Nei Bu Wan (内补丸) — Internal Tonification Pill
Animal-free prescribing: The classical version of this formula contains deer velvet (Lu Rong) and deer antler (Lu Jiao). I do not use animal products — I prescribe this formula in a fully plant-based form, substituting Yin Yang Huo, Ba Ji Tian, Du Zhong.
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Overview
Nei Bu Wan — the “Internal Tonification Pill” — is from the Song-dynasty Nu Ke Bai Wen. It is a focused Kidney Yang and Essence tonic designed for female reproductive Yang deficiency: thin clear leucorrhoea, cold lower abdomen, weak knees and back, low libido, irregular cycles with light flow and infertility[21] from cold-deficient pattern. Where formulas like Wen Jing Tang emphasise warming Blood and channels, Nei Bu Wan emphasises tonifying Kidney Essence at the source.
I prescribe Nei Bu Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
TCM pattern
Nei Bu Wan is prescribed for Kidney Yang and Essence deficiency in women:
- Thin watery clear leucorrhoea, possibly continuous
- Cold lower abdomen, cold sensation in genitals
- Weak sore lumbar region and knees
- Low libido
- Light or scanty menstrual flow, late or irregular cycles
- Cold extremities, pale complexion
- Frequent clear urination
- Tongue — pale, white moist coat
- Pulse — deep, weak in chi position
Key herbs
- Lu Rong (deer antler velvet, ethically harvested cultivated source, 1-3g) or Lu Jiao Jiao — chief; tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence; strongly nourishes Blood and reproductive function
- Tu Si Zi (Sm. Cuscutae, 6-9g) — tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence; secures Essence
- Rou Cong Rong (Hb. Cistanches, 6-9g), Ba Ji Tian — tonify Kidney Yang
- Huang Qi (Rx. Astragali, 6-15g) — tonifies Qi
- Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Shu Di Huang — nourish Blood and Yin (balance the warming herbs)
- Sang Piao Xiao (Ootheca Mantidis, 6-9g) — secures Essence; consolidates urination
- Zi Wan (Radix Asteris, 3-9g) — warms the Lung-Kidney axis
Formula actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence
- Nourishes Blood and Yin
- Secures Essence; consolidates leucorrhoea
- Restores female reproductive function
Conditions treated
- Cold-uterus infertility — see fertility
- Recurrent pregnancy loss with Kidney Yang deficiency — see recurrent miscarriage[15]
- Chronic clear watery leucorrhoea from Kidney Yang deficiency
- Premature ovarian insufficiency with cold-deficient pattern
- Hypoplasia of uterus or thin endometrium with Yang deficiency
- Low libido with cold-deficient pattern
- Post-menopausal urogenital atrophy with Yang deficiency
Cautions
Use Lu Rong from ethically harvested cultivated deer sources; cultivated deer antler is not endangered and is harvested non-lethally.
Not appropriate for Yin-deficient Heat patterns, Damp-Heat leucorrhoea (yellow, foul-smelling) or Liver Fire — the warming herbs aggravate Heat.
Persistent leucorrhoea, abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain or signs of infection need medical assessment.
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.
References
[15] Xie H, Zhang A, Mou X, He T, Li J, Wang CC, Fan X, Li L. Chinese herbal medicine for threatened miscarriage: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Feb 14;14:1083746. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1083746. PMID: 36865912.
[21] Ried K. Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Feb;23(1):116-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2014.12.004. PMID: 25637159.
