Mai Wei Di Huang Wan
Star麦味地黄丸 (Ophiopogonis, Schisandra, and Rehmannia Pill)
Source: Yi Ji
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan (Ophiopogonis, Schisandra, and Rehmannia Pill), from the Yi Ji (Levels of Medicine).
Actions: Nourishes Liver and Kidney yin; Astringes Lung qi and nourishes Lung yin.
Presentation: Kidney and Lung yin deficiencies: coughing, shortness of breath, tidal fever, night sweats, plus the yin-deficiency manifestations of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan.
Pharmacological effects reported:
- Hypoglycemic: marked effect when glucose 180-350 mg/dL, little above 350 mg/dL; did not raise insulin and still worked in pancreatectomized dogs
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 642.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shu Di Huang
as printed: Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata) 240g [24g]
|
24g | 26.67% | Liu Wei base: tonifies Liver and Kidney yin | |
|
Shan Zhu Yu
as printed: Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni) 120g [12g]
|
12g | 13.33% | Liu Wei base | |
|
Shan Yao
as printed: Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 120g [12g]
|
12g | 13.33% | Liu Wei base | |
|
Ze Xie
as printed: Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 90g [9g]
|
9g | 10% | Liu Wei base | |
|
Mu Dan Pi
as printed: Mu Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan) 90g [9g]
|
9g | 10% | Liu Wei base | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Fu Ling (Poria) 90g [9g]
|
9g | 10% | Liu Wei base | |
|
Mai Men Dong
as printed: Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 90g [9g]
|
9g | 10% | tonifies Lung yin, stops cough and dyspnea | |
|
Wu Wei Zi
as printed: Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) 60g [6g]
|
6g | 6.67% | tonifies and astringes Lung yin, stops cough |
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 neutral (-0.03)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 20%, cool 10%, neutral 23%, warm 47%.
Pairs warm and cool. 47% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 30% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Taste
- pungent 5%
- sweet 58%
- sour 17%
- bitter 10%
- bland 10%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 90%
- Liver 50%
- Lung 40%
- Heart 37%
- Spleen 33%
- Stomach 10%
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
Honey pills or decoction as for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan; for decoction use bracketed doses.
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Formula family
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
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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