Herbs that Tonify Yin

Shā Shēn (also called Běi Shā Shēn)

Glehniae Radix

 

Glehnia littoralis: Umbelliferae family

"Sand root"

 

Taste:        Sweet

Temp:        Cool

Channels:    Lung, Stomach

Note: adenophora (Nan Sha Shen, southern type) is slightly bitter; glehnia (Bei Sha Shen, northern type) is bland

 

Actions:    

 

• Moistens lungs and stops cough – blood-tinged sputum, dry cough, dry skin, soft voice
  
• Nourishes stomach, generates fluids, clears heat – dry heaves, extreme appetite, constipation, thirst, irritability, tongue cracks, no coat, shiny, dry mouth
  
• Moistens the exterior (skin)
  
• Contains saponins (Adenophora)
  
• For thin, emaciated diabetes patient: excess appetite, excess thirst, excess urination
  
• SERIOUS YIN XU WITH BLAZING FIRE (as in pulmonary tuberculosis)
  

  
   

  
   

  Dose:    9 – 15 g
  

  Contra:    Can generate dampness in an already-damp person
  

Modern:     Expectorant, cardiotonic, antifungal

Identification:    Whitish yellow parsnip-like roots; swell greatly when cooked

Mài Mén Dōng

Ophiopogonis Radix (actually a tuber)

 

"Lush Winter Wheat"

Lily family, commonly called Mondo Grass

 

Taste:        Sweet, sl bitter

Temp:        Sl Cold

Channels:    Heart, Lung, Stomach

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes yin of lungs and stops cough/lung phlegm dryness, useful in lung cancer, AIDS, false-heat conditions
  
• Moistens intestines: dry stool, constipation
  
• Generates fluids of stomach: dehydration, dry mouth/throat
  
• Clears heart heat and calms irritability, nervous conditions, insomnia, red tongue tip, mania, rapid heart rate
  
• Think of it in combination with Tian Hua Fen, Chuan Bei Mu for lung heat phlegm
  

 

Dose:        6-15 g

Contra:    Diarrhea; Bensky says counteracts Yin Er (white wood ear mushroom)

    Don't use when there is damp phlegm or diarrhea

Other uses:    Formula: Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder): Ren Shen, Mai Men Dong, Wu Wei Zi – for concurrent deficiency of qi and yin, primarily affecting the lung: chronic bronchitis, pulmonary TB, post-bypass debility, cardiogenic shock, angina pectoris

Modern:     Mucus-generating (to soften hard sputum)

Identification: Little tan worm-like tubers; some supplies remove and discard the inner core of the tuber because it is thought to be warming, and this outer shell is then "Kai Men Dong"

    Tastes nutty

Tiān Mén Dōng

Asparagi Radix

"Lush Winter Heaven Plant"

 

Taste:        Sweet, bitter

Temp:        Very Cold

Channels:    Lung, Kidney

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes lung yin and clears lung heat and lung fire, generates fluids (MAJOR); controls cough due to consumption
  
• Nourishes kidneys – tidal fever, night sweat, nocturnal emission (men), premature ejaculation, with heat signs, blood in urine
  
• Moistens intestines and generates body fluids
  
• SERIOUS YIN XU – DIABETES WITH BLAZING FIRE – ENCEPHALITIS, SEPTICEMIA
  

  
   

  Dose:    6-15 g
  

  Contra:    Spleen-deficient diarrhea
  

  Modern:     Antibacterial, Antitussive, and laxative; contains saponins
  

      Draining diuretic for painful urination, gout, edema (per Peter Holmes)
  

Identification:    Look like yellow gummi bears, moist and sticky; tastes funky

 

Shí Hú

Dendrobii Herba

 

This is Dendrobium fimbriatum

 

"Bushel of stone"

Orchid family; five separate species of Dendrobium genus are used for this herb

 

Taste:        Sweet, salty, bland

Temp:        Cold

Channels:    Kidney, Stomach

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes yin, clear hear and generates fluids; for yin deficiency after a febrile disease; more for GI tract, not for lung
  
• Nourishes stomach yin; stomach ache, dry heaves
  
• Nourishes kidney yin; low back pain
  

 

Dose:        6-15 g

Other uses:    "Honeymooner's Tea" – replenishes jing fluids

        "Healer's Tea" equal parts Shi Hu and Gan Cao to replenish the energy of the middle – "has great spiritual qualities," quoth Denise Neumark

Modern:     Peter Holmes: Gastric mucosal deficiency, dry dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, gastric/duodenal ulcer

Identification: Golden, shiny, can be straw-like pieces, or flower-pods or tiny curled up little balls; grades range from $9 to $25/pound; South China often substitutes Ephemerantha fimbriata, which is inferior to true Dendrobium. At Golden Flower, the substitute is $8 while the true is $21.

Note:        Peter Holmes compares this to Huo Ma Ren, Cannabis seed, and calls them both "gastrointestinal restoratives" – an interesting re-grouping

 

Yù Zhú

Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma

 

"Jade Bamboo" Lily Family

Same genus as Huang Jing (Polygonatum sibiricum)

 

 

Taste:        Sweet

Temp:        Sl Cold

Channels:    Lung, Stomach

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes yin of lung and stomach; steaming bone disorder, wasting and thirsting – dry heat, dry throat
  
• Nourishes heart yin
  
• Generates body fluids
  
• Extinguishes wind and softens sinews: for pain and spasms due to wind and dryness. Also dizziness caused by yin deficiency with internal wind (when the yin substances are absent, the channels and vessels can fill up with wind, draft, hurricane effects – for this effect, we could say it enters the liver too)
  

 

Dose:        9-15 g

Cooking:    Steaming until black makes it more yin enriching and tonifying to the middle jiao. Then it resembles Huang Jing in action.

Other uses:    Peter Holmes calls this a cardiovascular sedative, and says it is useful for nervous and cardiac conditions of stress, palpitations, unrest and tremors. He calls it sinking and calming in its energies, a "light remedy to nourish the heart and calm the spirit".

Identification: Looks like fresh fettuccine noodles or ones that have been cooked without being separated

Bǎi Hé

Lilii Bulbus

 

"Hundred Meetings"

 

printspast.com

 

 

 

Taste:        Sweet, sl bitter

Temp:        Sl Cold

Channels:    Heart, Lung

 

Actions:    

 

• Moistens lung, clears heat, stops cough
  
• Clears heat from heart and calms shen: irritability, anxiety, sleep loss, agitation, menopausal syndrome
  
• Moves heart qi constraint: stress, palpitations, sleeplessness, restlessness, settles the shen; very comforting to the heart
  

 

 

Dose:        9-30 g

Cooking:    A food herb, this can be cooked in congee or cereal

Identification: Looks like Fritos corn chips, or long curly fingernails!

Formula:    Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal): Bai He, Sheng Di Huang, Shu Di Huang, Mai Men Dong, Xuan Shen, Bei Mu, Jie Geng, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Gan Cao) – to nourish yin, moisten lungs, transform phlegm, stop cough.

 

 

 

Mò Hàn Lián

(formerly called Han Lian Cao)

Ecliptae Herba

 

photo: naris.go.kr

 

Composite/Aster family

 

Taste:        Sweet, sour (astringent)

Temp:        Cool

Channels:    Kidney, Liver

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes and tonifies kidney and liver yin and essence: blurred vision, tinnitus, premature graying, insomnia, memory loss, tooth loss
  
• Cools blood and stops bleeding: blood heat, bleeding gums, uterine bleeding (this is an acute use of this astringent herb)
  
• Can be prepared as a topical swab or compress for bleeding disorders, sores, eczema
  
• A non-oily yin tonic! Easy on the digestion!
  
• ASTRINGENT! YIN DEFICIENCY WITH BLEEDING!
  

 

 

Dose:        9-15 g (some say 15-30 g)

Other uses:    Used for longevity in Ayurvedic medicine; PH classifies this as a "nervous restorative", emphasizing its ability to treat sleep and nervous disorders

Identification:     Non-remarkable, twigs, stems and leaves; easy to grow in gardens as an annual

Formula:    With Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum Fruit), this forms the formula Er Zhi Wan (Two-Ultimate Pill) which is used for a variety of yin-deficient problems such as dry eyes, lackluster hair, etc.

 

Nǔ Zhēn Zǐ

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus

Glossy Privet Fruit

 

"Female Chastity Seed"

What English hedges are made of (I just planted one – fragrant flowers abound!)

 

 

Taste:        Bitter, Sweet

Temp:        Cool

Channels:    Kidney, Liver

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes and tonifies kidney and liver yin – dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, eye blurring, early aging, sore back and knees
  
• Clears heat from deficiency of yin
  
• Improves vision: spots in front of eyes; macular degeneration
  
• Used a lot with Mo Han Lian
  

 

 

Dose:        4.5 – 15 g

Contra:    Yang deficiency syndromes

Modern:     Immune enhancing, anti-oxidant; nervous system restorative; builds white blood cells

Identification: Shiny black berries – kidney shaped!

 

Hēi Zhī Má

Sesami Semen Nigrum

 

 

 

Taste:        Sweet

Temp:        Neutral

Channels:    Kidney, Liver, Large Intestine

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes and fortifies kidney and liver: blurred vision, tinnitus,
  
• Nourishes blood and extinguishes wind; dizziness, headache, numbness, fatigue, loss of stamina, postpartum exhaustion especially with blood dryness and constipation
  
• Moistens and lubricates the intestines
  
• A MILD HERB – BETTER AS A FOOD
  

 

 

Dose:        9-30 g

Contra:     Caution in diarrhea, spleen def

Cooking:    A great food herb that can be incorporated into the diet many ways

Recipe:    Soak ¼ cup seeds in ½ cup honey for a couple days to ferment; then dissolve 2 T. in water and drink in AM for constipation; another idea: almond milk, Hei Zhi Ma, walnuts, Long Yan Rou, mix in blender    

Identification:     Black sesame seeds

 

 

 

Guī Bǎn

Testudinis Plastrum

Ventral shell of tortoise (thinner than Bie Jia, the dorsal shell)

Left: crude; middle: stir-fried; right: macerated in water

 

Taste:        Salty, sweet

Temp:        Cold

Channels:    Heart, Kidney, Liver

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes yin and anchors yang; subdues internal wind and sedates yang rising (spasms of hands, feet or calves, ear ringing, hot flashes)
  
• Benefits kidneys and strengthens bones (sore low back, weak legs, bone development problems); strengthens tendons and muscles; stimulates growth, like deer antler
  
• Cools blood and stops bleeding due to heat in blood – menstrual or uterine bleeding
  
• Nourishes blood and tonifies heart
  
• MAJOR HERB FOR YIN DEFICIENCY WITH FIRE SIGNS (YANG RISING)
  

 

 

Dose:        9-30 g

Contra:    Like all gelatins, can be hard on the digestion; do not use in pregnancy

Cooking:    Pre-decoct 30-60 mins

Identification:     Thinner than Bie Jia, the dorsal shell

 

 

Biē Jiǎ

Trionycis Carapax

Dorsal shell of soft-shell turtle

Crude and stir fried

 

Taste:        Salty

Temp:        Sl Cold

Channels:    Liver, Spleen

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourish yin, anchor yang; internal liver wind movement – tremors, spasms
  
• Invigorates blood, unlike Gui Ban – promotes menstruation (UNIQUE)
  
• Softens and dissolves lumps (SALTY HELPS WIT THIS) - hard glands, organ enlargement; chest and flank accumulations, liver and spleen enlargement
  
• ACTIVATES BLOOD!
  

 

 

Dose:        9-30 g

Contra:    Pregnancy

Cooking:    Pre-decoct 30 minutes; preparing the shell in vinegar increases its softening, dissolving actions

Other uses:    Glue made from both Gui Ban and Bie Jia is very enriching to the yin; Bie Jia glue especially tonifies the blood

Identification:     Compare Gui Ban to Bie Jia in function and appearance

 

 

Yín Ěr (also called Bai Mu Er)

Tremella

"White Wood Ear"

 

There is also a black wood ear mushroom

that can be used for cooking

 

 

Taste:        Sweet, bland

Temp:        Neutral

Channels:    Lung, Stomach

 

Actions:    

 

• Nourishes stomach yin, moistens lungs, generates fluids; yin deficiency with rising yang, emaciation, "five heart heat"
  
• Nourishes lung yin and stops dry nonproductive cough, blood tinged sputum
  

 

 

Dose:        3-9 g

Cooking:    To use as a food, soak 2-3 hours, then cook til soft

Modern:     Immunostimulant; protects against damage from radiation

Identification: Pale yellow crisp puffballs – look like sea anemones