Mai Wei Di Huang Wan — Ophiopogon, Schisandra & Rehmannia Pill
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Overview
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan — also called Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan (“Eight Immortals Long Life Pill”) — is a modification of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with Mai Men Dong and Wu Wei Zi added. It targets combined Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency — the chronic depletion picture seen in long-standing dry cough, chronic respiratory disease, post-COVID Yin damage, and Yin-deficient hot flushes that combine respiratory and constitutional symptoms.
I prescribe Mai Wei Di Huang Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
TCM pattern
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is prescribed for combined Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency:
- Chronic dry cough, possibly with thick scanty phlegm or a little blood
- Dry mouth and throat
- Wheeze worse on exertion
- Five-palm Heat, low-grade afternoon flushes
- Night sweats
- Lower-back ache, weak knees
- Tinnitus, dizziness
- Tongue — red, scant or peeled coat
- Pulse — thin, rapid
Key herbs
- Shu Di Huang — chief; tonifies Kidney Yin and Blood
- Shan Yao — tonifies Spleen, Lung and Kidney
- Shan Zhu Yu — tonifies and astringes Liver and Kidney
- Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Mu Dan Pi — mildly drain (prevent the nourishing herbs from causing stagnation)
- Mai Men Dong — nourishes Lung Yin; moistens dryness
- Wu Wei Zi — astringes Lung Qi; secures Kidney; stops chronic cough and night sweats
Formula actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yin
- Nourishes Lung Yin
- Stops chronic dry cough
- Astringes Lung and Kidney
Conditions treated
- Chronic dry cough from Lung-Kidney Yin deficiency
- Bronchiectasis with Yin-deficient dry pattern
- COPD with chronic Yin damage
- Post-COVID dry cough and fatigue with Yin damage
- Pulmonary fibrosis with dry cough and dyspnoea (adjunctive)
- Yin-deficient asthma with night sweats and dry throat
- Climacteric hot flushes with dry cough and respiratory symptoms
- Diabetes (Xiao Ke) upper-burner type with thirst and cough
Cautions
Not appropriate for acute Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat respiratory infections, Phlegm-Damp patterns, or Spleen-Qi deficiency with loose stools — the nourishing herbs cause stagnation.
Chronic cough with weight loss, haemoptysis or progressive dyspnoea requires medical investigation to exclude tuberculosis, malignancy or other serious pathology.
Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.
Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.
