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Supplementing yīn

补阴 〔補陰〕bǔ yīn

Also boosting yīn; fostering yīn; nourishing yīn; enriching yīn. A method of treatment that addresses yīn vacuity (vacuity heat), characterized by slight heat effusion (low fever), heat in the hearts of the palms and soles (vexing heat in the five hearts), postmeridian heat effusion, dry mouth and throat, night sweating, emaciation, short voidings of yellow urine, red tongue with little or no fur, and a forceless fine rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Agents commonly used to treat lung or stomach yīn vacuity include glehnia (Glehniae Radix, 北沙参 běi shā shēn), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Radix, 麦门冬 mài mén dōng), dendrobium (Dendrobii Herba, 石斛 shí hú), and Solomon’s seal (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma, 玉竹 yù zhú).

The following medicinals clear heat as well as supplement yīn, and treat yīn vacuity in the recovery stage of externally contracted febrile disease: dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix, 生地黄 shēng dì huáng), dendrobium (Dendrobii Herba, 石斛 shí hú), and scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix, 玄参 xuán shēn).

Some medicinals have a stronger enriching effectand are generally used to treat liver-kidney yīn vacuity: dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix, 生地黄 shēng dì huáng), ass hide glue (Asini Corii Colla, 阿胶 ē jiāo), asparagus (Asparagi Radix, 天门冬 tiān mén dōng), tortoise shell (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum, 龟版 guī bǎn), and turtle shell (Trionycis Carapax, 鳖甲 biē jiǎ).

Some medicinals used to treat liver-kidney yīn vacuity have a lesser enriching effect, but have the advantage of supplementing without being glutinous: ligustrum (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, 女贞子 nǚ zhēn zǐ), eclipta (Ecliptae Herba, 墨旱莲 mò hàn lián), and mulberry (Mori Fructus, 桑椹 sāng shèn).

Agents used to nourish heart, lung, and kidney yīn include ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Radix, 麦门冬 mài mén dōng), lily bulb (Lilii Bulbus, 百合 bǎi hé), scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix, 玄参 xuán shēn), and arborvitae seed (Platycladi Semen, 柏子仁 bǎi zǐ rén).

Representative formulas include: Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Pill (知柏地黄丸 zhī bǎi dì huáng wán) and Major Yīn Supplementation Pill (大补阴丸 dà bǔ yīn wán), which treats yīn vacuity with effulgent fire; Humor-Increasing Decoction (增液汤 zēng yè tāng), which is mostly used in febrile diseases where heat evil is still present and yīn humor is already showing signs of vacuity; and Stomach-Nourishing Decoction (养胃汤 yǎng wèi tāng), which engenders liquid and nourishes the stomach and is mostly used in the treatment of stomach yīn vacuity after illness.

Acumoxatherapy: Point selection varies according to pattern:

Point selection according to signs:

Compare consolidating yīn; strengthening yīn. See supplementation.

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