Yu Nu Jian: Chinese Herb Medicine for Balancing Stomach Heat and Kidney Yin

Chinese Herb Medicine, Yu Nu Jian, a time-honored Chinese medicine formula, originates from the Jingyue Complete Works by Zhang Jingyue, a renowned Ming Dynasty physician. This prescription is designed to clear excess stomach heat while nourishing kidney yin, restoring balance to the body’s yin and yang energies.

Composed of five key herbs—gypsum, Rehmannia root, Ophiopogon japonicus, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, and Achyranthes bidentata—Yu Nu Jian effectively addresses symptoms of heat and yin deficiency.

Chinese Herb Medicine Yu Nu Jian

Ingredients and Their Roles

Yu Nu Jian’s formula combines herbs with specific functions to target stomach heat and kidney yin deficiency:

• Gypsum (Main Herb)Nature: ColdFunction: Clears heat and reduces fire, particularly in the stomach.Benefits: Relieves symptoms like headaches, toothaches, and irritability caused by excessive stomach heat.

• Rehmannia Root (Minister Herb)Nature: Slightly warmFunction: Nourishes kidney yin and replenishes yin fluids.Benefits: Alleviates fever, dry mouth, and thirst due to kidney yin deficiency.

• Ophiopogon Japonicus (Adjuvant Herb)Nature: ColdFunction: Nourishes yin in the lungs and stomach while clearing heat.Benefits: Eases fever, thirst, and cough caused by lung and stomach yin deficiency.

• Anemarrhena Asphodeloides (Adjuvant Herb)Nature: ColdFunction: Enhances gypsum’s heat-clearing effects.Benefits: Reduces fever and thirst linked to excessive stomach heat.

• Achyranthes Bidentata (Adjuvant Herb)Nature: ColdFunction: Guides heat and blood downward.Benefits: Mitigates headaches and toothaches by redirecting stomach fire.

Chinese Herb Medicine Yu Nu Jian

Indications and Benefits of Chinese Herb Medicine Yu Nu Jian

Yu Nu Jian treats conditions caused by “Shaoyin deficiency and Yangming excess,” where excessive stomach heat and insufficient kidney yin disrupt the body’s balance. Common symptoms include:

• Pain: Headaches, migraines, toothaches, swollen gums, trigeminal neuralgia, red or painful eyes, and low back pain.

• General Symptoms: Fever, dry mouth, thirst, irritability, nosebleeds, coughing up blood, mouth sores, bad breath, gum bleeding, and weight loss.

• Tongue and Pulse: Red tongue with yellow coating, rapid pulse.

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In modern medicine, Yu Nu Jian is used for conditions such as:

• Oral Health: Oral ulcers, stomatitis, periodontal disease, and glossitis.

• Digestive Issues: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hematemesis, and epistaxis.

• Respiratory Conditions: Chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and viral myocarditis.

• Other Conditions: Diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney-related low back pain, and hypertension-related disorders.

Chinese Herb Medicine Yu Nu Jian

How It Works

The formula addresses the root cause of symptoms by:

1. Clearing Stomach Heat: Excessive heat in the Yangming stomach meridian can rise, causing headaches, toothaches, and gum bleeding. Gypsum and Anemarrhena work together to cool this heat.

2. Nourishing Kidney Yin: Stomach heat depletes yin fluids, leading to kidney yin deficiency, which manifests as fever, dry mouth, or loose teeth (since kidneys govern bone health). Rehmannia root and Ophiopogon japonicus restore yin to counter this.

3. Guiding Heat Downward: Achyranthes bidentata ensures heat and blood are redirected, preventing it from affecting the head and face.

This dual action of clearing heat and nourishing yin restores harmony to the body.

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Modern Applications of Chinese Herb Medicine Yu Nu Jian

Yu Nu Jian remains relevant in modern medicine, effectively treating:

• Oral and Dental Issues: Ulcers, gum swelling, and periodontal disease.

• Digestive Disorders: Bleeding in the upper digestive tract.

• Respiratory Conditions: Chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis.

• Metabolic and Systemic Diseases: Diabetes, osteoporosis, and kidney-related back pain.

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Precautions

Due to its cold nature, Yu Nu Jian should be used cautiously in certain cases:

• Loose Stools or Spleen/Stomach Deficiency: The formula may worsen symptoms of coldness or digestive weakness.

• Pregnant Women: Consult a practitioner, as the cold herbs may affect the fetus.

Always seek guidance from a qualified practitioner to ensure the formula suits the patient’s condition.

Conclusion

Yu Nu Jian is a powerful and versatile Chinese medicine formula that clears stomach heat and nourishes kidney yin. By addressing symptoms like headaches, toothaches, gum issues, and systemic conditions such as diabetes and periodontal disease, it promotes balance and health. With proper use and professional guidance, Yu Nu Jian continues to be a valuable tool in both traditional and modern medicine.

Chinese Name	玉女煎
Phonetic	Yu Nu Jian
English Name	Jade Lady Decoction
Classification	Heat-clearing formulas
Source	《The Complete Works of [Zhang] Jing-yue》Jing Yue Quan Shu《景嶽全書》
Combination	Gypsum Fibrosum (Shi Gao) 3-5 qian (9-15g), Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shu Di Huang) 3-5 qian or 1 liang (9-15g or 30g), Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Dong) 2 qian (6g), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhi Mu) 1.5 qian (5g), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niu Xi) 1.5 qian (5g)
Method	Decoct one dose of the formula with 1.5 zhong of water, and boil it until the volume shrinks to about 70%. The decoction can be taken either warm or cool. (Modern use: use water to decoct the medicinals.)
Action	Clears stomach heat and nourishes kidney yin.
Indication	This formula is indicated for stomach heat and yin deficiency. The symptoms are toothache, headache, loose teeth, gingival bleeding, vexing heat and thirst, a red tongue with a dry yellow coating, xiao ke, and swift digestion with rapid hungering.
Pathogenesis	This is a pattern of shaoyin deficiency and yangming excess. Since the yangming channels go upward to the head and face, excessive heat of yangming stomach attacks upward to the head and face causing toothaches and headaches. Heat burns the blood vessels along the stomach channel, which caused gingival bleeding. Kidney yin deficiency causes the teeth to become loose. The stomach governs the intake of food and drink, excessive stomach heat causes swift digestion with rapid hungering. Heat consumes yin and fluids, causing vexing heat, thirst, and a red tongue with a dry yellow coating. This pattern is caused by the interaction between excessive fire and yin deficiency, with stomach heat as the main cause. Therefore, the therapeutic method is to clear stomach heat as the primary focus, and nourish kidney yin as the supplementary focus.
Application	1. Essential pattern differentiation Yu Nu Jian is a commonly used formula used to treat toothache, gingival bleeding, and xiao ke caused by stomach heat and yin deficiency. This clinical pattern is marked by loosening of the teeth, vexing heat and thirst, red tongue body with dry yellow coating. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of stomach heat and yin deficiency: gingivitis, diabetes mellitus, acute stomatitis, and glossitis. 3. Cautions and contraindications Do not use the formula for patients with thin, unformed stool caused by deficiency of the spleen.