Nature: bitter, sweet, warm

Enters: Kidney, Liver

Actions: Tonifies the liver and kidneys; strengthens bones and sinews, the lumbar region and knees; eliminates wind-damp; consolidates Jing, stabilizes the kidneys.

Indications:
• Liver and kidney deficiency: stiffness, soreness, weakness of the knees, feet, lower back, spine, and lower extremities. Inability to lie flat without pain.
• Wind-cold-damp obstruction: pain, soreness, stiffness, numbness – in people with a weak constitution; also swelling of the legs.
• Primarily used for pain due to weakness (with or without concomitant wind-damp invasion). Mild for sexual dysfunction.
• Kidney deficiency (kidney yang unable to control Jing): urinary incontinence, profuse clear vaginal discharge, spermatorrhea, hypermenorrhea.
• Similar to Du zhong, but milder to tonify the kidneys and liver.
• Compared to Ba ji tian, this herb is drier.
• According to Chen & Chen in Chinese Medical Herbology & Pharmacology this herb is a mild Kidney yang tonic and must be combined with other yang tonics.
• Chen & Chen: Dry-frying it helps in removal of hair-like protrusions. This hair-like material can be used externally to stop bleeding.
Dose: 4.5-15g