BLACK PEARL BP075 MING MU DI HUANG WAN REHMANNIA FORMULA

MING MU DI HUANG WAN
明目地黃丸
Rehmannia Formula to Brighten the Eyes
Product Code: BP075

TCM Actions
Nourishes the Liver and Kidney Yin, nourishes the Blood and Essence, calms the Liver and subdues the hyperactive Yang, sends Essence and Blood to the eyes to improve eyesight.

Indications
Glaucoma (chronic or open angle), cataract (early stage), optic neuritis, retinitis, optic nerve atrophy, retinal degeneration, macular degeneration, dry eyes due to Sjögren’s syndrome, hypertension.

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

Course of treatment: 3 to 6 months.

Signs and Syndromes
Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency Liver Blood deficiency Liver Yang hyperactivity

Poor vision (blurring, diminished visual acuity)

Dry eyes

Sense of pressure in or behind the eyes

Signs of Liver & Kidney Yin deficiency: (dizziness, tinnitus, poor memory, dry mouth and throat, night sweating, low back pain, etc.)

Itchy eyes

Red eyes

Night blindness

Photophobia

Dry tongue with little or no coat, may also be: thin, red

Pulse is thready, rapid and may also be wiry

Cautions & Contraindications
Not suitable for acute inflammation of the eyes.

Contraindicated during an episode of the common cold or ‘flu.

Comments
This formula is a variant of the formula by the same name from ‘A Precious Work on Ophthalmology’ (shen shi yao han) by Fu Yin-ke (a.k.a. Fu Ren-yu), 1644. This is a comprehensive text on eye diseases in seven volumes that describes diagnosis and treatments for 108 different ophthalmological disorders. The formula’s name refers to the base formula ([liu wei] di huang wan), which is discussed above, and the fact that it is designed to improve the eyesight (ming mu) – literally ‘brighten the eyes’. This is a broad acting formula that covers a number of bases. Because of the strong association of the eyes and the sense of vision with the Liver – ‘the eye is the signalling sense organ (miao qiao) of the Liver’ – specifically with the Liver Blood, one of the formula’s main therapeutic actions is to nourish the Liver Blood and thus also nourish the eyes. This is done both directly as well as indirectly, by nourishing the Yin of both the Kidney and Liver. By nourishing the Kidney, the Liver is also benefited due to the Five Phases promotion relationship that exists between these organs. In addition tonification of the Kidney assists in keeping the eyes moist due to the Kidney’s governance of fluid metabolism. Moreover, because this formula also acts to reduce deficiency Fire and subdue Yang hyperactivity, it is effective in treating inflammation and pain or pressure in the eye, as well as ocular dryness and irritation that may arise due to these pathodynamics. Thus, four of the major disease mechanisms of ocular diseases are addressed by this formula. It should be noted that this is essentially a tonifying formula and is therefore specific for deficiency conditions, such as those that may occur with advancing age. The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

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

• Rehmannia root (shu di huang), Lycium fruit (gou qi zi), Angelica root (dang- gui), Paeonia root (bai shao): nourish the Liver Blood

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

• Cornus fruit (shan zhu yu), Dioscorea root (shan yao), Astragalus seed (sha yuan zi): astringe the Kidney Essence (to allow it to build up without loss).

• Lycium fruit (gou qi zi), Chrysanthemum flower (ju hua), Tribulus fruit (ji li): calm the Liver and subdue the hyperactive Yang, improve vision and soothe inflammation

• Wolfiporia cocos (fu ling), Alisma plantago rhizome (ze xie): drain Damp and induce diuresis (to help restore the Kidney’s governance of the Fluids)

• Paeonia stem bark (mu dan pi), Alisma rhizome (ze xie): reduce deficiency Fire (due to Yin deficiency)

• Astragalus seed (sha yuan zi): nourishes the Liver and Kidney, enriches the Kidney Essence and improves vision

• Paeonia stem bark (mu dan pi), Chrysanthemum flower (ju hua): clear ascending Liver Fire that affects the eyes

Ingredients
REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA, ROOT (shu di huang) – 熟地黃 – 44.7 mg
DIOSCOREA OPPOSITIFOLIA, ROOT (shan yao) – 山藥 – 44.7 mg
WOLFIPORIA COCOS, FRUIT. BODY (fu ling) – 茯苓 – 35.7 mg
CORNUS OFFICINALIS, FRUIT (shan yu rou) – 山茱萸 – 35.7 mg
LYCIUM BARBARUM, FRUIT (gou qi zi) – 枸杞子 – 35.7 mg
ALISMA ORIENTALE, RHIZ. (ze xie) – 澤瀉 – 26.8 mg
PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA, STEM BARK (mu dan pi) – 牡丹皮 – 26.8 mg
ANGELICA POLYMORPHA, ROOT (dang-gui) – 當歸 – 26.8 mg
PAEONIA LACTIFLORA, ROOT (bai shao) – 白芍 – 26.8 mg
TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS, FRUIT (ji li) – 蒺藜 – 26.8 mg
ASTRAGALUS COMPLANATUS, SEED (sha yuan zi) – 沙苑子 – 26.8 mg
CHRYSANTHEMUM SINENSE, FLOWER (ju hua) – 菊花 – 17.9 mg