Di Huang Yin Zi
Star地黄饮子 (Rehmannia Decoction)
Source: Huang Di Su Wen Xuan Ming Lun Fang — Liu Yuan-Su (1172)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Di Huang Yin Zi (Rehmannia Decoction), from the Huang Di Su Wen Xuan Ming Lun Fang (Formulas from the Discussion Illuminating the Yellow Emperor's Basic Questions) by Liu Yuan-Su.
Actions: Tonifies Kidney yin and yang; Resolves phlegm and opens the orifices.
Presentation: Aphasia and leg paralysis: aphasia caused by a stiff tongue, a dry mouth without desire to drink, leg paralysis, a pale tongue with a white, slippery, moist coating, and a deep, fine and weak pulse.
Cautions:
- Not recommended with Liver yang rising, as the warm tonifying formula may worsen it
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 693.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shu Di Huang
as printed: Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata) [12g]
|
12g | 13.33% | Jun (Chief) | nourishes Kidney yin |
|
Shan Zhu Yu
as printed: Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni) [9g]
|
9g | 10% | Jun (Chief) | nourishes Kidney yin |
|
Ba Ji Tian
as printed: Ba Ji Tian (Radix Morindae Officinalis) [9g]
|
9g | 10% | Jun (Chief) | tonifies and stabilizes Kidney yang |
|
Rou Gui
as printed: Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | Chen (Deputy) | warms the Kidney so floating yang descends |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes yin and body fluids |
|
Shi Hu
as printed: Shi Hu (Caulis Dendrobii) [9g]
|
9g | 10% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes yin and body fluids |
|
Wu Wei Zi
as printed: Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | Chen (Deputy) | nourishes yin and body fluids |
|
Shi Chang Pu
as printed: Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | Zuo (Assistant) | connects Heart and Kidney, dispels dampness, opens head orifices |
|
Yuan Zhi
as printed: Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | Zuo (Assistant) | connects Heart and Kidney, dispels dampness, opens head orifices |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | Zuo (Assistant) | connects Heart and Kidney, dispels dampness, opens head orifices |
|
Rou Cong Rong
as printed: Rou Cong Rong (Herba Cistanches, jin (soaked) in liquor and bei (stone-baked)) [9g]
|
9g | 10% | tonifies and stabilizes Kidney yang | |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
as printed: Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata, pao (blast-fried)) [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | warms the Kidney so floating yang descends |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net slightly warm (+0.67)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 7%, cool 10%, neutral 7%, warm 63%, hot 13%.
Small but decisive: Zhi Fu Zi 6g (hot, 7% of the grams), Rou Gui 6g (hot, 7% of the grams), Mai Men Dong 6g (cold, 7% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 18%
- sweet 50%
- sour 13%
- bitter 10%
- salty 5%
- bland 3%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 87%
- Heart 47%
- Liver 40%
- Lung 27%
- Spleen 27%
- Stomach 23%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Powder equal amounts of the herbs; cook 9g of powder with 5 slices Sheng Jiang, 1 Da Zao and 5-7 leaves Bo He in 1.5 bowls of water down to 80%; take any time of day. May be decocted today with the bracketed doses. (Bo He clears the head and opens orifices; Sheng Jiang and Da Zao harmonize.)
Relationships
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Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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