Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán
Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán (六味地黄丸, “Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia”) comes from Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue - Qian Yi (1119 CE). Nourishes the Yin of the Kidney and Liver.
Main action
Nourishes the Yin of the Kidney and Liver
Originally created for children with Kidney deficiency. It became the base formula of the entire Di Huang Wan family. The three toning and three draining create the perfect balance.
Indications
- Heat in palms and soles
- night sweats
- Tinnitus
- Deafness
- Low back pain
- nocturnal emissions
- Dry mouth and throat
- Tongue
- Red, dry, with little coating
- Pulse
- Fast and fine, especially in chi
Composition
| Herb | Role | Dose | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shú Dì Huáng 熟地黄 | Emperor (君 jūn) | 24g | Nourishes Blood, tones Kidney and Liver Yin |
| Shān Yào 山药 | Minister (臣 chén) | 12g | Tones Spleen, Kidney and Lung |
| Shān Zhū Yú 山茱萸 | Minister (臣 chén) | 12g | Nourishes Liver and Kidney, astringes essence |
| Fú Líng 茯苓 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 9g | Strengthens Spleen, drains moisture |
| Zé Xiè 泽泻 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 9g | Drains heat from the Kidney, prevents Shu Di from being sticky |
| Mǔ Dān Pí 牡丹皮 | Assistant (佐 zuǒ) | 9g | Cools Blood, drains empty heat from the Liver |
The emperor–minister–assistant–envoy hierarchy (君臣佐使) describes the role of each herb in the formula.
Preparation
Pill: 8-9g, 3 times/day. Decoction: boil 40 min, take on an empty stomach
Classical modifications
Add: Zhi Mu (知母) 9g, Huang Bai (黄柏) 9g → Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (知柏地黄丸)
Add: Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子) 9g, Ju Hua (菊花) 9g → Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (杞菊地黄丸)
Current uses being studied
- Menopause
- Essential hypertension
- type 2 diabetes
- Chronic tinnitus
- Osteoporosis
Precautions
- Avoid in Yang deficiency
- May cause distention if there is severe spleen deficiency: reduce dose
Formulas must be prescribed by qualified professionals; they can interact with medications.
Profile
- Chinese name
- 六味地黄丸
- English name
- Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia
- Source
- Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue - Qian Yi (1119 CE)
- Dynasty
- Song
- Category
- Nourish Yin
- Constitutions
- Yin Deficiency Constitution
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
