Zan Yu Dan
Star赞育丹 (Procreation Elixir)
Source: Jing Yue Quan Shu (1624)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Zan Yu Dan (Procreation Elixir), from The Complete Works of [Zhang] Jing-yue (Jing Yue Quan Shu).
Actions: Supplement the kidney and strengthen yang
Indications: Indicated for the treatment of kidney yang insufficiency, seminal cold, coldness of genitals and infertility due to decline of mìng mén fire, with aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, hyposexuality, fatigue and lassitude, pallid complexion, dizziness and tinnitus, pale and plump tongue with thin and white coating, deep and thready and forceless pulse
Category: Formulas That Supplement Yang.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 603–605.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Du Zhong
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: dry-fried Cortex Eucommiae (chao du zhong) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Xian Mao
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Rhizoma Curculiginis (xian mao) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Ba Ji Tian
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Radix Morindae Officinalis (ba ji tian) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Shan Zhu Yu
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Fructus Corni (shan zhu yu) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Yin Yang Huo
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Herba Epimedii (yin yang huo) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Rou Cong Rong
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Herba Cistanches (rou cong rong) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
She Chuang Zi
as printed: Fructus Cnidii (she chuang zi) 60 g
|
60g | 3.19% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
as printed: Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata (zhi fu zi) 60 g
|
60g | 3.19% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Rou Gui
as printed: Cortex Cinnamomi (rou gui) 60 g
|
60g | 3.19% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Shu Di Huang
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (shu di huang) 250 g
|
250g | 13.3% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Dang Gui
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Radix Angelicae Sinensis (dang gui) 180 g
|
180g | 9.57% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Gou Qi Zi
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Fructus Lycii (gou qi zi) 180 g
|
180g | 9.57% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Bai Zhu
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: dry-fried Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (chao bai zhu) 250 g
|
250g | 13.3% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Jiu Cai Zi
batch quantity as printed (stock for a pill/powder/plaster preparation), not a single dose; as printed: Semen Allii Tuberosi (jiu cai zi) 120 g
|
120g | 6.38% | — |
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 (+1.03)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: neutral 10%, warm 78%, hot 13%.
Small but decisive: Xian Mao 120g (hot, 6% of the grams), Zhi Fu Zi 60g (hot, 3% of the grams), Rou Gui 60g (hot, 3% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 26%
- sweet 57%
- sour 6%
- bitter 8%
- salty 3%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 77%
- Liver 74%
- Spleen 39%
- Heart 16%
- Stomach 13%
- Lung 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
Grind the ingredients into powder, make into pills, and take 9 g each time, 2 times a day; or decrease the dosage of each herb according to the original proportion and decoct with water for oral use
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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