Huan Shao Dan
Star还少丹 (Return to Youth Pill)
Source: Yang Shi Mi Fang (1170)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Huan Shao Dan (Return to Youth Pill), from the Yang Shi Mi Fang (Secret Formulas of the Yang Family).
Actions: Strengthens the Spleen, Stomach, Kidney and Heart; Tonifies qi, blood and jing (essence); Warms yang.
Presentation: Premature aging from Spleen and Kidney deficiencies with insufficiency of qi, blood, yang and jing: decreased libido, seminal emissions, generalized weakness and fatigue, anorexia, low-grade fever, forgetfulness, easily frightened, night sweats, toothache, and gum swelling.
Cautions:
- Continuous use for one month was reported to cause occasional dry mouth, constipation and a warm feeling; these are self-limiting and resolve in 2-3 weeks
- Contraindicated during pregnancy
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 681.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rou Cong Rong
as printed: Rou Cong Rong (Herba Cistanches) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | strengthens Spleen qi and Kidney yang | |
|
Ba Ji Tian
as printed: Ba Ji Tian (Radix Morindae Officinalis) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | strengthens Spleen qi and Kidney yang | |
|
Xiao Hui Xiang
as printed: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fructus Foeniculi) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | strengthens Spleen qi and Kidney yang | |
|
Shu Di Huang
as printed: Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata) 15g
|
15g | 3.45% | nourishes the Kidney and benefits qi | |
|
Shan Zhu Yu
as printed: Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni, jin (soaked) in liquor for 1 night and bei (stone-baked)) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | nourishes the Kidney and benefits qi | |
|
Gou Qi Zi
as printed: Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii) 15g
|
15g | 3.45% | nourishes the Kidney and benefits qi | |
|
Du Zhong
as printed: Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae, zhi (fried) with liquor and the juice of fresh ginger) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | tonifies Kidney, strengthens knees and lower back | |
|
Niu Xi
as printed: Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, jin (soaked) in liquor for 1 night and bei (stone-baked)) 45g
|
45g | 10.34% | tonifies Kidney, strengthens knees and lower back | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | strengthens the Spleen and dissolves dampness | |
|
Shan Yao
as printed: Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 45g
|
45g | 10.34% | strengthens the Spleen and dissolves dampness | |
|
Wu Wei Zi
as printed: Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | reduces loss of fluids from the Kidney (seminal emissions) | |
|
Yuan Zhi
as printed: Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | tonifies the Heart and calms the shen | |
|
Shi Chang Pu
as printed: Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | opens the sensory orifices, improves mental function | |
|
Da Zao
as printed: Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) 15g
|
15g | 3.45% | tonifies qi and blood; strengthens Lung and Spleen | |
|
Chu Shi Zi
as printed: Chu Shi Zi (Fructus Broussonetiae) 30g
|
30g | 6.9% | warms and tonifies yang to strengthen muscles and bones |
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 (+0.48)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 7%, neutral 31%, warm 62%.
Small but decisive: Chu Shi Zi 30g (cold, 7% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 17%
- sweet 52%
- sour 14%
- bitter 10%
- salty 3%
- bland 3%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 90%
- Liver 52%
- Lung 35%
- Spleen 28%
- Heart 28%
- Stomach 17%
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 the herbs and form honey pills the size of Wu Tong Zi seeds (~5 mm). Take 30 pills three times daily on an empty stomach with warm grain-based liquor and/or warm salted water. Source says improvement appears within 5-30 days and the formula is safe long term; salt acts as a channel guide to the Kidney.
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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