INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Common English: Chinese Yam
Mountain Yam Rhizome
Herbs that Tonify Qi
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
  • Do not use alone for Excess conditions, especially fullness due to Dampness, Stagnation or accumulation.
  • Contraindicated for those with True Heat.
  • Do not use alone for Dampness.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Use with caution with insulin, sulfonylureas and other antidiabetics such as tolbutamide (Orinase), glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (DiaBeta/Micronase). A synergistic hypoglycemic effect may occur.

Poria
Fu Ling
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Dry-fried Fr. Hordei Germinatus
Chao Mai Ya
End. Corneum Gigeriae Galli
Ji Nei Jin

or

Massa Medicata Fermentata
Shen Qu
End. Corneum Gigeriae Galli
Ji Nei Jin

Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Fr. Amomi
Sha Ren
(Per. Citri Reticulatae)
(Chen Pi)

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
Yu Zhu
Hb. Dendrobii
Shi Hu
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong

Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao
Concha Ostreae
Mu Li

Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai
Sm. Plantaginis
Che Qian Zi

or

Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai
Sm. Plantaginis
Che Qian Zi
Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Sm. Ginkgo
Bai Guo

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.

Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Fr. Schisandrae Chinensis
Wu Wei Zi

Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
(End. Corneum Gigeriae Galli)
(Ji Nei Jin)

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
Dang Shen

Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang
Fr. Corni
Shan Zhu Yu

Sm. Euryales
Qian Shi

Sm. Nelumbinis
Lian Zi

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
Tian Hua Fen
Rx. Puerariae
Ge Gen

Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi
Rz. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu
(Rx. Puerariae)
(Ge Gen)

Talcum
Hua Shi

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
Niu Bang Zi

Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

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
Ren Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Poria
Fu Ling
Sm. Coicis
Yi Yi Ren

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu
Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao
Fossilia Ossis Mastodi
Long Gu
Concha Ostreae
Mu Li
Rx. Rubiae
Qian Cao

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
Shan Zhu Yu
Sm. Cuscutae
Tu Si Zi

Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
End. Corneum Gigeriae Galli
Ji Nei Jin
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang

Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang
Fr. Corni
Shan Zhu Yu
Gecko
Ge Jie
Cordyceps
Dong Chong Xia Cao

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
Huang Qi
Rx. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang
Fr. Corni
Shan Zhu Yu
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi
Rz. Alismatis
Ze Xie
Cx. Moutan
Mu Dan Pi
Stamen Nelumbinis
Lian Xu

Gypsum Fibrosum
Shi Gao
Rx. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen

Gypsum Fibrosum
Shi Gao
Rx. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu
Rx. Puerariae
Ge Gen
Rz. Polygonati
Huang Jing
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang

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
Yi Zhi Ren
Rx. Linderae
Wu Yao

 

 

Frequent urination and nocturnal emissions.

 

 

  1. This herb can be used for a long period of time.
  2. This herb can be used in place of cortisone, prednisone and progesterone.
  3. It adds muscle mass.
  4. Because this herb moistens and is neither hot nor cold, it benefits both the Yin and and Yang of the Lungs and Kidneys.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.