Clinical Manifestations:
-
Kidney Yang Deficiency: lower back pain, weak lower extremities, cold sensations in the lower body, pain and cramps in the lower abdomen, impotence, premature ejaculation, dysuria or polyruia with edema sometimes to the point of urinary incontinence, breathing worse lying down and better leaning against something.
-
Tongue Appearances: pale and flabby body with a thin, white tongue coating
-
Pulse Patterns: deep, fine pulse at the chi (Kidney) position.
Formula Rationale:
Spirityang (Ba Wei Di Huang Wan) treats Kidney yang deficiency and/or deficiency of ming men (life gate) fire. This formula is essentially a modified formula from the famous Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet); in Spirityang (Ba Wei Di Huang Wan), Shu Di Huang (prepared Rehmannia root) and Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark) are used instead of Sheng Di Huang (raw Rehmannia root) and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) to provide more Kidney-yin nourishing and better Kidney-yang tonifying properties.
The chief herb in Spirityang is Shu Di Huang, which is included to tonify Kidney yin and jing (essence). Two of the deputy herbs - Shan Zhu Yu and Shan Yao - are to tonify Kidney & Liver yin and the Kidney & Spleen, respectively.
The other two deputies are Rou Gui (Cinnamom bark) and Fu Zi. Rou Gui benefits the joints, warms & unblocks the channels; Fu Zi tonifies source fire to dispel cold and eliminate dampness. Rou Gui and Fu Zi are only added in small amounts because that is more than adequate to ignite the ming men (life gate) fire and raise Kidney yang like a fire starter.
Moreover, in order to prevent the greasy nature of the yin tonic herbs from obstructing the qi flow, Ze Xie, Fu ling, and Mu Dan Pi are the assistant herbs included to balance the formula.
Clinical Applications:
- Endocrine: diabetes mellitus, hyperaldosteronism, hypothyroidism;
- Reproductive: benign prostate hyperplasia, male & female infertility, gynecomastia;
- Genitourinary: nephritis, nephrosclerosis, chronic glomerulonephritis, urolithiasis, renal tuberculosis, proteniura, anuria, urinary incontinence, nocturia, prostate disorders;
- Cardiovascular: coronary artery disease, arteriostenosis, hypertension, hypotension;
- Respiratory: chronic bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary emphysema
