Yin tonics — Chinese herbs that nourish Yin (补阴药)

Yin tonics (补阴药, bu yin yao) are sweet, cool, moistening herbs that nourish the cooling, anchoring substance of the body. They are indicated in the great clinical picture of Yin deficiency: dry mouth, night sweats, hot palms and soles, low-grade afternoon fever, thirst, dry skin and hair, restless sleep, hot flushes, and the substance depletion that characterises perimenopause, late-stage chronic illness and post-febrile-illness recovery.

Herbs in this category (11)

Clinical use and key formulas

The principal foundational formula is Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) for Kidney Yin deficiency. The Liu Wei family includes Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (with Zhi Mu and Huang Bai added for Yin deficiency with empty heat), Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (with Gou Qi Zi and Ju Hua for Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency with eye symptoms), and Mai Wei Di Huang Wan (with Mai Men Dong and Wu Wei Zi for Lung-Kidney Yin deficiency with chronic dry cough). For severe Kidney Yin deficiency with marked empty fire (night sweats, afternoon fever, tinnitus), Da Bu Yin Wan (Great Tonify the Yin Pill) is the principal Zhu Dan-Xi formula. For Liver Yin deficiency, Yi Guan Jian (Linking Decoction) nourishes Liver-Kidney Yin while gently moving Liver Qi. For more substantial Yin tonification, Zuo Gui Wan (Restore the Left Pill) by Zhang Jing-Yue adds Gou Qi Zi, Tu Si Zi and mineral additions. For Lung-Stomach Yin deficiency with dry cough, Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang combines Sha Shen, Mai Men Dong, Yu Zhu and Tian Hua Fen. See the deep article on Kidney and Bladder disorders for the full clinical framework.

Cautions

Yin tonics are sweet and cloying — can be hard for a weak Spleen to digest. Where the Spleen is also weak, combine with small doses of aromatic Spleen-supporting herbs (Sha Ren, Chen Pi) to prevent food stagnation. Avoid in patients with severe Spleen Yang deficiency, prominent Damp accumulation or acute exogenous attack.