Yin tonic herbs

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In a previous post we saw that Qi tonics usually target the Spleen and Lungs

because these are the two systems most responsible for maintaining Qi in the

body. The Spleen extracts the Qi from the food we eat (grain Qi) and

transports it to the Lungs where it mixes with the air Qi that the Lungs

have extracted from air.

 

In this post we'll look at Yin tonics in more detail.

 

The term " tonic " is used in TCM in a far more limited sense than in the

West. A tonic is an herb which will supply Qi, Yang, Yin, and/or build

Blood correctly. Tonic herbs are given when there is a Deficiency (not

enough) Qi, Yang, Yin, and/or Blood.

 

The Cliff Notes version of what Yin does in the body is it cools and calms.

Thus, another term for Yin Deficiency is Deficiency Heat. The person is too

Hot because there is not enough Yin to cool the body. Some of the symptoms

of Yin Deficiency are malar flush (especially on the cheeks), feelings of

heat especially in the afternoon and evening, the person feels thirsty,

urine is concentrated, Heat in the 5-palms (soles of feet, palms of hand,

and chest), and night sweats. A person who is Yin Deficient also tends to

be agitated and maybe even nervous because there is not enough Yin to cool

the body properly. Fatigue is a symptom of all Deficiencies (Qi, Blood,

Yang, or Yin), though in the case of Yin Deficiency the agitation may mask

the fatigue. The exception to this Kidney Yin Deficiency. Since the

Kidneys supply Yin (and Yang) to the entire body, the symptoms of Yin

Deficiency can be especially pronounced when the Kidneys are Yin Deficient.

In fact, there is a generalized whole body Yin Deficiency when the Kidneys

are Deficient in Yin since the Kidneys supply Yin to the rest of the body.

 

The subcategory of Yin Tonic Herbs (Tonic Herbs - Yin Tonic Herbs) is

further roughly divided into two sub-subcategories: Yin tonics which enter

the Lungs and Stomach, and Yin tonics which enter the Liver and Kidney. The

Yin tonics which enter the Stomach and Lungs usually are used when a high

fever has damaged Lung and Stomach Yin (Ying- or Xue-stage Heat with Damage

to Yin). In the case of infectious diseases, two of the systems usually

attacked first and hardest are the Lungs and the Stomach. The Yin in these

systems gets severely damaged or even burned up by the fever, and Yin tonics

which enter the Lungs and the Stomach will replace the Yin in these systems.

 

In contrast, the Yin tonics which enter the Kidneys and Liver are for more

severe and deeper cases of Yin Deficiency. If Stomach and/or Lung Yin

Deficiency are left untreated or inappropriately treated, over time, they

can result in damage to Liver and Kidney Yin. The untreated Evil moves

deeper into the body, into the Liver and Kidney. This is especially

troublesome in the case of Kidney Yin Deficiency because the Kidneys supply

Yin to the entire body. (Note: Untreated infection with fever is not the

only thing which can damage Kidney Yin or Liver Yin.)

 

When a person is Kidney Yin Deficient, it is customary to also include a

Kidney Yang tonic in the formula. When the Kidneys are Yin Deficient, they

almost always are Yang Deficient too. Likewise when the Kidneys are Yang

Deficient, they almost always are Yin Deficient too, so a Yin tonic herb is

included in formulas for Kidney Yang Deficiency. Although both usually are

present together when the Kidneys are affected, one will always predominate.

Sometimes one will predominate to the extent that it will mask the other

Deficiency. In these severe cases it is only after the predominate

Deficiency starts to respond to treatment that the other Deficiency is

noticeable. So, in order to avoid side effects, at least one herb for the

other Deficiency is included in Kidney Yang and Kidney Yin Deficiency

formulas. Sometimes the predominate Deficiency and the lesser Deficiency

will both be apparent though the symptoms of one will predominate.

 

There are some similarities between Yin Deficiency and Blood Deficiency.

Both Blood and Yin are classified as Yin in nature. (Qi is classified as

Yang in nature.) Both Yin Deficiency and Blood Deficiency will have a

quality of Dryness. However, Yin Deficiency will have more of a quality of

Heat. It's Yin which cools the body. Blood tonics will tend to have warm

or neutral thermal energy whereas the Yin tonic herbs will tend to be

cooling. The Yin tonic herbs will tend to have bitter-sweet tastes. Both

the Yin tonic and the Blood tonic herbs will tend to have a moistening

effect. (You'll want to be careful about using these when Dampness has

accumulated. Yes, you do run into some cases where a person will suffer

from Yin Deficiency with its drying effects as well Dampness accumulation.

The clinical picture is a mixed Deficiency-Excess one. This is where

knowing which systems a particular herb targets can be especially helpful.)

 

When a person suffers from both Blood and Yin Deficiency, this is no more

severe than when a person suffers from either alone. However, when a person

is Yang Deficient in addition to being Qi Deficient, this is a much worse

situation than the person just being Qi Deficient. The symptoms, especially

the fatigue can be much, much worse than when a person is just Qi Deficient.

In addition, there will be the problems with Cold that mark Yang

Deficieny.

 

Victoria

 

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