You Gui Wan
Star右归丸 (Restore the Right [Kidney] Pill)
Source: Jing Yue Quan Shu — Zhang Jiebin (Ming, 1624)
Last updated August 30, 2026
Description
You Gui Wan (Restore the Right [Kidney] Pill) is Zhang Jiebin's intensive Kidney Yang tonifying formula. The 'Right Kidney' in Ming-Qing TCM theory refers to the Ming Men (Life Gate) — the source of Yang fire. The formula warms and supplements Kidney Yang and Ming Men fire while nourishing Kidney Yin and Essence to prevent injury to Yin through excessive Yang tonification.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zhi Fu Zi
Use prepared aconite (Zhi Fu Zi); decoct first 30–60 min.
|
6g | 5.26% | Jun (Chief) | Warms and tonifies Kidney yang, restores the fire of the Gate of Vitality |
| Rou Gui | 6g | 5.26% | Jun (Chief) | Warms the Kidney and reinforces the Ming Men fire |
|
Lu Jiao
Dissolve into the strained decoction.
|
12g | 10.53% | Jun (Chief) | Tonifies yang while nourishing essence and blood |
| Shu Di Huang | 24g | 21.05% | Chen (Deputy) | Enriches Kidney yin — seeks yang within yin |
| Shan Yao | 12g | 10.53% | Chen (Deputy) | Tonifies the Spleen and Kidney, secures essence |
| Shan Zhu Yu | 9g | 7.89% | Chen (Deputy) | Nourishes the Liver and Kidney, astringes essence |
| Gou Qi Zi | 12g | 10.53% | Chen (Deputy) | Nourishes the Liver and Kidney, benefits essence |
| Tu Si Zi | 12g | 10.53% | Zuo (Assistant) | Tonifies Kidney yang and secures essence |
| Du Zhong | 12g | 10.53% | Zuo (Assistant) | Tonifies the Kidney and strengthens the lower back and sinews |
| Dang Gui | 9g | 7.89% | Zuo (Assistant) | Nourishes the blood to support essence |
Total weight: 108g
Dui Yao — Core Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations at the heart of this formula, as recorded on the herbs' own pages — each pair has an action neither herb has alone.
Two hot herbs that together warm and tonify Kidney yang and guide fire back to its source, more strongly warming the life-gate fire than either alone.
Kidney yang deficiency with cold limbs, sore lower back and impotence. Both are contraindicated in pregnancy and yin deficiency with heat.
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 warm (+0.79)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: neutral 32%, warm 58%, hot 11%.
Small but decisive: Zhi Fu Zi 6g (hot, 5% of the grams), Rou Gui 6g (hot, 5% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 14%
- sweet 72%
- sour 8%
- salty 5%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 92%
- Liver 84%
- Spleen 40%
- Lung 21%
- Heart 18%
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. Available commercially. As decoction: simmer 30–40 minutes, take warm.
Dosage
Pills: 9g twice daily on empty stomach. Long-term use appropriate. Contraindicated in Yin deficiency with fire.
Conditions Addressed
Related Formulas
Relationships
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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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