According to legend, in 650 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, a massive plague broke out in the Huichuan area. When Sun Simiao, the king of medicine, heard about the epidemic, he quickly rushed to the area to check the situation and prepared Tu Su wine with the four herbs from the area, which soon stopped the epidemic. Sun Simiao, during his long search in the area, used the collected Dihuang, yam and other four herbs to make a pill for kidney and body strengthening, which is said to be the Six Flavored Dihuang Pills today. This six-flavored Dihuang Pills has a very high potency, and no toxic side effects, so can be taken year-round. The disciples of the Medicine King, who all learned the concoction method, all made this elixir and spread it widely, which was very popular and has been passed down to this day. The story of Sun Simiao, the king of medicine, who made Tu Su wine with the four waiyang medicines is accurately recorded in the local county records, while the story about the origin of the six flavored Dihuang Pills can only be attributed to wild history.
The real source of the Six Flavored Dihuang Pills cannot be discussed without mentioning the famous doctor Qian Yi of the Song Dynasty. In 1079 A.D., Qian B was called to Bianjing, cured the prince’s disease, was reappointed and rewarded by the emperor, and suddenly became famous, many eunuchs were jealous and displeased. One day, when Qian Yi and his disciple Yan Xiaozhong were treating patients, a eunuch doctor surnamed Zhao brought a pediatric prescription prescribed by Qian Yi to “ask for advice”. He asked slightly mockingly: “Qian doctor, according to Zhang Zhongjing,” the “Golden Essentials” eight pills, there are ground yellow, yam, cornelian, poria, ze diarrhea, danpi, sapodilla, cinnamon. Your prescription seems to be missing two flavors of medicine, probably forgotten, right?” Qian B smiled and said, “Did not forget. Zhang Zhongjing this prescription, is for adults. Children’s infantile Yang body, Yang Qi is vigorous, so reduce the Annex, cinnamon pungent hot dry hyperactive products, made of six flavor Dihuang Wan, so that children do not eat too hot and nosebleeds, you see right? “This doctor listened to, said:” Qian doctor medicine flexible, discretionary changes, admire admire!” His disciple Yan Xiaozhong will be recorded, and later compiled into the “pediatric medicine evidence straight”, passed down to this day.
Later, there was a school of Chinese medicine in the Ming Dynasty that highly respected the role of “kidney” and believed that kidney was the “innate essence” of human beings, and at one time, many famous doctors advocated kidney supplementation, for example, Xue Ji, a famous doctor in the Ming Dynasty, was the best at kidney supplementation, and he advocated the use of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for kidney yin deficiency and Jin Kui Di Huang Wan for kidney yang deficiency. He advocated the use of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for kidney Yin deficiency and Jin Kui Di Huang Wan for kidney Yang deficiency. Xue Ji’s practice was recognized by many later generations of doctors, and his advocacy of kidney tonics had a great impact on later generations. The name Six Flavors has two meanings: one is composed of six flavors of medicine such as Shu Di Huang, Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum and Shan Yao; the other is that the six flavors of acid, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty and light are all present in the formula.
The original purpose of Qian Yi’s Six Flavors Dihuang Pills was to treat children’s “five delays” (or what is known today as childhood dysplasia), but he was far from expecting that the Six Flavors Dihuang Pills would flourish in later days and become a millennium-old medicine for nourishing the liver and kidneys, and for health care. From its longevity and effectiveness in benefiting a large number of people, there are not many people who can outperform it. It is one of the most well-known Chinese medicine formulas, so Six Flavored Dihuang Pills is a classic Chinese medicine.
The six flavors of Dihuang Pill formula relies on rehmannia, which nourishes the yin and tonifies the kidneys and fills in the marrow as the ruling medicine. The sour and warm flesh of Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum nourishes the liver and kidney and astringent to the sperm; the sweet and flat Yam nourishes the spleen and yin and also consolidates the sperm, which is the subject herb. The three medicines together nourish the yin of the liver, spleen and kidney, making “three tonics”. Zegeolus is a dampness and drainage of turbidity, to prevent the reed of the nourishing and greasy love of evil; mudanpi to drain the fire, the system of shamrock meat of warm and astringent; poria light penetration of spleen dampness, help the yam of healthy transport. The three drugs penetrate dampness and turbidity, clear deficiency heat, flattening the bias to treat the symptoms and become “three diarrhea”, all as adjuvants. The combination of this formula is characterized by three tonics and three diarrheas, of which the dosage of tonics is heavier than that of diarrhea, so that tonics are the mainstay; the three yin of liver, spleen and kidney are also tonified, so that kidney yin is the mainstay. The six drugs in this combination, forming a “three tonic three diarrhea”, the opposite trend, so that the six flavors of Dihuang Wan treatment of liver and kidney yin deficiency, extremely effective, and tonic but not greasy, rarely appear the general tonic drugs produced by the “fire” phenomenon.
What kind of symptoms should I use Liu Wei Di Huang Wan? The best effect is when the kidney yin is deficient. The Six Flavors Dihuang Pill is mainly for the treatment of those with kidney yin deficiency, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus and deafness, night sweating, seminal emission, thirst, bone steaming and hot flashes, heat in the heart of the hands and feet, dry tongue and sore throat, wobbly teeth, pain in the heel, dripping urine, and children with incompatible chimney doors, red tongue with little coating and sunken and fine pulse. If you insist on taking Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, you will definitely receive the desired effect.
So, how to determine whether it is Yin or Yang deficiency? The typical symptoms of kidney yin deficiency are hot flashes, night sweats, irritable heat in the palms and feet, dry mouth and throat, in addition to seminal emission, dream emission and premature ejaculation. Then we have to look at the tongue pulse, the state of the tongue is red and thin tongue coating. Pulse, the pulse of kidney yin deficiency is characterized by fine count. The typical symptoms of kidney yang deficiency are soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, intolerance of fatigue, frequent feeling of weakness, chilliness of the limbs, preference for heat and fear of cold, etc. Some people with Kidney-Yang deficiency may also have sexual function problems such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and slippery semen. The most significant difference between Yin deficiency or Yang deficiency: Yang deficiency fears cold, Yin deficiency fever.
The original formula Shu Di Huang eight money, Cornus officinalis four money, dry yam four money, Ze Xie three money, peony skin three money, white Huo Ling three money. The above is not, refining honey pills such as wusi big, empty heart warm water down three rounds. Modern reference dosage and usage: 24g of Radix Rehmanniae, 12g of dried yam, 12g of Cornus officinalis, 9g of zedoary, 9g of ling, 9g of dandan bark, finely ground together, refined honey for pills, 6-9g each time, 2-3 times a day, warm water or light salt soup. It can also be taken with water decoction, and the dosage should be reduced according to the proportion of the original formula. The decoction of this formula is called Liu Wei Di Huang Tang, which is stronger than Liu Wei Di Huang Wan.
This formula can be more suitable for different diseases with variations. This formula is named Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan with the addition of Huang Bai and Zhi Mu, which treats Yin deficiency and fire, bone impotence and marrow withering, bone steaming and hot flashes, false annoyance and night sweating, pain in the back and spine, seminal emission, etc. Add Fructus Lycii and Chrysanthemum to nourish the kidney, nourish the liver and brighten the eyes, treating liver and kidney yin deficiency, dimming of the eyes, blurred vision, or dry eyes, tears in the wind, etc. This formula, together with Mai Dong and Wu Wei Zi, is Mai Wei Di Huang Wan (formerly known as Baxian Longevity Pill), which can nourish the lung and kidney, treating lung and kidney yin deficiency, or asthma or cough. This formula plus Wu Wei Zi is Du Qi Wan, which can nourish the kidney and nourish Qi, treating cough and kidney deficiency and asthma or cough. The above four directions are all made by adding flavor to Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, all of which have the effect of nourishing Yin and tonifying the kidney. Among them, Zhi Pai Di Huang Wan is biased towards nourishing Yin and lowering fire; Qi Ju Di Huang Wan is biased towards nourishing liver and brightening eyes; Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is biased towards nourishing kidney and astringing lung; Du Qi Wan is biased towards nourishing kidney and nourishing qi.
This formula, with the addition of cinnamon, is called Seven Flavors Dihuang Wan, which induces the rootless fire to descend and return to the source. This formula adds Radix et Rhizoma, Cinnamon, and is called Gui and Rhizoma Eight Flavors Pill, which treats deficiency of phase fire and deficiency of Qi. This formula adds Eucommia (fried with ginger) and Niu Knee (washed with wine) to treat kidney deficiency and soreness of the waist and knees. This formula is used to treat frequent urination by removing Ze Xie and adding Xie Ji Ren. This formula uses rehmanniae dioscorea, yam, sanguisorba, danpi, guiweiwei, wuwei, shibasu, fu sheng, zexia, honey pills with vermilion as coating, named yi yin kidney qi pills, to treat kidney deficiency and dizziness.
What diseases can be treated by clinical use? Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is known as the ancestor of Yin tonics, which can nourish Yin and tonify the kidney, and is effective in all deficiency diseases caused by deficiency of Kidney Yin. According to statistics, there are 137 diseases treated by Liu Wei Di Huang Wan in various literature reports. Most commonly, it is used to treat sub-health states, improve immunity, and delay aging, so many people take it as a health care medicine for a long time. Also, as a therapeutic medicine, it has achieved good results in the treatment and adjunctive therapy of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and menopausal syndrome. The following diseases are treated: internal medicine: tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, primary hypertension, renal hypertension, chronic nephritis, prostate disease, tumors, leukopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, early esophageal epithelial hyperplasia, renal yin deficiency diabetes, hyperthyroidism, neurasthenia, senile dementia, intractable insomnia, carbon monoxide toxic psychosis, post-surgical intractable eruption The symptoms of the disease are: atrophy (Greenbrier’s syndrome), and so on. Surgery: bone tuberculosis, gynecomastia, recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery, hair loss, skin cracking, unpleasant urination, etc. Gynecology: menopause syndrome, chloasma, functional uterine bleeding, etc. Pediatrics: pediatric dysplasia, tic-obstruction syndrome, etc. Ophthalmology: central retinal chorioretinitis, glaucoma, age-related macular disc degeneration, traumatic corneal ulcer, ciliary tract infection, chronic uveitis, etc. Pentacameral: recurrent mouth sores, chronic pharyngitis, chronic tonsillitis, laryngeal paralysis, etc. The use of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan can also enhance the effect of chemotherapy, assist in the treatment of tumors and cancer, and reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy.
But Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is not a cure for all diseases, so what people are not suitable for taking Liu Wei Di Huang Wan?
First, people who have damp-heat. Such people have thick, yellowish tongue coating (not after smoking and drinking orange juice), bloating inside the stomach and intestines, and unformed stools. These are diagnostic indications for people with damp-heat in their bodies and need to be ruled out.
Second, people with Yang deficiency, obviously Yang deficiency (including kidney Yang deficiency and spleen Yang deficiency) should not take it. Many patients with erectile dysfunction caused by deficiency of kidney yang, who also take Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, will have their condition “worsened”. They should choose a drug for kidney yang deficiency.
Thirdly, people with weak spleen and stomach, this formula is nourishing and greasy, so it should be used with caution for people with spleen deficiency and diarrhea. Middle-aged and elderly people generally do not have strong spleen and stomach functions, so they should take it with more caution. If you take it intermittently, it will not have much effect; if you take it continuously for a long time, it is not advisable. If necessary, you can use one sand kernel, pounded, soak boiling water, use this water to take Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, so that the aromatic gas of sand kernel can invigorate the spleen and stomach, it dissolves the stagnant nature of Shu Di, at the same time, sand kernel can also lead the medicinal gas to the kidney meridian, killing two birds with one stone.
Fourth, healthy people, if there are no obvious symptoms of kidney yin deficiency, it is not suitable for long-term use on its own.
Fifth, if the effect is not obvious after two weeks of taking, it may be that the selection of medicine is not right, you can find a Chinese medicine doctor to diagnose the symptoms of the body, the right choice of medicine. If the same effect as the Six Flavored Di Huang Wan Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, can also treat fire, such as the palms of the hands and feet, irritable heat, dry mouth and throat, the tip of the tongue red, with a clearing effect.
Sixth, some pharmacological researchers, after purifying the ingredients related to Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for animal experiments, also caused animal poisoning, which does not mean that Liu Wei Di Huang Wan has such side effects. The toxicity of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is very low, much lower than many of the common seasonings in our lives.
Seventh, to use authentic herbs. The choice of authentic herbs is not authentic, but also quite important for the effectiveness of the medicine, the so-called “good herbs, medicine is good”. For example, Tongrentang’s ancient recipe for Six Flavored Dihuang Pills requires the use of Huai Dihuang and Huai Shan Yao (Four Huaiyao) from Henan Province. The Huai Di Huang requires firstly, to be large and secondly, to be ripe, using only high quality raw materials of third grade or above, and then steaming the raw Di Huang with yellow wine, following the ancient recipe of “wine steaming and wine system”; while the dogwood meat uses only the authentic herb “Hang Yu”, with the core content controlled within 1%; and the Dan Pi only uses Anhui real estate “Feng Dan Pi”. “The famous formula is famous and effective because of the source. The reason why the famous formula is famous and effective is that it is made from the source with good materials.
In addition, the “quorum – female” volume 4 also has six flavor Dihuang pill, composition: Shu Dihuang 4 taels, Cornus officinalis 2 taels, Yam 2 taels, peony peel 1 taels 5 money, white Poria 1 taels 5 money, Ze Di 1 taels, aromatic rice (child stool soaked 3 times, fried) 1 taels, herb mugwort leaf (remove tendons, vinegar boiled) 5 money. The main treatment for women with irregular menstruation, that is, not conception, even if it is received, but also not all beautiful; kidney deficiency fire caused by pregnancy epistaxis. The above is powdered, refined honey into pills, such as wutongzi big. Take 70 pills per dose in white boiling soup.
A patient asked, “My ears have been ringing lately, can I take Liu Wei Di Huang Wan? Is Liu Wei Di Huang Wan an over-the-counter medicine? Can I buy it from pharmacies? There are many causes of tinnitus, only kidney yin deficiency is effective, furthermore, for kidney yin deficiency tinnitus, you can apply Deafness Zuo Ci Wan (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan plus Ling Magnet) which is more symptomatic. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is an over-the-counter medicine that can be purchased over the counter, but should not be taken indiscriminately.
A patient asked, “My doctor prescribed me Liu Wei Di Huang Wan because of diabetes, but I have to take western medicine to lower my sugar level, can I take Liu Wei Di Huang Wan together with my sugar medication? Yes, but they should be taken separately, preferably one hour apart.
A patient asked, “I am a woman near 50 years old, I often have hot flashes and sweating, I took the Six Flavored Dihuang Pills prescribed by my doctor, my hot flashes improved, but I always get fire again. This is because the yin deficiency causes the fire to be too heavy, using Liu Wei Di Huang plus Zhi Wu Huang Bai, nourishing the yin while lowering the power of fire is greatly enhanced. The effect is much better than the Six Flavors Dihuang Pill alone. It can be seen that Chinese medicine treatment also need to start from the subtleties to achieve good results, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is really a good formula, the ancient physicians respected it, its role in adjusting the function of the human body is very prominent, but can not be taken indiscriminately, to get out of the misunderstanding of blindly taking Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. I hope it can contribute to your health.