12.3 Herbs that tonify the Yang

Question 1

Lu Rong ***
“Deer velvet”
(fuzz from spring antlers)

Answer 1

Sweet, salty, warm
KD, LV
Tonifies the KD and fortifies Yang (STRONGLY); Warms the yang, regulates Chong and Ren Mai, and stabilizes Dai Mai; Tonifies Du Mai, augments essence, qi and blood, and strengthens sinews/bones
NOT w/interior heat from yin/blood xu, blood, ST or LU heat, or EPF heat

Question 2

Rou Cong Rong ***
“Meat of Cong Rong”
(fleshy stem of broomrape)

Answer 2

Sweet, salty, warm
LI, KD
Tonifies the KD yang, augments the essence and blood; Moistens the Intestines and facilitates passages of stool (moderate, not drying)
NOT w/diarrhea from ST/SP xu, or yin xu/heat signs

Question 3

Yin Yang Huo ***
(also called Xian Ling Pi)
(aerial parts of epimedium, Horny goat weed)

Answer 3

Acrid, Sweet, Warm
KD, LV
Tonifies the KD, yang, and Mingmen (used for male impotence and infertility); Dispels W-C-D and warms and unblocks the flow of yang Qi (for Bi)
NOT w/xu fire, prolonged use will injure yin

Question 4

Ba Ji Tian ***
“Ba’s Sky lance”
(Morinda Root)

Answer 4

Acrid, Sweet, Slightly warm
KD
Tonifies the KD and fortifies yang (without being overly drying), augments essence; Disperses WD and strengthens the sinews and bones (for Bi, esp WCD)
NOT in Pt w/damp or yin xu heat, or urinary difficulty

Question 5

Bu Gu Zhi ***
“Tonify bone resin”
(Psoralea fruit)

Answer 5

Acrid, bitter, very warm
KD, SP
Tonifies the KD, fortifies yang, stabilizes essence and secures urine, aids KD in grasping Qi; Tonifies and warms SP yang, stops diarrhea; topically for vitiligo
NOT w/yin xu heat or constipation, CAUTION w/ST xu

Question 6

Yi Zhi Ren ***
“Benefit intelligence kernel”
(Alpinia fruit, black cardamon)

Answer 6

Acrid, warm (drying)
KD, SP
Warms KD, retains essence, and secures the urine; Warms SP, stops diarrhea, and controls salivation
NOT w/lower jiao heat problems, esp from yin xu

Question 7

Xian Mao ***
“immortal/fairy grass”
(Curculigo, golden eye-grass rhizome)

Answer 7

Acrid, hot, toxic
KD
Tonifies KD, fortifies yang, vigorously warms MIngMen; Expels cold and eliminates dampness
NOT with yin xu + heat, not longterm use

Question 8

Du Zhong ***

Eucommia bark

Answer 8

Sweet, slightly acrid, warm
KD, LV
Tonifies LV and KD, strengthens sinews and bones; Aids in smooth flow of Qi and blood; Calms fetus (for threatened miscarriage); Recently for dizziness and light-headedness
NOT w/heat from yin xu (but relatively more mild)

Question 9

Xu Duan ***
“Reconnect what is broken”
(Dipsacus, Japanese teasel root)

Answer 9

Bitter, sweet, acrid, slightly warm
KD, LV
Tonifies LV and KD (w/out stagnation), strengthens/reconnects sinews and bones, promotes movement of the blood, alleviates pain, reduces swelling; Calms the fetus, stops leakage
NOT w/WDH Bi

Question 10

Gu Sui Bu ***
“Mender or shattered bones”
(Drynaria rhizome)

Answer 10

Bitter, warm
KD, LV
Tonifies KD and strengthens bones; Promotes mending of sinews and bones; Stimulates the growth of hair; Directs floating yang downward (tinnitus, diminished hearing, loose teeth, painful gums)
NOT w/yin xu or in absence of blood stasis

Question 11

Tu Si Zi ***
“spitting silk seeds”
(Cuscuta, Chinese dodder seeds)

Answer 11

Acrid, sweet, neutral
KD, LV
Tonifies yang, augments yin, secures essence and the urine; Tonifies KD and LV, improves vision; Benefits SP and KD, stops diarrhea; Calms the fetus
NOT with fire from yin xu, but not cloying

Question 12

Dong Chong Xia Cao **
“Winter worm summer grass”
(Cordyceps, Chinese caterpillar fungus)

Answer 12

Sweet, Warm
LU, KD
Gently tonifies KD yang, augments essence; Tonifies Lung (yin), settles cough and wheezing, stops sweating, transforms phlegm, stops bleeding
CAUTION with exterior conditions

Question 13

Suo Yang **
“Lock Yang”
(Fleshy stem of cynomorium)

Answer 13

Sweet, warm (moderate herb)
LI, KD, LV
Tonifies/warms KD yang, assists yang and essence, augments LV and KD yin and blood; Moistens Intestines, unblocks bowels
NOT w/yin xu heat, or SP xu w/heat

Question 14

He Tao Ren **
“barbarian peach kernel”
(Walnut)

Answer 14

Sweet, Warm
KD, LI, LU
Tonifies the KD, strengthens the back and knees; Warms LU, helps KD grasp Qi, settles wheezing; Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels

Question 15

Gou Ji **
“Dog spine”
(cibotium rhizome, Chain fern)

Answer 15

Bitter, sweet, warm
KD, LV
Tonifies the LV and KD, strengthens the sinews and bones; Warms and stabilizes the KD; Expels pathogenic WDC for Bi
NOT w/urinary difficulty or yin xu heat

Question 16

Sha Yuan Zi **

flattened milkvetch seed

Answer 16

Sweet, warm
KD, LV
Fortifies Yang, tonifies LV and KD, secures essence (frequent urination, incontinence, vaginal discharge); Nourishes LV and improves vision/brightens eyes
NOT w/yin xu heat, hyperactive sex drive, or urinary difficulty

Question 17

Zi He Che **
“purple river vehicle”
(Human placenta)

Answer 17

Sweet, salty, warm (2-3g)
LV, LU, KD
Warms yang, tonifies the LV and KD, augments essence; Tonifies Qi and nourishes blood; Tonifies LU qi and KD essence
CAUTION w/longterm use, only in combo for yin xu from heat

Question 18

Yang Qi Shi **
“Yang rising stone”
(actinolite)

Answer 18

Salty, slightly warm
KD
Warms the KD and lower jiao (for cold from xu), fortifies (primal) yang/MingMen (used for men and women); Warms the womb
NOT w/yin xu heat signs