Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (六味地黄丸) — Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill
Quick answer: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan — "Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill" — is the foundational Chinese herbal formula for nourishing Kidney Yin. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan combines three Yin-nourishing herbs (Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Shan Yao) with three gentle-draining herbs (Ze Xie, Mu Dan Pi, Fu Ling) to tonify without becoming cloying. It is used for tinnitus, night sweats, hot flushes, dizziness, lower back and knee weakness, insomnia, low AMH, premature ovarian failure and menopausal Kidney Yin deficiency.
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What is Liu Wei Di Huang Wan?
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan — "Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill" — is a Song-dynasty Chinese herbal formula (Qian Yi, 1032–1113 CE) that serves as the foundational formula for nourishing Kidney Yin at all ages, structured around the principle of "three tonifications and three drainages".
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan — Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill — is one of the most famous and widely used formulas in the entire history of Chinese herbal medicine. Originally formulated by the Song Dynasty physician Qian Yi (1032–1113 CE), it serves as the foundational formula for nourishing Kidney Yin at all ages and the base from which an entire family of derivative formulas is built — including Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, Qi Ju Di Huang Wan and Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan. It is structured around the principle of “three tonifications and three drainages” — three Yin-nourishing herbs paired with three herbs that gently drain pathological byproducts to prevent the formula from becoming excessively cloying.
What TCM pattern does Liu Wei Di Huang Wan treat?
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan treats Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency — the pattern of dryness, heat from below, weakness of the lower back and knees, tinnitus, dizziness, night sweats, hot palms and soles, red tongue with little coating, and a thin rapid pulse.
Prescribed for Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency, characterised by: soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweats, heat sensations in the palms, soles and chest, dry mouth and throat particularly at night, a red tongue with little or no coating, and a thin, rapid pulse.
What six herbs are in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan?
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan contains six herbs: Shu Di Huang (prepared rehmannia), Shan Zhu Yu (cornus fruit) and Shan Yao (Chinese yam) to tonify, paired with Ze Xie (alisma), Mu Dan Pi (peony bark) and Fu Ling (poria) to gently drain — the "three tonifications and three drainages" that prevent the formula from becoming cloying.
Shu Di Huang (prepared Rehmannia root, 8-30g)
the principal herb; powerfully nourishes Kidney Yin and Essence
Ze Xie (Alisma plantago-aquatica rhizome, 3-15g)
drains Kidney Dampness and Heat; prevents Shu Di Huang from becoming too cloying
Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus officinalis fruit, 4-20g)
nourishes and astringes the Liver and Kidney; prevents leakage of Essence
Mu Dan Pi (Paeonia suffruticosa root bark, 3-15g)
clears Liver Heat and invigorates Blood
Shan Yao (Dioscorea opposita rhizome, 4-15g)
tonifies Spleen, Lung and Kidney Qi
Fu Ling (Poria cocos, 3-15g)
tonifies Spleen and drains Dampness
What does Liu Wei Di Huang Wan do?
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan has two core actions: it nourishes and tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin, and clears Empty Heat — the heat that rises when Yin can no longer anchor it.
- Nourishes and tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin
- Clears Empty Heat
What conditions does Liu Wei Di Huang Wan treat?
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is used to treat tinnitus, menopausal hot flushes and night sweats, insomnia, low AMH and premature ovarian failure, lower back pain and knee weakness from Kidney Yin deficiency, and is the parent formula for Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, Qi Ju Di Huang Wan and Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.
- Tinnitus and hearing decline from Kidney Yin deficiency
- Menopausal symptoms — the base formula for Kidney Yin deficiency menopause; modified into Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan when Empty Heat is more prominent
- Night sweats, hot flushes and afternoon heat sensations
- Insomnia from Yin deficiency leaving the Shen unanchored
- Low AMH level and premature ovarian failure from Kidney Yin and Essence depletion
- Lower back pain and knee weakness from Kidney Yin deficiency
Contraindicated in patients with significant Spleen deficiency and Dampness, Cold patterns or Yang deficiency as the primary presentation.
Are there any cautions with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan?
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is contraindicated in patients with significant Spleen deficiency and Dampness, in Cold patterns and in Yang deficiency as the primary presentation. The rich Yin tonics in the formula can burden weak digestion if the underlying pattern is not Yin-deficient.
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