Chinese: 明目地黄丸
Pinyin: Míng Mù Dì Huáng Wán
Other names: Improve Vision Pill with Rehmannia pill
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that nourish Yin and tonify
Mother formula: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
- Nourishes the Liver
- Enriches the Kidneys
- Improves the vision
Contraindications: Those with acute conjunctivitis should avoid using it. This condition is... Those with acute conjunctivitis should avoid using it. This condition is characterized by reddening and congestion of the whites of the eyes, photophobia, tearing, and excessive eye discharge. see more
Source date: 1642 AD
Source book: Scrutiny of the Priceless fade Case
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.
Ming Mu Di Huang Wan is a 12-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1642 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes the Liver and 2) enriches the Kidneys.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the twelve ingredients in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Ming Mu Di Huang Wan helps treat.
The twelve ingredients in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang 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 Ming Mu Di Huang Wan, it is used because it strongly enriches the Kidney Yin and Essence.
Shan Zhu Yu is a king ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Cornelian Cherries (Shan Zhu Yu)
Part used: Dried ripe sarcocarp
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sour
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
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.
Shan Yao is a deputy ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Yam (Shan Yao)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
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.
Mu Dan Pi is a deputy ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Mudan Peony Bark (Mu Dan Pi)
Part used: Root barks
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Mu Dan Pi clears and drains Liver Fire and is used here to counterbalance the warm properties of Cornelian cherries (Shan Zhu Yu).
Dang Gui is a deputy ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Dang Gui's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation."
In the context of Ming Mu Di Huang Wan, it is used because it nourishes and moves the Blood. It also moistens the Intestines so as to encourage bowel movement.
Ze Xie is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Water Plantain (Ze Xie)
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
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.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
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.
Gou Qi Zi is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Gou Qi Zi tonifies the Liver and Kidneys' Yin and Blood so as to brighten the eyes. It also moistens the Lung and stop coughing.
Ju Hua is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Chrysanthemum Flowers (Ju Hua)
Part used: Dried capitulum
Nature: Cool
Ju Hua clears Wind-Heat in the Liver so as to brighten the eyes. It also clears Toxic-Heat to reduce swelling.
Bai Shao is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Bai Shao nourishes the Blood to support Yin and suppress Liver Yang Rising. It also soothes the Liver to relieve pain.
Ji Li is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
11. Puncture Vine Fruits (Ji Li)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Category: Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
Ji Li suppresses Liver Yang Rising and Liver Qi Stagnation. Therefore it is able to relieve symptoms such as red eyes with excessive tears, skin itching due to Liver Wind or hypertension.
Shi Jue Ming is an assistant ingredient in Ming Mu Di Huang Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
12. Abalone Shells (Shi Jue Ming)
Part used: Shell
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Salty
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
In general Shi Jue Ming's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and calms ascending Liver Yang. Clears Liver Heat that is obstructing the vision."
In the context of Ming Mu Di Huang Wan, it is used because it calms the Liver Yang so as to brighten the eyes. It also stops bleeding.
Ming Mu Di Huang Wan is used to treat Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Tics Vertigo Fatigue Tinnitus Insomnia Dry eyes Dry hair Dry skin Dizziness Dry mouth Sore back Headaches Dry throat Dry vagina Dry stools Amenorrhea Joint pain Infertility Hot flushes Night sweats Blurred vision Scanty periods Delayed period Excessive tear Lower back pain Lightheadedness Afraid of light Tingling of limbs Diminished hearing Vertical headaches Occipital headaches Nocturnal emissions Chronic sore throat Hot palms and soles Numbness in the limbs Withered and brittle nails Heat in vaginal and vulvar Feeling of heat in the afternoon Spontaneous and nocturnal emissions Soreness and weakness in the lower back
Ming Mu Di Huang Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, diminished hearing and lower back pain. Patients with Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency typically exhibit empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Normal-coloured without coating or with rootless coating.
The Liver stores Blood while the Kidneys store Essence.
Liver Blood depends on Essence for nourishment, while Essence depends on Blood for replenishment. Both have a common source: Grain Qi derived from the Spleen. In terms of Five Elements, the Kidneys nourish the Liver.
A long term Liver Blood... read more about Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
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