BLACK PEARL BP015 LIU WEI DI HUANG WAN REHMANNIA SIX

LIU WEI DI HUANG WAN
六味地黃丸
Rehmannia Six Formula
Product Code: BP015

TCM Actions
Nourishes the Kidney (and Liver) Yin, enriches the Kidney Essence, reduces deficiency Fire.

Indications
Debility due to chronic illness, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic nephritis, hyperthyroidism, peri-menopausal syndrome, vaginal dryness, chronic recurrent cystitis.

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

Course of treatment: 3 – 6 months. May be used for longer peri­ ods in older patients.

Safe for long term use

Signs and Syndromes
Kidney (and Liver) Yin deficiency.

Pain and weakness of the lower back and possibly also knees

Dry mouth

Night sweats

Tinnitus or loss of hearing

Dizziness

Sensation of heat in the palms and soles

Overactive libido

Nocturnal seminal emission (M) or frequent sexual dreams (F)

Red tongue with scant coat

Thready and rapid pulse (that may also be deep)

Cautions & Contraindications
Discontinue during an episode of common cold or influenza.

Formulas containing Rehmannia root may cause abdominal bloating and loose stools for the first few days of treatment. Therefore, sensitive individuals should be started on a reduced dosage, which is then gradually increased over the first week of treatment.

Comments
This is a variant of Fu Gui Ba Wei Wan – a.k.a. Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan – (Rehmannia Eight Formula) from the ‘Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet’ (jin gui yao lue fang lun) by Zhang Zhong-jing (circa 150 – 219 CE). While the original formula was designed to treat deficiency of the Kidney Yang-Essence, by leaving out the two Interior Warming herbs (Aconite – fu zi, and Cinnamon – rou gui) this formula treats a wide range of conditions due to deficiency of the Kidney Yin- Essence. This formula is highly regarded by herbal doctors in China, where one may frequently observe the frequent use of its ingredients in larger prescriptions to treat patients with Kidney Yin deficiency manifesting some of the diseases listed above. In adults Kidney Yin deficiency may arise due to the after-effects of a febrile illness (which depletes the Body Fluids and thus also the Kidney Yin); excessive sexual activity (which depletes the Kidney essence and thus also the Kidney Yin); having many children with too short an interval between births (depletion of the Blood and Kidney essence); repeated miscarriages or abortions, especially if they occurred close together; prolonged periods of excessive work or physical activity together with insufficient rest or sleep; overuse of Yang tonifying herbs; overuse of alcohol or other ‘recreational’ drugs (including coffee); prolonged emotional stimulation (causing Liver or Heart Fire, which depletes the Body Fluids and Yin); the effects of ageing; as well as hereditary lack of innate Kidney essence. Thus, Kidney Yin deficiency may manifest clinically in a wide range of chronic conditions affecting various bodily systems, most notably the endocrine, urogenital, cardiovascular systems. The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

• Rehmannia root (shu di huang), Dioscorea root (shan yao), Cornus fruit (shan zhu yu): enrich the Kidney Essence and nourish the Kidney Yin

• Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Alisma plantago rhizome (ze xie): drain Damp and induce diuresis

• Paeonia stem bark (mu dan pi), Alisma rhizome (ze xie): reduce deficiency Heat (or Fire)

• Dioscorea root (shan yao), Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling): tonify the Spleen Qi

• Cornus fruit (shan zhu yu), Dioscorea root (shan yao): Astringe the Kidney Essence (to allow it to build up without loss).

Ingredients
REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA, ROOT (shu di huang) – 熟地黃 – 97.8mg
DIOSCOREA OPPOSITIFOLIA, ROOT (shan yao) – 山藥 – 65.3mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 65.3mg
CORNUS OFFICINALIS, FRUIT (shan zhu yu) – 山茱萸 – 48.9mg
PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA, STEM BARK (mu dan pi) – 牡丹皮 – 48.9mg
ALISMA PLANTAGO AQUATICA, RHIZ. (ze xie) – 澤瀉 – 48.9mg