BLACK PEARL BP011 FU GUI BA WEI WAN REHMANNIA EIGHT

FU GUI BA WEI WAN (also found as: Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan)
金匱腎氣丸 (附桂八味丸)
Rehmannia Eight Formula
Product Code: BP011

TCM Actions
Warm-tonifies the Kidney Yang Warms the middle Jiao Dispels interior Cold

Indications
Chronic nephritis, diabetes mellitus, hyperaldosteronism, diabetes insipidus, menopausal syndrome, erectile dysfunction, spermatorrhea, geriatric cataract, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma.

Dosage & Course Of Treatment
8 pills, 3 times daily, half to one hour away from food.

Course of treatment: 3 – 9 months, or ongoing for elderly patients

Safe for long term use.

Signs and Syndromes
Kidney Yang deficiency

Low back pain (usually with a cold sensation)

Intolerance of cold

Cold hands, feet and lower abdomen

Polyuria, nocturia

Low libido

Pale complexion

Fatigue

Poor appetite

Infertility

Erectile dysfunction

Pale, swollen and moist tongue

Deep pulse that is also weak and thready

Cautions & Contraindications
Caution with patients on antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g. quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide)

Comments
This formula was originally recorded in the ‘Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet’ (jin gui yao lue fang lun) by Zhang Zhong-jing (circa 150 – 219 CE). This work is the earliest surviving record that details the diagnosis and treatment of miscellaneous diseases of internal medicine, as well as some surgical diseases and gynecological disorders, according to the Eight Principles. The alternative name for this formula means: ‘Kidney Qi (tonic) Pill from the (Synopsis of Prescriptions of the) Golden Cabinet’. Like so many of Zhang Zhong-jing’s formulas, this one was so ingeniously designed that its clinical uses have been expanded over the centuries to include many more disorders than originally intended. Its actions cover four broad areas, all of which are related to Kidney deficiency. The first is Kidney Qi deficiency: because the formula warm-tonifies the Kidney Yang and nourishes the Kidney Yin, it facilitates the production of Kidney Qi (which is generated by the action of the Kidney Yang on the Kidney Yin). Secondly, this formula addresses deficiency of the Kidney Yang with insufficiency of its warming and activating functions. The third covers disturbances of fluid metabolism: deficiency of the Kidney Yang and the Kidney Essence lead to insufficiency of the original Qi (yuan qi), which normally ascends through the Triple Jiao to drive the metabolism of fluids (as well as the digestion of food). Finally, this formula is effective in conditions due to disturbance of the ministerial Fire (the Fire of the Kidney, an aspect of the Kidney Yang). One of the functions of the original Qi is to keep the ministerial Fire subdued and confined to the lower Jiao. When the original Qi becomes deficient, the Kidney Fire is unrestrained and rises upwards, manifesting signs of Heat in the upper body (accompanied by signs of Cold in the lower body). This syndrome pattern is often referred to as ‘false Heat with true Cold’. The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

Ingredients
REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA, ROOT (shu di huang) – 熟地黃 – 60.4 mg
DIOSCOREA OPPOSITIFOLIA, ROOT (shan yao) – 山藥 – 60.4 mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, HYPHAE (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 60.4 mg
CORNUS OFFICINALIS, FRUIT (shan zhu yu) – 山茱萸 – 45.3 mg
PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA, STEM BARK (mu dan pi) – 牡丹皮 – 45.3 mg
ALISMA PLANTAGO AQUATICA, RHIZOME (ze xie) – 澤瀉 – 45.3 mg
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE RHIZOME (gan jiang*) – 乾薑 – 30.2 mg
CINNAMOMUM CASSIA, STEM BARK (rou gui) – 肉桂 – 30.2 mg