Chinese: 玉女煎
Pinyin: Yu Nu Jian
Other names: Jade Woman Decoction, Yu Nv Jian, Jade Woman Drink,
Chinese: 玉女煎
Pinyin: Yu Nu Jian
Other names: Jade Woman Decoction, Yu Nv Jian, Jade Woman Drink,
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from the Organs
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: DiabetesGlossitisStomatitis and four other conditions
Contraindications: Contraindicated for patients with diarrhea
Source date: 1624 AD
Source book: Collected Treatises of [Zhang] Jing Yue
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.
Yu Nu Jian is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Gypsum (Shi Gao) and Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1624 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs. Its main actions are: 1) drains Heat from the Stomach and 2) nourishes Yin.
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 Yu Nu Jian is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Kidney Yin Deficiency or Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as morning sickness, stomatitis or glossitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Yu Nu Jian, we review the patterns and conditions that Yu Nu Jian helps treat.
Shi Gao is a king ingredient in Yu Nu Jian. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: LungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Shi Gao clears Fire from the Stomach and thereby relieves the fever, irritability, and thirst. It is an important herb for treating toothache due to Stomach Fire.
Shu Di huang is a king ingredient in Yu Nu Jian. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
Part used: Prepared dried root tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Shu Di huang's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys."
In the context of Yu Nu Jian, it is used because it nourishes Kidney Body Fluids Deficiency, which enables water to control Fire.
Zhi Mu is a deputy ingredient in Yu Nu Jian. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: KidneyLungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Zhi Mu's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and Fire from the Qi level. Clears Heat and Fire from the Lung and Stomach. Clears Heat and tonifies the Yin."
In the context of Yu Nu Jian, it is used because it helps the king herb Shi Gao (Gypsum) clear Heat from the Stomach and also nourishes the Yin.
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Yu Nu Jian. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
Mai Dong is very effective in moistening the Stomach, generating Body Fluids, and alleviating irritability. It nourishes the Yin primarily in the Middle and Upper Burners, and thus complements Shu Di Huang (Prepared rehmannia) in nourishing the Kidney Yin.
Niu Xi is an envoy ingredient in Yu Nu Jian. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Niu Xi directs the Heat downward by guiding Blood downward and thereby stops Blood flowing into the oral cavity.
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 Yu Nu Jian 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:
Morning sickness Stomatitis Glossitis Periodontitis Diabetes Trigeminal neuralgia Viral myocarditis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Yu Nu Jian treats morning sickness" for instance. Rather, Yu Nu Jian is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind morning sickness.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Yu Nu Jian.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Tongue shape: Cracked
Symptoms: Anxiety Vertigo Itching Sweating Tinnitus Insomnia Dry hair Dry skin Back pain Tiredness Lassitude Dizziness Bone ache Sore back Dry mouth Depression Sore knees Weak knees Dry throat Dry tongue Dry stools Limbs pain Infertility Malar flush Poor memory Constipation Night sweats Little sperm Irritability Restlnessness Five palm heat Scanty periods Blurred vision Lower back pain Evening anxiety Weak lower back Feeling of heat Poor constitution Diminished hearing Nocturnal emissions Hot palms and soles Scanty dark urination Premature ejaculation Menopausal hot flushes Excessive sexual desire White vaginal discharge Dry mouth and throat at night Feeling of heat in the evening Low-grade fever in the afternoon Thirst with desire to drink in small sips
Yu Nu Jian is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Kidney Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as sweating, back pain, diminished hearing and dry mouth and throat at night. Patients with Kidney Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Red tongue without coating, cracked in severe cases.
This pattern often accompanies Kidney Essence Deficiency, as Kidney Yin includes Essence. When both element are depleted in the Kidneys, not enough Marrow is generated to fill the Brain, thus the symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo and poor memory. The dizziness is mild and the tinnitus is... read more about Kidney Yin Deficiency
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Fever Thirst Blister Red eyes Red face Toothache Headaches Dry mouth Dry throat Breast pain Breast heat Malar flush Breast lumps Restlessness Constipation Breast eczema Bleeding gums Swelling gums Breast redness Breast nodules Breast hardness Vomiting of food Breast distention Uneven milk supply Breast skin cracks Breast pus discharge Breast skin ichiness White spots on nipples Scanty clear urination
Yu Nu Jian is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as toothache, headaches, breast distention and breast lumps. Patients with Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat typically exhibit floating (Fu) or slippery (Hua) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
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