During my clinical practice, I've noticed that many friends, as soon as they feel they have kidney deficiency, immediately turn to Luwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) without a second thought. In fact, many don't realize that the medicinal properties of Luwei Dihuang Wan are relatively cold and cooling. For those with weak spleen and stomach function, taking it not only fails to nourish the body but also puts an additional burden on an already fragile digestive system, making the body feel even more uncomfortable—it's like adding insult to injury.

So today, I'd like to share a traditional Chinese medicine formula that can simultaneously tonify both the spleen and kidney. In TCM, the relationship between the spleen and kidney is very close—one governs innate constitution, while the other governs postnatal nourishment. The food we eat relies on the spleen and stomach for proper absorption and transformation into qi, blood, and body fluids in the body. The production of kidney essence also depends on the nourishment provided by these qi, blood, and fluids. To put it simply, the spleen and stomach are like a "nutrient processing plant," while kidney essence is like the "premium product" produced by this factory. Only when the spleen and stomach function well can kidney essence be abundant and the kidneys remain healthy.

But nowadays, eight out of ten people have a constitution of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. Many people use Liuwei Dihuang Pills to tonify the kidneys, and initially, they might feel some effects. However, after a while, they find that the medicine no longer works. Why is that? It’s because this medicine damages the spleen and stomach, making them increasingly cold—cold upon cold—so much so that the spleen and stomach lose the strength to transport nutrients to the kidneys. This is like a broken supply chain; the spleen and kidneys affect each other, creating a vicious cycle in the body. At this point, if you want to tonify the kidneys, simply focusing on the kidneys won't work. You must simultaneously strengthen and tonify the spleen—taking a two-pronged approach—to achieve good results.

Today, I want to share a formula called Hei Dihuang Pills. It consists of four herbs: Rehmannia Praeparata (Shu Di), Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang), Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), and Atractylodes (Cang Zhu). Rehmannia Praeparata is an expert at tonifying kidney essence—its kidney-tonifying effects are strong. However, Rehmannia Praeparata has a minor drawback: excessive use can damage the spleen and stomach. That’s why it must be combined with Dried Ginger and Atractylodes to balance it out. Dried Ginger acts like a small heater, warming and dispelling cold from the spleen and stomach; Atractylodes, on the other hand, functions like a "dehumidifier," drying out dampness in the spleen and stomach. When these two herbs work together, they strengthen the spleen and stomach, almost like hiring two "little bodyguards" for them.

Schisandra is even more remarkable. Not only can it tonify the essence of the five zang organs, but it also has astringent properties. It’s like putting a "little lock" on kidney essence, securely locking the kidney essence supplemented by Rehmannia Praeparata in the kidneys and preventing it from easily leaking away. When these four herbs are combined, they truly work together to tonify both the spleen and kidneys—the effect is outstanding.

If you usually experience symptoms such as a sallow, yellowish complexion—like you haven’t eaten enough—along with a thin, frail body, lack of energy for anything, feeling as wilted as frostbitten eggplant; or if you feel soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, with no desire to move; or if after taking Liuwei Dihuang Pills, you frequently have diarrhea and your stomach constantly rumbles—if you want to tonify your kidneys, you might consider trying this Hei Dihuang Pills formula to improve your condition.

However, I must remind everyone that medication must be used according to the specific condition. Don't take it blindly. It's best to consult a doctor first, get confirmation that it's suitable for you, and only then take it—that way, you can help your body become stronger and healthier! In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), treatment is based on syndrome differentiation. Different symptoms require different prescriptions; only then can the medicine effectively cure the illness. If you are experiencing similar symptoms, the first step is to examine your tongue coating. Send me a photo of your tongue coating along with your symptoms, and I will provide a free syndrome differentiation to determine the overall direction of your health regulation.