Mai Wei Di Huang Wan: Nourishing Lung and Kidney Yin in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Hongji Medical
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan, a time-honored formula in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a variation of the classic Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). It is designed to treat lung and kidney yin deficiency, a condition characterized by symptoms like night sweats, dry throat, and cough.
Historical records attribute its origins to different sources: Yi Ji (Medical Records) credits it to Dong Xiyuan, while Yang Ke Xin De Ji (Collected Insights on Ulcer Medicine) notes it as an addition to Liu Wei Di Huang Wan in its supplement section. Regardless of its exact origin, Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is a powerful remedy for lung and kidney yin deficiency, also known as "Eight Immortals Longevity Pill" due to its nourishing and balancing effects.
By adding Ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong) and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi) to the base formula, Mai Wei Di Huang Wan enhances the nourishment of lung yin and consolidates kidney function, making it highly effective for specific yin deficiency patterns.
Composition of Mai Wei Di Huang Wan
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan builds on Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, incorporating eight herbs organized according to the TCM principle of "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy":
Monarch Herb: Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di Huang)
Sweet and slightly warm, it targets the liver and kidney meridians, nourishing kidney yin, replenishing essence, and strengthening marrow. It is the cornerstone for treating kidney yin deficiency.
Minister Herbs: Cornus Fruit (Shan Zhu Yu) and Chinese Yam (Huai Shan Yao)
Cornus Fruit, sour and slightly warm, nourishes the liver and kidney, securing essence with its astringent properties.
Chinese Yam, sweet and neutral, strengthens the spleen, lung, and kidney, consolidating essence and boosting qi.
Together, they enhance Rehmannia’s nourishing effects on the liver and kidney.
Assistant Herbs: Poria (Bai Fu Ling), Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi), and Alisma (Ze Xie)
Poria, sweet and neutral, promotes diuresis, strengthens the spleen, and calms the heart.
Moutan Cortex, bitter and slightly cold, clears heat, cools blood, and promotes blood circulation.
Alisma, sweet and cold, drains dampness and clears heat.
These herbs clear ministerial fire, balancing the warming nature of the nourishing herbs to prevent excessive supplementation.
Assistant Herbs for Lung Yin: Ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong) and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi)
Ophiopogon, sweet and slightly cold, nourishes lung yin, clears heart heat, and promotes fluid production.
Schisandra, sour and warm, consolidates lung and kidney functions, generates fluids, and calms the spirit.
Together, they target lung yin deficiency and support kidney consolidation.
Optional Herb (in some versions): Sharpleaf Galangal (Yi Zhi Ren)
Warm and pungent, it warms the spleen and kidney, secures essence, reduces urination, and addresses symptoms like seminal emission, frequent urination, or diarrhea due to spleen and kidney deficiency.
Pathological Mechanism
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan targets lung and kidney yin deficiency, with the following pathological mechanisms:
Kidney Yin Deficiency: Caused by chronic illness, excessive sexual activity, or congenital weakness, leading to insufficient kidney yin.
Lung Yin Deficiency: Kidney yin deficiency fails to nourish the lungs, or chronic coughing depletes lung yin.
Internal Deficiency Fire: Yin deficiency leads to relative yang excess, generating internal fire that causes symptoms like dry mouth, night sweats, or seminal emission.
Lung Dysfunction: Insufficient lung yin and internal fire impair the lung’s descending function, resulting in cough or wheezing.
Common Symptoms: Night sweats, dry throat and mouth, dry cough with little or bloody sputum, dizziness, tinnitus, weak lower back and knees, red tongue with little coating, and a thin, rapid pulse.
Functions and Indications
Functions
Nourishes kidney and lung yin.
Consolidates lung and kidney functions.
Indications
Night sweats and hot flashes.
Dry throat and mouth.
Dry cough with minimal or bloody sputum.
Dizziness and tinnitus.
Weak lower back and knees.
Red tongue with little coating.
Thin, rapid pulse.
Diabetes (yin deficiency with dryness and heat).
Comparison with Other Formulas
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan stands out among yin-nourishing formulas:
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan: Focuses on kidney yin deficiency. Mai Wei Di Huang Wan adds Ophiopogon and Schisandra to emphasize lung yin nourishment and consolidation.
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan: Targets liver and kidney yin deficiency with eye-related symptoms like dryness or blurred vision, unlike Mai Wei Di Huang Wan’s focus on lung issues.
Bai He Gu Jin Tang: Treats lung and kidney yin deficiency with severe cough and hemoptysis, emphasizing cough relief and phlegm resolution compared to Mai Wei Di Huang Wan’s broader nourishment.
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan excels in addressing lung and kidney yin deficiency with cough and hemoptysis.
Modern Applications and Research
Modern studies highlight Mai Wei Di Huang Wan’s benefits:
Immune Regulation: Enhances immune function and resistance.
Respiratory Health: Improves lung function, relieving cough and wheezing.
Blood Sugar Regulation: Supports blood sugar control in diabetes (under medical supervision).
Clinical Uses: Effective for chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes, and menopausal syndrome when diagnosed as lung and kidney yin deficiency.
Precautions for Use
Syndrome Differentiation: Suitable only for lung and kidney yin deficiency. Avoid in cases of spleen deficiency or excessive phlegm-dampness.
Adverse Reactions: Stop use and consult a doctor if discomfort occurs during treatment.
Sharpleaf Galangal Caution: When included, avoid in cases of yin deficiency with intense fire, dry mouth, or scanty, red urine.
Consultation: Always use under the guidance of a TCM practitioner, especially for specific conditions or populations.
Conclusion
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is a vital TCM formula for lung and kidney yin deficiency, building on Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with the addition of Ophiopogon and Schisandra to nourish lung yin and consolidate kidney function. Its ability to address symptoms like night sweats, dry cough, and diabetes makes it a versatile remedy in both traditional and modern contexts. Proper syndrome differentiation and professional guidance are essential for safe and effective use, ensuring optimal health benefits.
