Chinese: 五子衍宗丸
Pinyin: Wǔ Zǐ Yǎn Zōng Wán
Other names: Five-Seed Developing Ancestors Pill
Chinese: 五子衍宗丸
Pinyin: Wǔ Zǐ Yǎn Zōng Wán
Other names: Five-Seed Developing Ancestors Pill
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm Yang and tonify
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: ImpotenceLow sperm countSexual dysfunction and three other conditions
Source date: 1550 AD
Source book: Multitude of Marvelous Formulas for Sustaining Life
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Cuscuta Seeds (Tu Si Zi) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1550 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm Yang and tonify. Its main actions are: 1) tonifies Kidney Yang and 2) strengthens the Essence.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Kidney Essence Deficiency or Kidney Yang Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as abnormal vaginal discharge, impotence or sexual dysfunction for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan helps treat.
Tu Si Zi is a king ingredient in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Yang Deficiency
In general Tu Si Zi's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver."
In the context of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, it is used because it tonifies Kidney Yang and strengthen the Essence.
Part used: Dried ripe fruits
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLung
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
In general Wu Wei Zi's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Kidneys and preserves the Essence. Astringes the Lung Qi and stops coughing. Retains Bodily Fluids and encourages their production. Tonifies the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen)."
In the context of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, it is used because it nourishes and strengthen the Essence thanks to its astringent nature.
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Gou Qi Zi's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs."
In the context of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, it is used because it tonifies the Kidneys and the Essence.
Part used: Dried fruit
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: BladderKidney
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
In general Fu Pen Zi's main actions are as follows: "Augments the Kidneys, restrains Essence. Stops leakage of Bodily Fluids."
In the context of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, it is used because it it tonifies Kidney Yang and stops discharges.
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLungSmall intestine
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Che Qian Zi's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and clears Heat. Stops diarrhea by expelling water through urination. Brightens the eyes, used in combination either for Deficiency or Heat. Reduces inflammation of infections. Arrests cough and expectorates Phlegm."
In the context of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, it is used because it clear any Heat that can be risen from the tonification of Yang.
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Abnormal vaginal discharge Impotence Sexual dysfunction Premature ejaculation Infertility in male Low sperm count
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan treats abnormal vaginal discharge" for instance. Rather, Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind abnormal vaginal discharge.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Deafness Tinnitus Hair loss Sterility Dizziness Sore back Weak Limbs Retardation Infertility Poor memory Loose teeth Hair Graying Blurred vision Absentmindness Mental dullness Lower back pain Premature aging Softening of bones Primary amenorrhoea Poor sexual ability Poor bone development Decreased mental sharpness Late closure of fontanelle Loss of hearing or deafness
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidney Essence Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as deafness, mental dullness, retardation and softening of bones. Patients with Kidney Essence Deficiency typically exhibit empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Red and peeled tongue .
Kidney Essence (Jing 精) Deficiency usually involves Deficiency of Kidney Yin and, to some extent, Kidney Yang. Its signs manifest in relation to growth, development, reproduction, sexuality, bones, marrow, the brain, teeth, memory and hair.
Poor hereditary constitution in children, aging, excessive... read more about Kidney Essence Deficiency
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Symptoms: Asthma Chills Fatigue Dysuria Tinnitus Coughing Dizziness Weak legs Lassitude Impotence Sore back Pale face Back pain Dark face Tiredness Knee pain Depression Cold limbs Leukorrhea Weak Limbs Weak knees Infertility Loose teeth Late period Hot flushes Poor memory Loose stools Constipation Incontinence Night sweats Spermatorrhea Poor appetite Oedema of legs Abdominal pain Dripping urine Scanty periods Lower back pain Feeling of cold Low sperm count Sore lower back Premature aging Decreased libido Aversion to cold Cold extremities Oedema of ankles Vaginal discharge Frequent urination Urinary difficulty Pale color periods Abdominal fullness Cold and weak knees Persistent diarrhea Nocturnal emissions Cold hands and feet Premature menopause Infertility in women Night time urination Pale menstrual blood Premature ejaculation Incontinence of urine Prostatic hypertrophy Bright-white complexion Absence of menstruation Thin and watery periods Lower abdominal pressure Pale and abudant urination Thin body lacking strength Loss of hearing or deafness Spasms of the lower abdomen Cold in the lower extremities Edema of the lower extremities Weakness and aching in the knees Exhaustion from long-term illness Weakness of the lower extremities Thin and watery vaginal discharge Nocturnal emissions without dreams Sensation of cold in the lower back Soreness and weakness in the lower back Cold sensation in the lower half of the body
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidney Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as lower back pain, dizziness, tinnitus and cold and weak knees. Patients with Kidney Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen) or slow (Chi) pulses as well as Pale tongue.
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness. It indicates that the Fire of the Gate of Life, which is located between the two Kidneys and supplies fundamental warmth for the body, is also impaired. Therefore, the Organs lack warmth and cannot fully perform their... read more about Kidney Yang Deficiency
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