Chinese: 大补阴丸
Pinyin: Dà Bǔ Yīn Wán
Other names: Great Tonifying the Yin Pill
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that nourish Yin and tonify
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: TuberculosisHyperthyroidBronchiectasis and two other conditions
- Enriches the Yin
- Directs fire downward
Contraindications: Use with caution in patients with poor appetite and loose stools. It is... Use with caution in patients with poor appetite and loose stools. It is contraindicated in cases of Fire from Excess. see more
Source date: 1481 AD
Source book: Essential Teachings of [Zhu] Dan-Xi
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Da Bu Yin Wan is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and Tortoise Plastrons (Gui Ban) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1481 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify. Its main actions are: 1) enriches the Yin and 2) directs fire downward.
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 Da Bu Yin Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Collapse of Yin. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as tuberculosis, bronchiectasis or diabetes mellitus for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Da Bu Yin Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Da Bu Yin Wan helps treat.
The four ingredients in Da Bu Yin Wan
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Da Bu Yin Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang)
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Shu Di huang's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys."
In the context of Da Bu Yin Wan, it is used because it is a very effective herb for enriching and tonifying the Liver and Kidneys.
Gui Ban is a king ingredient in Da Bu Yin Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Tortoise Plastrons (Gui Ban)
Part used: Carapace and plastron
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Gui Ban's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes the Yin and holds down the Yang. Strengthens the Kidneys and strengthens the bones. Cools the Blood, stops uterine bleeding. Nourishes the Heart. Promotes Healing."
In the context of Da Bu Yin Wan, it is used because it nourishes the Yin and weighs down the floating Yang Fire.
Huang Bo is a deputy ingredient in Da Bu Yin Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Part used: Dried bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderKidneyLarge intestine
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Bo's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Clears Kidney Yin Deficient Heat. Applied externally or toxic Fire, especially associated with Dampness."
In the context of Da Bu Yin Wan, it is used because it quells Kidney Fire.
Zhi Mu is a deputy ingredient in Da Bu Yin Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Anemarrhena Rhizomes (Zhi Mu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: KidneyLungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Zhi Mu's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and Fire from the Qi level. Clears Heat and Fire from the Lung and Stomach. Clears Heat and tonifies the Yin."
In the context of Da Bu Yin Wan, it is used because it clears Heat, enriches the Lungs, and generates Fluids.
Da Bu Yin Wan is used to treat Collapse of Yin
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Da Bu Yin Wan is mostly used to treat the pattern "Collapse of Yin" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Collapse of Yin here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Tuberculosis Bronchiectasis Diabetes mellitus Hyperthyroid Nervous exhaustion
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Da Bu Yin Wan treats tuberculosis" for instance. Rather, Da Bu Yin Wan is used to treat Collapse of Yin, which is sometimes the root cause behind tuberculosis.
Now let's look at Collapse of Yin, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Da Bu Yin Wan.
'Yin' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Yin in Chinese Medicine
Collapse of Yin
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Emaciation Malar flush Night sweats Constipation Restlnessness Five palm heat Low-grade fever Urinary retention Dry mouth with desire to sip liquids
Da Bu Yin Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Collapse of Yin. This pattern leads to symptoms such as low-grade fever, night sweats, restlnessness and dry mouth with desire to sip liquids. Patients with Collapse of Yin typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or fine (Xi) pulses.
This is one of the five patterns of the Blood level, the fourth and last level of the Four Levels theory. This means this is a very serious pattern where an External Pathogen has penetrated deeply within the body.
Collapse of Yin indicates an extremely severe state of Emptiness. It also implies a... read more about Collapse of Yin
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