Herbs That Tonify The Yang

Ge Jie / Rou Cong Rong / Yin Yang Huo /
Ba Ji Tian / Bu Gu Zhi / Yi Zhi Ren / Xian Mao
Du Zhong / Xu Duan / Gu Sui Bu / Tu Si Zi
Zi He Che / Suo Yang / Dong Chong Xia Cao

Ge Jie/Gecko			v.3.0
Properties: salty, neutral	Some text claims it is warming	Channels: Lung, Kidney
Guangxi/Yunnan Province

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Lung Qi and assists the Kidney Yang: for Kidney; and Lung deficiency, when the Kidney is unable to grasp the qi, manifesting as wheezing.




•	Assists the Kidney Yang and Augments the Essence and Blood:




Caution & Contraindications: Contraindicated in patients with wheezing and coughing from either externally-contracted wind-cold or excess heat.  Dosage:*3-6g; when taken directly as a powder, 1-2g    3-6g. as a powder (in pills or powders); 9-15g in decoctions (the head an feet are usually not used in decoctions).  Good quality is large, fat, intact, and includes the tail (as this is considered the most effective part).



Rou Cong Rong/ Cistanches Herba		v.3.0     	aka: da yun
Properties: sweet, salty, warm		Channels: LI, KI

Actions & Indications:
1.	Tonifies the Kidney Yang and Augment the Essence and Blood:





2.	Moistens the Intestines and facilitates passage of stool:





Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated in patients with diarrhea from weak Stomach or Spleen
•	Contraindicated in deficient yin patterns with heat signs  (mai men dong, xuan shen would be more appropriate.

Dosages: 9-21g.  Treated with salt for frequent urination or spermatorrhea.  This herb tonifies the yang yet is not drying; its effects are moderate.  Therefore it is necessary to use rather large dosages to have a good effect.  Good quality is thick, long, soft, reddish brown, and has dense scales.


Yin Yang Huo/Epimedii Herba		v.3.0     		aka: Xian ling Pi, horny goat weed
Properties: acrid, sweet, warm			Channels: Kidney, Liver
Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Kidneys and Fortifies the Yang:


•	Expels wind-damp-cold:



Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated in patients with fire from yin deficiency
•	This herb can damage the yin.  In some people, ingesting it can lead to dizziness, vomiting, dry mouth, thirst, and nosebleed
•	This herb should not be taken as a decoction, over prolonged periods

Dosage: 3-9g.  Often steeped in wine for both kidney yang deficiency and painful obstruction.  Good quality is intact, yellow-green, and has many leaves.


Ba Ji Tian/ Morindae Officinalis Radix		v.3.0
Properties: acrid, sweet, warm		Channels: Kidney, Liver

Actions and Indications:
•	Tonifies the Kidneys and Fortifies the Yang:


•	Disperses wind-dampness and strengthens the sinews and bones:



Remark: the core of the Bai Ji Tian is toxic and should be ideally removed.  Caribbean people love to buy a liquor call Ba Ji Jiu.  It is a commercially…

Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated for patients with either damp-heat or heat from deficiency
•	Contraindicated for patients who have difficulty urinating
•	According to some traditional sources this herb antagonizes dan shen
Dosage: 6-15g.  Good quality is large, thick, inter-connected, and purple.



Bu Gu Zhi/ Psoraleae Fructus		v.3.0
Properties: acrid, bitter, very warm		Channels: Kidney, Spleen

Actions & Indications:
	Tonifies the Kidneys and Fortifies the Yang:




•	Tonifies and Warms the Spleen Yang:


•	Recently used topically for vitiligo  (Vitiligo is a skin condition resulting from loss of pigment which produces white patches. Any part of the body may be affected)

 Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated in deficient yin patterns with heat signs or constipation
•	Even though this herb can be hard on the Stomach, it is sometimes used cautiously for cold deficiency of the Stomach
•	According to some traditional sources this herb antagonizes Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis (gan cao).

Dosage: 4.5-9g.  Should be crushed before using.  Good quality is large, full, solid, and black.



Yi Zhi Ren/ Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus 		v.3.0
Properties: acrid, warm  		Channels:  Kidney, Spleen (as in Bu Gu Zhi)

Actions & Indications:
•	Warms the Kidneys, Retains the Essence, and secures the urine:


•	Warms the Spleen, stops diarrhea, and controls salivation:



Caution & Contraindications: Contraindicated in patients with spermatorrhea, frequent urination, or vaginal discharge due to heat.
Dosage: 3-9g.  Must be crushed before using.  Good quality is large, full, and intensely aromatic.


Xian Mao/ Curculiginis Rhizoma		v.3.0
Properties: acrid, hot, toxic		Channels: Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:
o	Tonifies the Kidneys and fortifies the Yang:



o	Expels Cold and Eliminates Dampness:



Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated in deficient yin patterns with heat signs
•	Due to its properties, long-term use is not recommended
•	Toxic reactions such as swelling of the tongue can occur (no more than 12g/day). This can be alleviated by taking a decoction of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (da huang),  Rhizoma Coptidis (huang lian), and Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis (huang qin)

Dosage: 3-9g.  Often soaked in wine by itself.  Good quality is long, thick, firm, and very dark red on the outside.


Du Zhong/ Eucommiae Cortex		v.3.0
Properties: sweet, slightly acrid, (warm)		Channels: Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, Strengthens the Sinews and Bones:


•	Aids in the smooth flow of Qi and Blood:


•	Calms the fetus:


•	Recently used for dizziness and lightheadedness (hypertension) from rising Liver yang…

Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated in heat from yin deficiency (not really, combo with other herbs)
•	According to some traditional sources this herb antagonizes Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis (xuan shen)

Dosage: 9-15g.  Salt-water fried to increase the Kidney-tonification properties.  Good quality is large and thick with a yellowish-brown outside and dark purple inside.  When broken, the bark should produce many thin white threads.


Xu Duan/Dipsaci Radix 	literal translation: “restore what is broken”    v.3.0
Properties: bitter, acrid, slightly warm		Channels:  Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones:


•	Calms the fetus and stops leakage:



•	Promotes the movement of blood, alleviates pain, and generates flesh:


Caution & Contraindications: According to some traditional sources this herb antagonizes Sclerotium Omphaliae Lapidescens (lei wan).

Dosage:  6-21g.  Can be fried in vinegar to enhance its ability to invigorate the blood and alleviate pain; roasting with salt facilitates its entry into the Kidney channel; dry-fry or char for excessive uterine bleeding.  Powdered when applied topically.  Good quality is thick, pliant, yellowish red on the outside, and gray-green on the inside.


Gu Sui Bu/ Drynariae  Rhizoma  		v.3.0  	literal translation: mender of broken bones
Properties: bitter, warm		Channels: Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Kidneys and strengthens bones:


•	Promotes Mending of the Sinews and Bones:


	Stimulates the growth of hair:  used topically as a tincture for alopecia

Caution & Contraindications:  Use cautiously in patients with yin deficiency or those without blood stasis
Dosage:  9-21g.  Good quality is thick, large, and brown.


Tu Si Zi/ Cuscutae Semen 			v.3.0
Properties: acrid, sweet, neutral			Channels:  Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Yang, Augments the Yin, Secures the Essence, and the Urine:


•	Tonifies the Kidneys and Liver and improves vision:


•	Benefits the Spleen and Kidneys and stops Diarrhea:


•	Calms the fetus:

Caution & Contraindications: Use cautiously in patients with yin deficiency or those without blood stasis.  Even though this is a neutral herb, it leans toward the yang side and should be avoided in for fire from yin deficiency.  *tonifies Yang without causing Yin

Dosage:  6-18g. Good quality is thick, large, and brown.  Bag this.



Zi He Che/ Hominis Placenta		v.3.0
Properties:  sweet, salty, warm		Channels: Liver, Lung, Kidney

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and augments the essence:


•	Augments the Qi and Nourishes the Blood:


•	Tonifies the Lung qi and augments the Kidney essence:


Caution & Contraindications: Use cautiously over prolonged periods of time and do no use alone for heat from yin deficiency.   ** warms without drying

Dosage: 2-3g. (powdered); for consumption, the fresh placenta is washed and made into a soup.  Good quality is in good shape and purplish red.


Hu Lu Ba/ Trigonellae Semen	v 3.0
Properties:  bitter, warm			Channels: Kidney, Liver

Actions & Indications:
•	Warms the Kidneys, disperses dampness and cold and alleviates pain:
•	Manifestations include abdominal or flank distention and pain or hernial disorders.
•	Also used for damp-cold leg qi.

Caution & Contraindications: Contraindicated for patients with either damp-heat or heat from yin deficiency.	Dosage: 4.5-9g.  Use raw or dry-fried.  Good quality is large and full.


Suo Yang/ Cynomorii Herba		v.3.0
Properties: sweet, warm			Channels:  LI, KI, LV

Actions & Indications:
•	Tonifies the Kidneys, assist the yang, and Augments the Liver Yin and Blood:



•	Moistens Intestines, unblocks the bowels, augments the essence and nourishes the blood:



Caution & Contraindications:
•	Contraindicated in patients with deficient Kidney yin with heat signs
•	Contraindicated in patients with diarrhea from Spleen deficiency or constipation from excess heat.

Dosage: 4.5-15g.  Good quality is large, fat, solid, red, and has a powdery cross-section.

Dong Chong Xia Cao/Cordyceps     v3.0 	冬蟲夏草
Properties: sweet, warm			Channels:  Lung/Kidney

Actions & Indications:
•	Augments the Kidneys and tonifies the Yang:


•	Tonifies the Kidney Yang, augments Lung yin, transforms phlegm, and stops bleeding:
•

Remark: extremely expensive…

Caution & Contraindications:
•	Used cautiously in exterior conditions.

Dosage: 3-9g.  Good quality is intact with a short stick-like fungus and a bright yellow, fat, full, and round insect part with a yellowish white cross section.