Properties: Bitter, pungent, slightly warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Kidney and Lung
Extraordinary Vessels: Yin Qiao
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Calms the Spirit, sedates the Heart and clears the channel joining the Heart and Kidney
Insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness, and disorientation.
Most effective for excessive brooding or pent-up emotions
Lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys
- Expels Phlegm, opens the Orifices, clears the Lungs and stops coughing
Phlegm Blocking the Heart Orifices with emotions and mental disorientation, spasms or seizures
Phlegm Obstructing the Lungs with copious sputum, especially when it is difficult to expectorate
Angina pectoris
- Reduces abscesses and dissipates swellings
Boils, abscesses, sores, and swollen, painful breasts (powdered and applied topically or taken with wine)
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, and prevent forgetfulness. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-9g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for excess fire or phlegm-heat because of its warm nature. It should be used with cautions for gastritis and duodenal ulcer because it will stimulate the stomach and intestine. Unprepared will irritate the stomach mucosa causing nausea and vomiting so is usually prepared with Gan Cao (Zhi Yuan Zhi) or honey (Mi Zhi Yuan Zhi)
Notable Constituents:
- Tenuifolin
A group of terpenoids that inhibit beta-amyloid synthesis responsible for the amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease, and improve cognitive function by acetylcholine esterase inhibition and increased norepinephrine and dopamine production.
- Senegenin
Antioxidative and antiinflammatory studied for cognitive enhancing effects where it has shown inhibitory activity in an α-synuclein cell model of Parkinson's disease, attenuated hepatic ischemia-reperfusion induced cognitive dysfunction in rats and enhanced synaptic plasticity in mice.
- Polygalacic acid
Triterpenoid tetrahydroxyacid with antiinflammatory properties by decreasing mRNAexpressions of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13 and COX-2, which are significantly increased by IL-1β
Notes:
It is usually prepared in either liquorice or honey to prevent irritation to the throat. The liquorice prepared form accentuates its ability to calm the mind, while the honey fried version accentuates its ability to expectorate Phlegm and stop cough.
In Li Shizhen Ben Cao Gang Mu, he states that Yuan Zhi is:
"used as an additive to recipes of hermits/immortals ... It supplements insufficient Qi, dispels evil Qi, frees passages through the nine orifices, and boosts wisdom. It strengthens the mind, prevents forgetfulness clears the ears and brightens the eyes. It cures forgetfulness, pacifies the Hun and Po, prevents dementia, and hardens the yang path (male genitals).
According to Wang Haogu, it is 'a medication for the Qi section of the kidney conduits ... The fact is, essence and the Qi of the mind are stored in the kidney conduits. When kidney essence is insufficient, the Qi of the mind are weak and are unable to rise and pass on to the heart. Hence one turns demented and forgetful." (Trans. Unschuld, 2021)
Appears in 34 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Bu Lao Ren Shen Wan (Supplement Exhaustion with Ginseng Pills)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)
Bu Qi Yang Xue Jiu (Fortify Qi and Nourish Blood Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Bu Xu Ren Shen Wan (Supplement Deficiency with Ginseng Pills)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)
Di Huang Yin Zi (Rehmannia Drink)
From: Comprehensive Recording of Sagely Beneficence from the Zhenghe Era (1117) by Song Imperial Court
Ding Xian Wan (Arrest Seizures Pill)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Ding Zhi Wan (Settle the Emotions Pill)
From: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces by Sun Si Miao (650)
Ding Zhi Wan (Settle the Emotions Pill)
From: Yang Family Formulas (1178) by Yang Tan
Ding Zhi Wan (Settle the Emotions Pill)
From: Wondrous Lantern for Peering into the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases (1773) by Shen Jin-Ao
Er Dong Er Di Jiu (Two Winters Two Earths Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Fu Ling Ju Hua Jiu (Poria and Chrysanthemum Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Gu Yin Jian (Stabilise the Yin Decoction)
From: Collected Treatises of Jing-Yue by Zhang Jie Bin / Zhang Jing Yue (1624)
He Che Wan (Placenta Pill)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Hu Po Duo Mei Wan (Succinum Pill for Promoting Sleep)
From: Systematic Great Compendium of Medicine Past and Present (1556) by Xu Chun-Fu
Huan Shao Dan (Rejuvenation Special Pill)
From: Hong's Collection of Experimental Formulas (1170)
Kong Sheng Zhen Zhong Dan (Special Pill from Confucius' Pillow)
From: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces by Sun Si Miao (650)
Long Chi Qing Hun San (Dragon's Tooth Powder to Clear the Ethereal Soul)
From: Comprehensive Medicine According to Master Zhang (1695) by Zhang Lu-Yu / Shi-Wan
Miao Xiang San (Marvellously Fragrant Powder)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)
Nei Bu Huang Qi Tang (Astragalus Decoction to Tonify the Interior)
From: Formulas Bequeathed by the Unorthodox Genius Liu Jian-Zi (499) by Liu Jian-Zi
Nian Ci An Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao (Fritillaria and Loquat Leaf Syrup in Memory of my Mother)
From: Discussion of Warm Diseases by Ye Tianshi (Qing Dynasty)
Que Lao Jiu (Step Back from Old Age Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng Decoction to Nourish Luxuriance)
From: Discussion of Illnesses, Patterns and Formulas Related to the Unification of the Three Aetiologies (1174)
Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg-Case Powder)
From: Extension of the Materia Medica (1116)
Shan Zhu Cong Rong Jiu (Dioscorea, Cornus and Cistanches Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Sheng Tie Luo Yin (Iron Filings Drink)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Shi Wei Wen Dan Tang (Ten Ingredient Warm the Gallbladder Decoction)
From: Indispensable Tools for Pattern Treatment by Wang Ken-Tang (1602)
Suan Zao Ren Shi Mian Yu (Sour Jujube Seed Insomnia Bath)
From: Shen-nong.com
Sun Shang Yao Jiu (Detriment and Damage Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Te Xiao An Mian Pian (Peaceful Sleep Tablets)
From: Aura Herbs (2020)
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Heavenly Emperor's Pill to Tonify the Heart)
From: Fine Formulas for Women with Annotations and Commentary (16th century)
Yang Xin Tang (Nourish the Heart Decoction)
From: Indispensable Tools for Pattern Treatment by Wang Ken-Tang (1602)
Yi Shen Ming Mu Jiu (Boost the Kidneys and Brighten the Eyes Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Yi Shen Tang (Spirit Lifting Decoction)
From: Ten Lectures on the Use of Formulas from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De by Jiao Shu-De (2005)
Yi Shou Jiu (Boosting Longevity Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Zhu Yang Jiu (Invigorate Yang Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
