Shan Yao

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Pinyin Name: Shan Yao

English Name: Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae

Other Names: Huai Shan Yao, Shan Yu, Yu Yan, Shan Shu

Tastes: Sweet, Neutral

Origin: Henan, Hebei and Shaanxi provinces in China

Benefits of Shan Yao:

Shan Yao is native to China. It must be plucked in winter after stalk and leaves withered. Shan Yao covers meridians of lung, spleen and kidney. Main functions are tonifying spleen, nourishing lung, reinforcing the kidney, benefitting essence. Common uses and indications include diarrhea caused by deficient spleen, no desire to eat and edema, cough and asthma due to lung deficiency, consumptive thirst, frequency of urination cause by kidney deficiency. Recommended dosage is from 15 to 30 grams.

Shan Yao is widely used in Chinese herbal formulas. 1) Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is used to improve symptom management for kidney-yin deficiency, dizziness, tinnitus, weak knees and low back, hot flashes, night sweats and more. Its ingredient herbs include Shan Yao, Shu Di Huang, Zhu Yu, Mu Dan Pi, Fu Ling and Ze Xie. 2) Yu Ye Tang is used to improve symptom management for wasting and thirsting disorder. Its ingredient herbs include Shan Yao, Huang Qi, Tian Hua Fen, Zhi Mu and more.

Common herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine

Quick knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine perspectives