When it comes to tonifying the kidneys, Liuwei Dihuang Wan is a household name, but in most cases, I don't actually use it much. Why? Firstly, its potency is relatively mild, and secondly, it doesn't quite suit the constitution of modern people. Many people find that after taking it, the results are mediocre, or they even experience "internal heat" (shanghuo), along with issues of spleen deficiency and heavy dampness.

Think about it—nowadays, eight or nine out of ten people struggle with heavy dampness. The primary ingredient in Liuwei Dihuang Wan is Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudi), which is far too rich and greasy for those with spleen deficiency, making it easy to hinder the stomach's digestive function. Furthermore, Liuwei Dihuang Wan mainly tonifies Kidney Yin. People with pure Kidney Yin deficiency are rare; most people today suffer from a deficiency of both Yin and Yang. What are the symptoms? It’s being sensitive to both heat and cold, constant fatigue, frequent sweating, and having high desire but low endurance.

In this situation, I suggest starting by regulating the spleen, stomach, and dampness. Why? Because the spleen is the foundation of our acquired constitution, and dampness is a "yin evil" that easily damages yang energy. When the spleen is weak and dampness is heavy, it not only hinders the absorption of medicine but also worsens the condition, making any attempts at supplementation ineffective. Therefore, we must first clear the dampness from the spleen. You can consider a modified version of Shenling Baizhu Powder, which strengthens the spleen and dispels dampness. If there is liver stagnation, you can also pair it with Bergamot (Foshou) to soothe the liver and regulate qi.

Once the condition improves, we can then focus on tonifying the kidneys. For cases of both Yin and Yang deficiency, Traditional Chinese Medicine has a classic formula called Bawei Shenqi Wan (Eight-Ingredient Kidney Qi Pill), which is a prescription from the venerable Zhang Zhongjing. This formula contains the "three tonics and three purgatives" of Liuwei Dihuang Wan to supplement kidney yin, but also adds Aconite (Fuzi) and Cinnamon Stick (Guizhi) to supplement fire and assist yang. This achieves the effect of "seeking yang within yin" and harmonizing both yin and yang.

So, if you want to tonify your kidneys, you must first look at your own constitution and symptoms; do not use medication blindly. Regulate the spleen, stomach, and dampness first, then tonify the kidneys—this is the only way to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment—different symptoms require different formulas to cure the illness. If you have similar conditions, the first step is to look at the tongue coating. Send over a photo of your tongue and your symptoms, and I will provide a free consultation to determine the general direction for your recovery.