Tonify Yang

Question 1

Lu Rong *

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Answer 1

-fortifies the primal yang
-generates essence
-augments the marrow
-regulates du + ren, stabilizes dai
-tonifies du
-stengthens sinews/bones, used for nonhealing factures + ulcers

(deer antler velvet)

warm ~ sweet, salty ~ KD, LV

Question 2

Dong Chong Xia Cao *

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Answer 2

-gently tonifies kidney yang
-augments essence
-tonifies lungs ~ settles coughs + wheezing
-stops sweating

(cordyceps)

warm ~ sweet ~ LU, KD

Question 3

Rou Cong Rong *

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Answer 3

-tonifies kidney yang
-enriches essence + blood
-used for females w low libido + fertility, pain, gyno problems
-moistens intestines

(cistanche)

warm ~ sweet, salty ~ LI, KD

Question 4

Suo Yang *

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Answer 4

-warms kidney yang
-nourishes + augments liver + kidney yin/blood
-also treats sinews, atrophy disorders
-moistens intestines

(cynomorium)

warm ~ sweet ~ LI, KD, LV

Question 5

Yin Yang Huo *

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Answer 5

-tonifies kidney yang + also dispels wind cold damp
-tonifies the fire at the gate of vitality
-most well known for low libido
-don’t take long term or overuse; comes at a cost of your yin (over time leads to yin xu… and yin xu is a common pattern behind hypersexuality)

(epimedium)

warm ~ acrid, sweet ~ KD, LV

Question 6

Ba Ji Tian

Question 7

He Tao Ren

Question 8

Bu Gu Zhi

Question 9

Yi Zhi Ren *

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Answer 9

-warmly tonifies spleen + kidney yang
-treats water metabolism issues
-essence + urine problems (retains essence, secures the urine)
-controls salivation

(black cardamom)

warm ~ acrid ~ KD, SP

Question 10

Xian Mao *

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Answer 10

-powerful at tonifying + fortifying kidney fire at gate of vitality
-hot + toxic
-can treat both kd yin/yang xu in menopause (in most cases just treating kd yin is sufficient; sometimes we need to treat both)
-cold bi syndrome (expels cold damp obstruction)

(curculigo)

hot, TOXIC ~ acrid ~ KD

Question 11

Du Zhong *

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Answer 11

-tonifies liver + kidney in a way that helps w sinews + bones
-when yang goes down more (w aging) it leads to joint pain, muscle tension… this is a bi syndrome that involves deficiency
-calms fetus

(eucommia bark)

warm ~ sweet, sl acrid ~ KD, LV

Question 12

Gou Ji

Question 13

Xu Duan *

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Answer 13

-tonifies kidney + liver to strengthen sinews/bones
-gently moves/invigorates blood !!
-calms fetus + stops leakage
-tonifies but does not cause stagnation

(teasel root)

sl warm ~ bitter, sweet, acrid ~ KD, LV

Question 14

Gu Sui Bu

Question 15

Tu Si Zi *

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Answer 15

-warms the primal yang
-one of most complete action herbs when it comes to kidney deficiency ~ tonifies both kidney yin + yang
-but it’s not rich/cloying
-also helps calm fetus / threatened miscarriage
-secures leakage of essence
-helps w vision

(cuscata)

neutral ~ acrid, sweet ~ KD, LV

Question 16

Sha Yuan Zi *

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Answer 16

-tonifies kidneys + liver
-secures essence
-brightens eyes: for vision deterioration (blurred, etc)

(astragalus seed)

warm ~ sweet ~ KD, LV