Chinese herbal medicines for nourishing yin and tonifying the kidney

Kidney problems are not limited to sexual life. If the kidneys are weak, they will also affect daily life. Patients with kidney yang deficiency have cold limbs, cold uterus, and back pain, while patients with kidney yin deficiency have hot hands and feet, night sweats, and irritability. Although the symptoms are completely different, they both affect daily life. If a woman's kidney yang deficiency is not treated, it may endanger pregnancy in severe cases. This article introduces Chinese medicinal materials that nourish yin and tonify the kidney. Let’s learn about them together.

traditional Chinese medicine

Deer antler

It has the functions of replenishing kidney yang, benefiting essence and blood, strengthening tendons and bones, etc. It is used for impotence and premature ejaculation caused by insufficient kidney yang and deficiency of essence and blood, infertility due to uterine coldness in women, frequent urination, pain in the waist and knees, and weakness of tendons and bones. Among the finished medicines, deer antler is the main ingredient, including Ginseng, Antler and Sanshen Powder, Guilingji, and Guiling Pills. According to modern research, deer antler contains hormones, gelatin, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, etc., which have androgen-like effects, can enhance gonad function, enhance body metabolism, eliminate fatigue; promote the regeneration of ulcers and wounds, accelerate healing, and promote the healing of fractures. This product is mostly in the form of pills or powders, with each dosage being 0.6g to 3g.

Yam

Clears heat and detoxifies. It is used to treat fever caused by febrile diseases, bloody diarrhea due to heat toxins, carbuncles, swellings, scrofula, and hemorrhoids.

Epimedium

Nourish kidney yang, strengthen muscles and bones, and eliminate rheumatism. Used for impotence and spermatorrhea, weakness of muscles and bones, rheumatic pain, numbness and cramps; and menopausal hypertension.

Cinnamon

Replenish Yuan Yang, warm the spleen and stomach, eliminate accumulated cold, and unclog blood vessels. It is used to treat deficiency of fire in the gate of life, cold limbs and weak pulse, loss of yang, collapse, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and floating of false yang.

Eucommia ulmoides

Nourishes the liver and kidneys, strengthens the tendons and bones, and stabilizes the fetus. It is used to treat sore waist and spine, weak feet and knees, residual urine, wetness and itching under the genitals, miscarriage, fetal movement disorder, and high blood pressure.

Kidney-tonifying Chinese medicine Cistanche deserticola

It has the effects of nourishing the kidney and strengthening yang, moistening the intestine and promoting bowel movements. It is used for impotence and premature ejaculation, infertility due to uterine coldness in women, leucorrhea and metrorrhagia, sequelae of polio, as well as the frail elderly, and constipation due to dry intestines after illness and childbirth. According to modern research, Cistanche contains trace amounts of bioalkali and crystalline neutral substances, which can enhance the function of the pituitary-adrenal cortex system and promote antibody formation. The daily dosage of this product is 10g-30g

Kidney-tonifying Chinese medicine Cuscuta

It has the effects of nourishing the kidney and replenishing essence, nourishing the liver and improving eyesight. It is used for symptoms such as low back and knee pain, spermatorrhea, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and blurred vision. Among the ready-made medicines such as the Zibu Jianshen Pills and the Wuzi Yanzong Pills, Cuscuta seed is one of the main ingredients. According to modern research, Cuscuta australis contains glycosides and vitamin A-like substances. Animal experiments have shown that it has the effects of uterine contraction and anti-diuresis. The daily dosage of this product is 10 grams to 15 grams of decoction.

Chinese Herb Gorgon Fruit for Kidney Tonic

It is mild in nature, sweet and astringent in taste, and has the dual effects of benefiting the kidneys and strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea. "Compendium of Materia Medica" calls it "a medicine for the spleen and kidneys." "Bencao Congxin" also says that it can "replenish the spleen and consolidate essence." "New Edition of Materia Medica" also said: "Gorgon fruit not only benefits sperm, but also can astringe sperm and nourish the kidney. It can be used together with yam, grind each into powder and take it with rice every day." People with kidney deficiency, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, leucorrhea, incontinence or frequent urination should eat it regularly.

Kidney-tonifying Chinese medicine Cordyceps sinensis

It is warm in nature, sweet in taste, and has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and lungs. It is a precious medicinal material that can balance yin and yang. Its efficacy mainly comes from cordycepin, which can nourish the liver and kidneys. For example, the "New Compendium of Materia Medica" says that it "protects the lungs and benefits the kidneys." The "Yao Xing Kao" also says: "Cordyceps can secrete essence and benefit qi, and specifically replenish the gate of life."

"Ganyuan Xiaoshi" also said: "Soak a few Cordyceps sinensis in wine and eat them to treat pain between the waist and knees, and it is good for the kidneys." Although Cordyceps sinensis is a tonic and strengthening Chinese medicine with few side effects, it is not often used directly in prescriptions. For those with kidney deficiency, it is best to stew Cordyceps with meat such as lean pork, chicken or duck, or even fresh placenta to make a tonic food, which is more beneficial.

Chinese medicine for kidney tonification: wolfberry

It is mild in nature and sweet in taste. It has the functions of nourishing the kidney and liver, improving essence and eyesight, strengthening muscles and bones, relieving low back pain, and prolonging life if taken for a long time. It is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly people with kidney deficiency. For example, "Compendium of Materia Medica" records: "Wolfberry nourishes the kidney and improves the essence. Excessive water makes the bones strong, and it can cure thirst, blurred vision, back pain and knee pain." "Compendium of Materia Medica" also says: "Wolfberry is an essential medicine for replenishing the liver and kidney yin deficiency, fatigue and internal heat. Seven out of ten elderly people suffer from yin deficiency, so it is considered a top-grade product for improving essence and improving eyesight."

Chinese medicine for kidney tonification

It is warm in nature, sweet and slightly spicy in taste, can nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen the tendons and bones, and is most suitable for patients with back pain, weak feet and knees caused by kidney deficiency, paralysis of the lower limbs in children, and habitual abortion caused by kidney deficiency in women. As Miao Xiyong, a physician in the Ming Dynasty, explained: "Eucommia ulmoides cures back pain, strengthens vital energy, strengthens tendons and bones, and relieves soreness in the feet. The waist is the home of the kidneys, and if it cannot move, the kidneys will become exhausted. Eucommia ulmoides replenishes the deficiency and strengthens the kidneys."

Chinese medicine for kidney tonification: Polygonum multiflorum

It has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys, and improving the essence and blood. Doctors of all dynasties have used it for people with kidney deficiency. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty said: "Polygonum multiflorum can nourish blood and benefit liver, consolidate essence and benefit kidney, strengthen muscles and bones, and blacken hair. It is a good tonic, and its effect is better than that of Rehmannia glutinosa and Asparagus cochinchinensis." Huang Gongxiu, a famous doctor in the Qing Dynasty, also said: "Polygonum multiflorum is said in all books to nourish water and strengthen kidney, make hair black and light, and is highly praised." It is suitable for people with kidney deficiency, premature graying hair, weak waist and knees, sore muscles and bones, men with spermatorrhea, and women with leucorrhea.

Kidney-tonifying Chinese medicine for winter kidney nourishment

First, mutton soup

Lamb, wolfberry, pepper. Preparation method: Wash and chop the mutton, put it into a pot and add appropriate amount of water to boil. When the meat is cooked, add wolfberry and continue to cook the mutton until it is well-cooked. Then add onion, ginger, salt and pepper to season.

Health benefits: tonifies the kidney and strengthens yang, nourishes blood and improves essence. It is suitable for patients suffering from dizziness, tinnitus, soreness of waist and knees, weight loss, kidney deficiency and impotence, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and physical weakness in the elderly.

Second, yam dumplings

Ingredients: yam, glutinous rice, brown sugar, pepper.

Preparation method: Grind the yam into powder, steam it in a steamer, then add brown sugar and pepper to make meat filling. Soak the glutinous rice for a while, grind it into glutinous rice flour, then add yam filling and glutinous rice flour to make dumplings, put them into the pot and cook. Health benefits: Strengthens the spleen and kidneys. It is suitable for patients with kidney essence deficiency, spleen deficiency and poor appetite.

Third, double ear soup

Ingredients: black fungus, white fungus, rock sugar. Preparation method: first soak the black fungus and white fungus in warm water, wash them clean and put them in a steaming bowl together, add appropriate amount of water and rock sugar, put them in a steamer and steam them until cooked. Health effects: tonifies the kidney, nourishes yin and moistens the lungs. It is suitable for patients with dry mouth, dizziness, tinnitus, sore waist and knees, asthma, hypertension, vascular sclerosis, fundus hemorrhage and other symptoms caused by lung and kidney yin deficiency.