State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Dioscoreae Rhizoma

Common Name

Chinese Yam Rhizome

Category

Tonify the Qi

Ingredients

Taste

Sweet

Pao Zhi

Dry-fried to fortify the Spleen & stop diarrhea and supplement the Kidneys & secure essence. Most often used for Spleen deficiency leading to diarrhea, lack of appetite, epigastric or abdominal distention, or abnormal vaginal discharge, or for Kidney qi not securing leading to spermatorrhea or weak low back and knees.

Temperature

Neutral

Action / Indication

1. Tonifies and augments the Spleen and Stomach: for Spleen or Stomach deficiency with such symptoms as diarrhea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, and lack of appetite. 
2. Tonifies the Lung qi and augments the Lung yin: for chronic cough or wheezing due to Lung deficiency. 
3. Tonifies the Kidneys and also stabilizes and binds: because this herb moistens and is neither hot nor cold, it benefits both the yin and the yang of the Lungs and Kidneys. It is therefore often used in treating wasting and thirsting disorder, sometimes in a large dosage as a stand-alone herb. It also secures the essence and treats spermatorrhea, urinary frequency, and vaginal discharge.

Treatment Principles

Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach
Tonifies Lung Qi and Lung Yin
Tonifies the Kidneys

Contraindication

Excess heat. Do not use as a single-herb treatment for dampness. Should bloating or indigestion occur, modify the prescription to include chen pi.

Dosages

9-30g. 250g maximum. 6-10g powdered. Use fresh, dried, or dry-fried.

Meridians

SP, KD, LU

Tom's Comment

1. Shan Yao is a potent astringent and is clinically used in many pathologies such as sweating, diarrhea, urination, and vaginal discharge.
2. Shan Yao Tonifies the Kidney to Stabilize and Bind. Shan Yao is often not regarded as a bona fide Kidney Tonic.

Source

Formula Type