Rx. Scrophulariae |
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Vaginal discharge due to Spleen Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation. |
Lung Deficiency with coughing. |
Coughing and wheezing without sputum or with scanty, thick sputum. |
Rx. Codonopsis |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
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Spleen and Kidney Deficiency with fatigue, weakness, anorexia and watery stools. Lung and Spleen Deficiency with a cough with thin watery sputum, anorexia, fatigue and weight loss. |
Kidney Deficiency with spermatorrhea and night sweats. |
Kidney Deficiency with diarrhea, spermatorrhea and vaginal discharge. |
Rx. Trichosanthis |
Rx. Astragali |
Talcum |
Warm febrile disease or Xiao Ke with irritability and thirst. |
Irritability and thirst from wasting and thirsting disorder. |
Heat in the Upper Jiao with thirst and diarrhea. |
Fr. Arctii |
Rx. Astragali |
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Cough and dyspnea due to Yin Deficiency affecting the Lungs. |
Lowers plasma glucose levels to treat diabetes mellitus especially due to Qi and Yin Deficiency. |
Decreased appetite and lack of energy due to Spleen Deficiency. |
Rx. Ginseng |
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
Endoconcha Sepiae |
Poor appetite, loose stools and diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency. |
Leukorrhea due to Spleen Qi Deficiency with Liver Qi Stagnation. |
Red and white vaginal discharge. |
Fr. Corni |
Rx. Scrophulariae |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Leukorrhea due to Spleen and Kidney Deficiency. |
Lung Yin Deficiency with Fluid Deficiency and Heat. |
Difficulty inhaling due to Kidney Unable to Grasp Qi. |
Rx. Astragali |
Gypsum Fibrosum |
Gypsum Fibrosum |
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) with more pronounced polyuria. |
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) with Internal Heat. |
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) with more pronounced polyphagia and polydipsia. |
Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae |
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Frequent urination and nocturnal emissions. |
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- This herb can be used for a long period of time.
- This herb can be used in place of cortisone, prednisone and progesterone.
- It adds muscle mass.
- Because this herb moistens and is neither hot nor cold, it benefits both the Yin and and Yang of the Lungs and Kidneys.
- Shan Yao, Fr. Jujube Da Zao, and Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu tonify Qi. Bai Zhu is drying and does not moisten. Shan Yao is neutral and tonifies Spleen Yin while Da Zao tonifies both Qi and Blood in the Spleen and Stomach.
- Both Shan Yao and Sm. Nelumbinis Lian Zi are sweet, neutral, astringent, enter and strengthen the Spleen and Kidneys and astringe the Intestines and Lower Jiao. They are often combined to treat diarrhea due to Spleen or Kidney Deficiency leading to spermatorrhea, enuresis or vaginal discharge. Shan Yao enters the Lung channel to tonify Lung Yin, stopping coughs due to Deficiency consumption. It is primarily a tonic, augmenting both Qi and Yin of the Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys. Lian Zi also nourishes the Heart, calms the Spirit, stops bleeding and is often used to reestablish communication between the Heart and Kidneys which has led to palpitations, insomnia, spermatorrhea, deficient irritability, wasting and thirsting disorder and bleeding disorders such as hematuria or incessant uterine bleeding.
- Dry-fried Dioscoreae Chao Shan Yao more strongly augments the Spleen, harmonizes the Stomach and tonifies the Kidneys to astringe Jing. It is used to stop diarrhea, loose stools, vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea.
- Earth-fried Dioscoreae Tu Chao Shan Yao is good for tonifying the Spleen and harmonizing the Stomach and is most often used for cases of weak Spleen with anorexia, fatigue and diarrhea, but is equally suitable for vaginal discharge.