REHMANNIA EIGHT VITALITY FORMULA FU GUI BA WEI TANG

CM166 REHMANNIA EIGHT VITALITY FORMULA FU GUI BA WEI TANG

REHMANNIA EIGHT VITALITY Formula CM166 附桂八味湯
TCM ACTIONS
Warm-tonifies the Kidney Yang.
TCM SYNDROMES
Kidney Yang deficiency
INDICATIONS
Chronic nephritis, diabetes mellitus, hyperaldosteronism, diabetes insipidus,
menopausal syndrome, erectile dysfunction, spermatorrhea, geriatric cataract,
chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS (Key clinical features in bold)
Low back pain (usually with a cold sensation)
Intolerance of cold
Cold hands, feet and lower abdomen
Polyuria, nocturia
Low libido
Pale complexion
Fatigue
Infertility
Erectile dysfunction
Pale, swollen and moist tongue
Deep pulse that is also weak and thready

INGREDIENTS
– Rehmannia glutinosa, root 地黃 268.2 mg
– Dioscorea oppositifolia, root 山藥 266.4 mg
– Cornus officinalis, fruit 山茱萸 199.8 mg
– Alisma plantago aquatica, rhizome 澤瀉 199.8 mg
– Paeonia suffruticosa, stem bark 牡丹皮 199.8 mg
– Cinnamomum cassia, stem bark 肉桂 133.2 mg
– Zingiber officinale, rhizome (fresh) 生薑 133.2 mg

DOSAGE & COURSE OF TREATMENT
9 – 12 capsules, 2 times daily.
In severe cases and in the early stages of treatment (first 2 – 3 weeks) the dosage
may be increased by adding an additional dose per day.
Course of treatment: 3 – 9 months, or ongoing for elderly patients
Safe for long term use.
CONTRAINDICATIONS & INTERACTIONS
Caution with patients on antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g. quinidine, procainamide,
disopyramide)
COMBINATIONS

• Asthma – maintenance treatment during remission stage (select one):
+ LUNG FUNCTION 2 Formula (CM143)
+ DEFENCE PLUS Formula (CM192)
• Loss of libido (select one):
+ MEN’S Formula (CM160)
+ WOMEN’S Formula (CM173)
+ SEXUAL FUNCTION Formula (CM112)
• Low back pain, sciatica:
+ OSTEO SUPPORT Formula (CM163)
+ BACK AND KNEES Formula (CM176)
• Polyuria or nocturia:
+ ENERGY TONIC Formula (CM139)
COMMENTS
This is a classical formula that 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). 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. Signs of Kidney
Qi deficiency include low back pain, reduced libido, and severe fatigue. Secondly,
this formula addresses deficiency of the Kidney Yang with insufficiency of its
warming and activating functions. This may manifest clinically with cold intolerance,
cold extremities and cold sensations in the lower back and abdomen. The third
covers disturbances of fluid metabolism: deficiency of the Kidney Yang leads to
insufficiency of the original Qi (yuan qi), which normally drives the metabolism of
fluids. Clinical features here include either excessive loss of fluids with polyuria,
nocturia and pale coloured urine, or, alternatively, signs of fluid retention with oliguria
and edema.
Finally, this formula is effective in conditions due to disturbance of the minister Fire,
which is an aspect of the Kidney Yang. This pattern is often referred to as ‘false Heat
with true Cold’. Clinical manifestations include menopausal hot flushes, wheezing,
severe sweating, etc. with signs of Cold in the lower body.
Due to Australian Health department regulatory requirements, the formula does not
contain Aconite, as does the original. However, Zingiber rhizome, dried (gan jiang) is
included, as a substitute ingredient.