Sha Yuan Zi沙苑子
Semen Astragali ComplanatiComplanate Astragalus Seed
Also known asFlattened Milk Vetch
- Category
- Herbs that tonify Yang
- Nature
- warm
- Taste
- sweet
- Channels entered
- Kidney, Liver
- Dosage
- 6–20 g
Usual doses
- Dosage
- 6–20 g
- Tincture
- 2–4 ml
Actions & indications
- Tonifies Kidney Yang and astringes *Jing*
- Kidney Yang Deficiency with lower back pain, tinnitus, impotence, premature ejaculation, urinary frequency or incontinence and vaginal discharge
- Nourishes Liver Blood and improves vision
- Diminished visual acuity or blurred vision from Liver Blood Deficiency
Contraindications
- Contraindicated in Yin Deficiency presenting with Heat signs.
- Contraindicated in those with an overactive sex drive.
- Contraindicated for difficult urination.
- Contraindicated in those with excessively frequent erections who are unable to ejaculate.
Combinations
Impotence, premature ejaculation, enuresis, urinary incontinence and vaginal discharge.
Nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea.
Chronic spermatorrhea, enuresis, fatigue, low back pain or vaginal discharge caused by Kidney and Liver Deficiency.
Low back pain from severe Liver and Kidney Deficiency.
Blurred vision caused by Liver and Kidney Deficiency.
Blurred vision in patients with Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency.
Senile cataracts.
- Bai Ji Li
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys to nourish the eyes, anchors Liver Yang and expels Wind-Heat, addressing many eye disorders — particularly where Liver and Kidney Deficiency coincides with either Liver Qi Stagnation and rising Liver Yang, or with external Wind-Heat affecting the eyes.
Blurred vision caused by Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency.
- Lu Jiao Shuang
- Qian Shi
- Shan Zhu Yu
General Kidney Deficiency with leakage of Jing.
Impotence and spermatorrhea.
Polyuria or urinary incontinence.
Notes
- This herb is used when a person's health is declining rapidly.
- It helps preserve Jing and rebuild strength in the lower body.
- It comes from a different species than Rx. Astragali Huang Qi.
- It astringes Jing and urine while benefiting Jing and marrow.
- Apart from their shared use for the eyes, Sha Yuan Zi and Fr. Tribuli Bai Ji Li differ entirely in appearance and action. Bai Ji Li dredges the Liver and expels Wind to brighten the eyes, with no tonifying effect, whereas Sha Yuan Zi brightens the eyes by tonifying the Liver and Kidneys; the two are often combined to treat eye disease.
- Sha Yuan Zi, Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi, and Sm. Cuscutae Tu Si Zi all tonify Kidney Yin and Yang and are frequently used together. Gou Qi Zi is better at nourishing Kidney and Lung Yin, tonifies Kidney Yang only slightly, and tonifies Liver Blood to improve vision, while Tu Si Zi and Sha Yuan Zi both lean toward tonifying Yang and astringing Jing.
- Dry-fried Complanate Astragalus Seed Chao Sha Yuan Zi has an enhanced ability to tonify the Kidneys and astringe Jing, treating urinary frequency, vaginal discharge, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation caused by Kidney Yang Deficiency.
- Salt-prepared Complanate Astragalus Seed Yan Sha Yuan Zi travels directly to the Kidney channel and strongly tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, treating headache, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness and aching, weak lower back and knees — but should not be used when these symptoms stem from Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat.