Formula Formulas that nourish Yin and tonify

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

六味地黄丸

Also known as:

Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia , Rehmannia Six Combination

Formula Composition

Shu Di huang
Shu Di huang
Shan Zhu Yu
Shan Zhu Yu
Shan Yao
Shan Yao
Ze Xie
Ze Xie
Mu Dan Pi
Mu Dan Pi
Fu Ling
Fu Ling
View detailed herb information
King
Main ingredient
Deputies
Assists main
Assistants
Supports

Formula Properties

Main Actions

  1. Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys

Patterns Treated

Blood Deficiency, Yin Deficiency, Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing, Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising, Kidney Yin Deficiency, Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency, Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency, Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency, Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys, Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood

Historical Origin

Craft of Medicinal Treatment for Childhood Disease Patterns (1119 AD)

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TCM Actions & Uses Formula Ingredients Contraindications

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

Main Actions

Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys

Key TCM Concepts

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) as a principal ingredient.

 

Invented in 1119 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify. Its main action is that it enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys.

 

In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.

 

In this case Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Deficiency, Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as late menstruation, irregular menstruation or menopausal syndrome for instance.

TCM Patterns Addressed

  • Blood Deficiency
  • Yin Deficiency
  • Kidney Yin Deficiency With Empty-Heat Blazing
  • Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Yang Rising
  • Kidney Yin Deficiency
  • Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
  • Liver Blood and Kidney Yin Deficiency
  • Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
  • Disharmony between Heart and Kidneys
  • Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency causing Heat in the Blood

Common Applications

Late menstruation Irregular menstruation Menopausal syndrome Menstrual cramps Absence of menstruation Intermenstrual bleeding Chronic nephritis Prostate diseases Chronic glomerulonephritis Urinary tract infection Renal tuberculosis Diabetes mellitus Hyperthyroid Diabetes insipidus Hypertension Atherosclerosis Coronary artery disease Perimenopausal syndrome Abnormal uterine bleeding Cataract Glaucoma Central retinopathy Optic nerve atrophy Optic neuritis Retarded growth in children Neurasthenia Pulmonary tuberculosis Chronic hepatitis Cirrhosis Failure to thrive

Ingredients in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

Detailed information about each herb in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and their roles

Kings
Deputies
Assistants
Shu Di huang
Shu Di huang

Prepared rehmannia

Temperature Warm
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Kidneys, Liver
Parts Used Prepared dried root tuber
Role in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
In general Shu Di huang's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys."

In the context of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, it is used because it strongly enriches the Kidney Yin and Essence.
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Shan Zhu Yu
Shan Zhu Yu

Cornelian cherries

Temperature Warm
Taste Sour
Organ Affinity Kidneys, Liver
Parts Used Dried ripe sarcocarp
Role in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Shan Zhu Yu nourishes the Liver and restrains the leakage of Essence. It performs the latter function by inhibiting the improper dispersion and drainage through the Liver, thereby enabling the Essence to build up in the Kidneys. For this to occur, a substance with the strong, Essence building properties of the key herb (Prepared rehmannia) is also required.
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Shan Yao
Shan Yao

Yam

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Kidneys, Lungs, Spleen
Parts Used Dried rhizome
Role in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Shan Yao stabilizes the Essence by tonifying the Spleen, which is the source of post-heaven Essences Indeed, to reinforce Essence and improve its function, the Spleen (the source of postnatal Essence) must function properly.
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Ze Xie
Ze Xie

Water plantain

Temperature Cold
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Urinary Bladder, Kidneys
Parts Used Dried tuber
Role in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Ze Xie clears and drains the overabundance of Kidney Fire. It is used here to prevent the rich, cloying properties of the key herb (Prepared rehmannia) from congesting the mechanisms of the Kidneys, which would induce even more Heat from Deficiency.
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Mu Dan Pi
Mu Dan Pi

Mudan peony bark

Temperature Cool
Taste Bitter, Pungent
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Liver
Parts Used Root barks
Role in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Mu Dan Pi clears and drains Liver Fire and is used here to counterbalance the warm properties of Cornelian cherries (Shan Zhu Yu).
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Fu Ling
Fu Ling

Poria-cocos mushrooms

Temperature Neutral
Taste Sweet
Organ Affinity Heart, Kidneys, Lungs, Spleen
Parts Used Dried sclerotium
Role in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Fu Ling is a bland herb that leaches out Dampness from the Spleen. It notably helps Yam (Shan Yao) strengthen the transportive functions of the Spleen. This prevents the formula from clogging up the digestive process and reinforces the Spleen's function of nourishing the body. Poria-cocos mushrooms also works together with the Water plantain (Ze Xie) to improve the metabolism of Fluids and promote urination, thereby preventing a buildup of stagnant Fluids.
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Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any TCM herbal formula.

Contraindications

This formula, given its rich and heavy qualities, should be used cautiously in instances where indigestion is present, or in cases of diarrhea attributed to a deficiency in the Spleen. It should also be used with care if the individual exhibits a white, greasy coating on the tongue.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many TCM formulas, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.