di huang yin zi

Rehmannia Decoction

About di huang yin zi

Di Huang Yin Zi, Rehmannia Decoction, is Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Rou Cong Rong, Ba Ji Tian, Zhi Fu Zi, Rou Gui, Shi Hu, Mai Men Dong, Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi, Fu Ling and Wu Wei Zi. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that extinguish internal Wind.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
shu di huang	—
shan zhu yu	—
rou cong rong	—
ba ji tian	—
zhi fu zi	—
rou gui	—
shi hu	—
mai men dong	—
shi chang pu	—
yuan zhi	—
fu ling	—
wu wei zi	—

Actions and indications

Enriches Kidney Yin and tonifies Kidney Yang

Deficiency of both Kidney Yin and Yang, the root of a deficiency-type Wind-stroke, rather than Liver Wind or rising Yang
Mute paralysis (yin fei): weak, withered, cold or paralysed legs with a sore lower back
Dry mouth with little or no wish to drink
Cold feet, possibly alongside a flushed face from Yang floating up without an anchor
Tongue pink or pale, with a moist or greasy coat; pulse deep (submerged), thin, weak, and possibly slow

Resolves Phlegm and opens the orifices

Phlegm misting the Heart and sensory orifices; Phlegm and turbidity attacking upward
Tongue stiff and rigid; speech slurred or lost
A dull or clouded mind

Modern uses

Stroke
After-effects of stroke, including aphasia and weak legs
Cerebrovascular diseases
Cerebral arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Hypertensive encephalopathy
Hypertension secondary to glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis
Coronary heart disease
Vascular dementia with decline in speech, thinking and coordination
Dementia
Aphasia
Dysphagia
Paralysis of the legs
Numbness
Paresthesia
Acute transverse myelitis
Myelanalosis
Syringomyelia
Poliomyelitis
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Primary lateral sclerosis
Diabetes mellitus
Hyperglycemia
Wasting and thirsting presentations
Obesity
Urinary incontinence
Itching
Hysteria
Schizophrenia

Symptoms

Aphasia
Cold limbs
Dry mouth
Flushed face
Loss of voice
Mental dullness
Paralysis
Slurred speech
Sore and weak low back and knees
Stiff tongue
Thirst with no desire to drink
Weak limbs

Modifications

Hot joints from Kidney Yin deficiency: + sang zhi, + di gu pi, + bie jia, − rou gui, − zhi fu zi
Kidney Yang deficiency with cold, painful back and knees: + yin yang huo, + xian mao
Qi deficiency: + huang qi, + ren shen
No loss of speech: − shi chang pu, − yuan zhi, − bo he
Myelanalosis (spinal cord wasting): + lu jiao shuang, + gui ban jiao, + gou qi zi, + suo yang, + tian ma
Leg paralysis with feverish joints from Kidney Yin deficiency: + bie jia, + sang zhi, − bo he, − da zao
Kidney Yin deficiency: + di gu pi, + bie jia
Paralysis of the lower legs with hot, irritated joints in Yin deficiency: + sang ji sheng, + di gu pi, + bie jia
Lower leg paralysis, second option: + xian mao, + yin yang huo, − zhi fu zi, − rou gui
Phlegm-Fire with Kidney Yin deficiency: + chuan bei mu, + zhu li, + dan nan xing, + zhi tian nan xing, − rou gui, − zhi fu zi
Difficulty swallowing without Yang deficiency: − zhi fu zi, − rou gui
Difficulty swallowing, mainly Yang deficiency: + yin yang huo, + xian mao

Show all 25 modifications

Severe difficulty swallowing: + mu hu die, + jie geng
Stroke with hemiplegia and loss of speech: + shi chang pu, + luo shi teng, − bo he
ALS, Qi deficiency: + huang qi, + ren shen
ALS, Yin deficiency: + sheng di huang, + nu zhen zi, + han lian cao
ALS, Phlegm-Fire: + tian zhu huang, + zhu li, + dan nan xing, − zhi fu zi, − rou gui
ALS, Heart Blood deficiency: + suan zao ren, + ye jiao teng
ALS, constipation: + zhi mu, + gua lou ren, + he shou wu, + tao ren, + huo ma ren, + dang gui, + ge gen, + yu li ren, + suo yang
ALS, marked muscle twitching: + jiang can, + chan tui, + di long, + wu gong
ALS, weak neck muscles: + ge gen, + lu jiao jiao
ALS, limb pain: + bai shao, + mu gua, + xi xian cao
Prominent Wind signs: + tian ma, + fang feng
Spasm or tremor: + quan xie, + wu gong
To aid recovery from paralysis: + di long, + huang qi

Cautions

contraindication Not for rising Liver Yang, or for Phlegm-Heat or high fever (excess-type Wind-stroke)
caution Take care in pure Yin deficiency without Yang deficiency signs, since Fu Zi and Rou Gui may aggravate Heat
caution Contains Fu Zi, which is toxic raw or poorly processed: use only properly processed material, correct doses and adequate cooking time, under a qualified practitioner
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy, as it contains Fu Zi and Rou Gui
contraindication Not for the acute crisis of stroke: it is a recovery-stage formula and never replaces emergency medical care
caution Traditionally Fu Zi clashes with Bai Lian, Bai Ji, Bei Mu, Gua Lou and Ban Xia, so keep those out of the prescription
caution With anticoagulant medicines: discuss with a practitioner before use, because of the Fu Zi

Preparation

Decoction taken warm; in the classical method the herbs were coarsely powdered and boiled with ginger and jujube, mint went in at the end, and Fu Zi needs a longer first boil; modern practice often uses whole herbs

Names

Pinyin	di huang yin zi
English Name	Rehmannia Decoction

Classification

Category: Extinguish Internal Wind