Shan Yao - 山藥 - Rhizoma Dioscoreae - Chinese Yam
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Dioscoreae |
| Common English: | Chinese Yam Mountain Yam Rhizome |
Category
Herbs that Tonify QiProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet | Neutral | Kidney Lung Spleen | 9-30g Large dosage: 60-240g Diabetes: up to 250g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Spleen, nourishes Stomach Yin and stops diarrhea | Spleen or Stomach Deficiency with diarrhea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating and anorexia |
Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin | Lung Qi and/or Yin Deficiency with chronic cough |
Tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing | Kidney Qi Deficiency with spermatorrhea, urinary frequency and vaginal discharge Xiao Ke due to Qi and Yin Deficiency |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Poria | Dry-fried Fr. Hordei Germinatus Or Massa Medicata Fermentata | Fr. Aurantii Immaturus |
Spleen Deficiency with loose watery stools. | A weak Spleen and Stomach with Food Stagnation. | A weak Spleen and Stomach with Qi Stagnation. |
| Rz. Polygonati Odorati | Endoconcha Sepiae | Cx. Phellodendri Or Cx. Phellodendri |
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency with Stomach Yin Deficiency. | Spleen Deficiency with profuse, thin, continuous and clear or red vaginal discharge. | Spleen Deficiency with Damp-Heat leading to thick, yellow, foul-smelling vaginal discharge. |
| Rx. Bupleuri | Tub. Ophiopogonis | Rx. Scrophulariae |
Vaginal discharge due to Spleen Deficiency and Liver Qi Stagnation. | Lung Deficiency with coughing. | Coughing and wheezing without sputum or with scanty, thick sputum. |
Rx. Codonopsis | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Sm. Euryales |
Spleen and Kidney Deficiency with fatigue, weakness, anorexia and watery stools. Lung and Spleen Deficiency with a cough with thin watery sputum, anorexia, fatigue and weight loss. | Kidney Deficiency with spermatorrhea and night sweats. | Kidney Deficiency with diarrhea, spermatorrhea and vaginal discharge. |
Rx. Trichosanthis | Rx. Astragali | Talcum |
Warm febrile disease or Xiao Ke with irritability and thirst. | Irritability and thirst from wasting and thirsting disorder. | Heat in the Upper Jiao with thirst and diarrhea. |
Fr. Arctii | Rx. Astragali | Rx. Ginseng |
Cough and dyspnea due to Yin Deficiency affecting the Lungs. | Lowers plasma glucose levels to treat diabetes mellitus especially due to Qi and Yin Deficiency. | Decreased appetite and lack of energy due to Spleen Deficiency. |
Rx. Ginseng | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae | Endoconcha Sepiae |
Poor appetite, loose stools and diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency. | Leukorrhea due to Spleen Qi Deficiency with Liver Qi Stagnation. | Red and white vaginal discharge. |
Fr. Corni | Rx. Scrophulariae | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Leukorrhea due to Spleen and Kidney Deficiency. | Lung Yin Deficiency with Fluid Deficiency and Heat. | Difficulty inhaling due to Kidney Unable to Grasp Qi. |
Rx. Astragali | Gypsum Fibrosum | Gypsum Fibrosum |
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) with more pronounced polyuria. | Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) with Internal Heat. | Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) with more pronounced polyphagia and polydipsia. |
Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae | ||
Frequent urination and nocturnal emissions. |
Notes
- Long-term use of this herb is possible.
- It can serve as a substitute for cortisone, prednisone and progesterone.
- Muscle mass is increased by it.
- Since it moistens and is neither hot nor cold, it benefits the Yin and the Yang of both the Lungs and Kidneys.
- Shan Yao, Fr. Jujube Da Zao and Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu all tonify Qi. Bai Zhu is drying and has no moistening action. Shan Yao is neutral and tonifies Spleen Yin, whereas Da Zao tonifies both Qi and Blood in the Spleen and Stomach.
- Shan Yao and Sm. Nelumbinis Lian Zi are both sweet, neutral and astringent; they enter and strengthen the Spleen and Kidneys and astringe the Intestines and Lower Jiao. They are frequently combined for diarrhea from Spleen or Kidney Deficiency leading to spermatorrhea, enuresis or vaginal discharge. Shan Yao enters the Lung channel to tonify Lung Yin, stopping coughs from Deficiency consumption. It is mainly a tonic that augments both the Qi and the Yin of the Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys. Lian Zi additionally nourishes the Heart, calms the Spirit and stops bleeding, and it is frequently used to restore communication between the Heart and Kidneys when its loss has led to palpitations, insomnia, spermatorrhea, deficient irritability, wasting and thirsting disorder, and bleeding disorders such as hematuria or incessant uterine bleeding.
- Dry-fried Dioscoreae Chao Shan Yao augments the Spleen, harmonizes the Stomach and tonifies the Kidneys to astringe Jing more strongly. It is used to stop diarrhea, loose stools, vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea.
- Earth-fried Dioscoreae Tu Chao Shan Yao is good at tonifying the Spleen and harmonizing the Stomach. It is used most often for a weak Spleen with anorexia, fatigue and diarrhea, though it is just as suitable for vaginal discharge.
From Class
- Shan Yao (Dioscorea yam): Shan Yao tonifies Spleen/Stomach qi; its stickiness absorbs sugar (wasting-thirsting), binds protein to rebuild flesh and helps clear dampness. (Yuen)
- Yu Ye Tang (Jade Fluid Decoction): High-dose Shan Yao tonifies Spleen yin, with Huang Qi, Zhi Mu, Tian Hua Fen, Ge Gen, Wu Wei Zi (polyuria) and Ji Nei Jin (hardness, bedwetting). (Rabinowitz)