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Knowledge baseHerbs

Yi Zhi Ren益智仁

Fructus Alpiniae OxyphyllaeAlpinia Fruit

Also known asBlack Cardamon · Bitter-seeded Cardamon · Sharp-Leaf Galangal Berry

Category
Herbs that tonify Yang
Nature
warm
Taste
pungent
Channels entered
Kidney, Spleen
Dosage
3–10 g

Usual doses

Dosage
3–10 g
Tincture
2–4 ml

Actions & indications

Warms the Kidneys and astringes Jing and urine
  • Frequent and copious urination, urinary incontinence and spermatorrhea or dribbling of urine due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
  • Kidney Jing not Consolidated
  • Irregular uterine bleeding
Warms the Spleen, increases the appetite and stops diarrhea and salivation
  • Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency with diarrhea, Cold abdominal pain, excessive salivation and a thick, unpleasant taste in the mouth
  • Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea from Cold entering the Spleen and Kidneys

Contraindications

  • Contraindicated when spermatorrhea, urinary frequency, vomiting, diarrhea or vaginal discharge arise from Heat.
  • Contraindicated in Blood Dryness caused by Fire.
  • Contraindicated in Yin Deficiency Fire.
  • Do not use alone.

Combinations

  • Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency causing urinary incontinence or frequency.

  • Diarrhea accompanied by abdominal distention; also uterine bleeding during pregnancy.

  • Cold, Deficient Spleen and Stomach presenting with vomiting, diarrhea, cold abdominal pain, poor appetite and excessive salivation.

    • Bai Zhu
    • Gan Jiang

    Cold invading the Spleen and Kidneys, causing abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

    • Shan
    • Yao

    Guards against Deficiency-Heat developing as a side effect.

  • Warms and holds Kidney Qi so it returns to its source, securing the urine to treat Lower Jiao Deficiency-Cold with incontinence, frequency or dribbling (worsened by Cold).

    • Shan
    • Yao
    • Bai Zhu
    • Ren Shen

    Spleen Qi and Yang Deficiency.

  • Heavy salivation, particularly at night.

  • Vomiting clear fluid.

Notes

  • Fr. Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Yi Zhi Ren addresses excessive salivation and an unpleasant, thick taste in the mouth when caused by Cold, whereas Hb. Eupatorii Pei Lan treats the identical symptoms when caused by Heat.
  • Taken alone as a powder, it can treat uterine bleeding.
  • It is frequently paired with Ootheca Mantidis Sang Piao Xiao.
  • Traditionally, it was used to sharpen intelligence and mental capacity.
  • Yi Zhi Ren and Fr. Psoraliae Bu Gu Zhi both tonify the Spleen and Kidneys, fortify Yang, stop diarrhea, and astringe Jing and urine, and both are commonly used for Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency. Bu Gu Zhi primarily warms the Kidneys, which in turn indirectly warms Spleen Yang; it treats chronic diarrhea and cock-crow diarrhea from Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency, as well as lower back pain. Yi Zhi Ren, by contrast, more strongly warms Spleen Yang and only secondarily warms the Kidneys, treating diarrhea associated with Cold exposure of the Spleen and Stomach; it also treats uterine bleeding.
  • Salt-prepared Alpinia, Yan Yi Zhi Ren, has diminished acrid, drying qualities and acts directly on the Lower Jiao to astringe Jing and urine; it is commonly used for Kidney Yang Deficiency with spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions, incontinence, terminal dribbling and nocturia.

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