Article 24: Tonifying Yang Herbs (Deer antler, deer antler, psoralea, morinda root, epimedium, curculigo, seahorse, sea dragon, seal kidney)

II. Yang-tonifying herbs

The main effects of tonifying yang medicine are to support yang qi, benefit essence and strengthen muscles and bones. It is mainly suitable for yang deficiency syndrome, with symptoms such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and cold pain in the waist and knees, shortness of breath, diarrhea, impotence and premature ejaculation, cold uterus and infertility, thin and clear leukorrhea, frequent urination at night, white tongue coating and deep pulse.

Yang-tonifying herbs can enhance the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, boost immune function, and have anti-aging effects. Some herbs also have anti-tumor, cardiac function-improving, blood pressure-lowering, metabolism-boosting, tonic, stress-enhancing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, yang-tonifying herbs are mostly warm and drying in nature, and can damage yin and exacerbate internal heat; therefore, they are not suitable for those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat.

Deer antler

This product is the unossified, densely haired young antlers of male sika deer or red deer (Cervidae family).

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, salty, warm.

[Functions] ① Warms and tonifies kidney yang, used to treat kidney yang deficiency, impotence, premature ejaculation, and cold sperm in men, and infertility due to cold uterus, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, aversion to cold, cold limbs, and soreness in the lower back and knees in women; ② Tonifies the kidney and replenishes essence and blood, used to treat kidney deficiency and deficiency of essence and blood, fatigue, weakness, pale or dark complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, palpitations, and chronic ulcers that do not heal; ③ Tonifies the kidney and strengthens tendons and bones, used to treat kidney deficiency and bone weakness, poor development in children, delayed closure of the fontanelle, delayed teething, and delayed walking.

[Pharmacological Actions] Anti-aging, tonic, anti-inflammatory, immune-enhancing, sedative, anticonvulsant, analgesic, memory-enhancing, myocardial stimulant, antiarrhythmic, androgen- and estrogen-like effects, promotes protein and nucleic acid synthesis, anti-ulcer, promotes wound healing, stimulates tracheal, intestinal, and uterine smooth muscle, diuretic, and anti-tumor.

[Modern Applications] Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, aplastic anemia, atrioventricular block, hypotension, neurasthenia, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, impotence, and traumatic brain injury.

[Usage] Take 1-3 grams when made into pills or powder.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and yang excess, heat in the blood, excessive stomach fire, phlegm-heat in the lungs, or external febrile diseases.

antlers

This product consists of the ossified antlers of male sika deer, red deer, etc., or the antler base that falls off the following spring after the antlers have been cut.

[Properties and Flavors] Salty, warm.

[Functions] ① Warming and tonifying kidney yang, used to treat kidney yang deficiency, impotence, seminal emission, frequent and urgent urination, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea; ② Promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling, used to treat traumatic injuries with blood stasis and pain, muscle and bone pain, and externally used to treat early stage of carbuncles, sores and boils, and mastitis.

[Pharmacological effects] Increases cardiac output.

[Modern Applications] Acute mastitis, aging, physical weakness.

[Usage] For decoction, take 5-10 grams, decocting the slices first; for pills or powders, take 1-3 grams. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire.

Psoralea corylifolia

This product is the fruit of Psoralea corylifolia, a legume.

[Properties and Flavors] Bitter, pungent, warm.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, used to treat kidney yang deficiency, lower back pain, impotence, and externally to treat toothache due to kidney deficiency; ② Warms the kidneys and spleen to stop diarrhea, used to treat diarrhea due to spleen and kidney yang deficiency; ③ Relieves asthma and promotes qi intake, used to treat asthma due to kidney failure to receive qi.

[Pharmacological Actions] Dilates coronary arteries, anti-mutagenic, anti-tumor, anti-aging, immune-enhancing, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, anti-early pregnancy, estrogen-like effects, activates tyrosinase, cytotoxic effects, hemostasis, increases white blood cell count, protects the liver, scavenges free radicals, causes photosensitivity, and resists rejection.

[Modern Applications] Erectile dysfunction, enuresis, bronchial asthma, sick sinus syndrome, leukopenia, uterine bleeding, vulvar leukoplakia, trichomonal vaginitis, vitiligo, common warts, neurogenic alopecia, chronic eczema, psoriasis.

[Usage] Decocted for oral administration, 5-10 grams. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, or those suffering from constipation.

Morinda officinalis

This product is the root of Morinda officinalis, a plant in the Rubiaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, pungent, slightly warm.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, used to treat impotence due to kidney yang deficiency, enuresis, irregular menstruation, and infertility; ② Strengthens muscles and bones and dispels wind and dampness, used to treat bone weakness due to kidney deficiency and chronic rheumatism.

[Pharmacological Actions] Promotes luteal function, has adrenocorticotropic hormone-like effects, enhances immunity, promotes weight gain, combats fatigue, increases white blood cell count, fights leukemia, has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidepressant, and anti-stress effects.

[Modern Applications] Erectile dysfunction, nephrotic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary incontinence.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 6-15 grams.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire, or those exhibiting heat syndrome.

Epimedium

This product consists of the stems and leaves of Epimedium, Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium wushanense, or Epimedium koreanum, all belonging to the Berberidaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Pungent, sweet, warm.

[Functions] ① Warms the kidneys and strengthens yang, used to treat impotence, infertility, frequent urination and cough due to kidney yang deficiency; ② Strengthens muscles and bones and dispels wind and dampness, used to treat chronic arthralgia due to kidney deficiency and hemiplegia due to stroke.

[Pharmacological Actions] Enhances the function of estrogen and androgen, increases DNA synthesis rate, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme, lowers blood pressure, resists myocardial ischemia, resists arrhythmia, enhances immunity, resists aging, has antibacterial and antiviral properties, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effects, lowers blood sugar and blood lipids, resists hypoxia, relieves cough, expectorant, and antiasthmatic effects, promotes bone growth, and has a sedative effect.

[Modern Applications] Hypertension, coronary heart disease, viral myocarditis, leukopenia, neurasthenia, poliomyelitis, chronic bronchitis, azoospermia, impotence.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 3-15 grams.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire.

Xianmao

This product is the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides, a plant in the Amaryllidaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Pungent, hot. Slightly toxic.

[Functions] ① Warms the kidneys and strengthens yang, used to treat impotence and frequent urination due to kidney yang deficiency; ② Strengthens muscles and bones and dispels cold and dampness, used to treat chronic arthralgia due to cold and dampness, cold pain in the waist and knees, weakness of muscles and bones or contracture of the lower limbs.

[Pharmacological effects] Immune enhancement, anti-aging, sedation, anticonvulsant, enhances hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function, androgen-like effect, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-dysentery bacillus, hypoglycemic, increases the activity of Na+, K+-ATPase, dilates coronary arteries, strengthens the heart, lowers blood pressure, anti-arthritis, anti-hypoxia, and anti-heat.

[Modern Applications] Hypertension, impotence, abnormal semen, anejaculation, and underdeveloped uterus.

[Usage] Take 3-10 grams by decoction or soaking in wine.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire.

Haima

This product is the whole body of the seahorse (Spirit Seahorse, Spiny Seahorse, Large Seahorse, Three-spotted Seahorse, or Small Seahorse) of the Syngnathidae family, after removing the internal organs.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, salty, warm.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, used to treat impotence due to kidney yang deficiency, infertility, difficult labor, and chronic asthma; externally used to treat carbuncles and boils. ② Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, used to treat abdominal masses, scrofula, goiter, and traumatic injuries.

[Pharmacological effects] Estrogen- and androgen-like effects, anti-aging, anti-thrombotic.

[Modern Applications] Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, decreased sexual function, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors.

[Usage]Decoction, 3-9 grams; or pills or powders, 1.5-3 grams.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for pregnant women and those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat.

Sea Dragon

This product is the whole or whole animal of the Syngnathidae family, such as *Syngonium scutum*, *Syngonium pseudocapsicum*, or *Syngonium scutum*, or the whole animal after removing its internal organs and membranes.

[Properties and Flavors] Salty, sweet, warm.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, used to treat impotence, infertility, difficult labor, and shortness of breath; ② Eliminates masses and dissipates nodules, used to treat scrofula, goiter, abdominal masses, carbuncles and boils; ③ Relieves muscle tension and promotes blood circulation, used to treat lower back and leg pain, abdominal pain, and injuries from falls and blows.

[Pharmacological effects] Stimulates the uterus, has androgen- and estrogen-like effects, enhances immunity, has anti-tumor effects, and has anti-hypoxia effects.

[Modern Applications] Impotence, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, lymph node tuberculosis, simple goiter.

[Usage] For decoction, take 3-9 grams; for pills or powder, take 1.5-3 grams. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for pregnant women and those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat.

Seal kidney

This product contains the male external genitalia of either the fur seal (family Sealidae) or the seal (family Phocidae).

[Properties and Flavors] Salty, very warm.

[Functions] It warms the kidney yang and benefits the essence and marrow. It is used to treat impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, and infertility caused by kidney yang deficiency.

[Pharmacological effects] Androgen-like effects.

[Modern Applications] Male sexual dysfunction, infertility.

[Usage] Take 1-3 grams when made into pills or powder.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, or those with strong yang and a tendency to have erections easily.