You Gui Wan — Restore the Right Kidney Pill

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1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Conditions treated
5. Cautions

Overview

You Gui Wan — Restore the Right Kidney Pill — is the most powerful Yang-tonifying formula for cases of profound and deeply-rooted Kidney Yang deficiency. Created by the Ming Dynasty physician Zhang Jiebin (1563–1640 CE), it is more comprehensive than the earlier Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan and is prescribed when that formula is insufficient for the degree of Yang depletion present. The “Right Kidney” refers to Ming Men — the Gate of Life — the source of all Yang and warming activity in the body in TCM.

TCM pattern

Prescribed for profound Kidney Yang deficiency with diminished Ming Men Fire, characterised by: extreme fatigue and lack of drive or motivation, aversion to cold and cold extremities (especially the back and lower limbs), impotence, spermatorrhoea, infertility, lower back pain and weakness, nocturia, loose stools with undigested food, a pale swollen tongue with white coating, and a deep, slow, weak pulse in the Chi (kidney) position.

Key herbs

1. Fu Zi (Aconitum carmichaelii prepared root) — powerfully warms and restores Kidney Yang; tonifies Ming Men Fire
2. Rou Gui (Cinnamomum cassia bark) — warms the channels and Ming Men; guides Fire back to its source in the Kidney
3. Lu Jiao Jiao (Cervus nippon antler gelatin) — nourishes Kidney Yang and Essence at the deepest constitutional level
4. Shu Di Huang (prepared Rehmannia root) — nourishes Kidney Yin and Essence; provides the Yin foundation that Yang must rest upon
5. Shan Yao (Dioscorea opposita rhizome) — tonifies Spleen, Lung and Kidney Qi
6. Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus officinalis fruit) — astringes the Kidney and nourishes Liver and Kidney
7. Gou Qi Zi (Lycium barbarum fruit) — nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin and Essence
8. Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta chinensis seed) — tonifies Kidney Yang and secures Essence
9. Du Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides bark) — tonifies Kidney Yang and strengthens the lower back
10. Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root) — nourishes Blood and Liver

Conditions treated

1. Profound Kidney Yang deficiency when Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan is insufficient for the degree of cold and depletion present
2. Severe burnout with Kidney Yang exhaustion — extreme fatigue, cold, loss of motivation
3. Male infertility and impotence from Kidney Yang deficiency
4. Female infertility from cold uterus and Kidney Yang deficiency
5. Lower back pain with cold, weakness and fatigue from Ming Men Fire depletion
6. Menopause with predominant Yang deficiency — cold fatigue, oedema and low libido

Contains Fu Zi (Aconitum): contraindicated in Yin deficiency with Heat, active infections and pregnancy. Requires qualified practitioner supervision.

Cautions

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available. See the prices page for costs.