Today I will reveal a potent recipe that nourishes both yin and yang—this is a secret old TCM doctors seldom share.

The kidney-tonifying medicines we usually see are countless, but most either nourish kidney Yin or tonify kidney Yang. Do you know which medicines can tonify both Yin and Yang? Today I’ll share such a formula with you — it can not only supplement Yin and Yang, but also replenish Qi and blood.

This formula comes from the Ming-dynasty medical text’s Gui Lu Er Xian Gao (Tortoise-Selk Sap Pills). It has only four ingredients: tortoise shell gelatin, deer antler gelatin, goji berry, and ginseng. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, tortoise shell is a good substance for nourishing Yin and replenishing blood. It’s like a “moisturizer” for the body, filling up Yin and blood so the body is less dry. Deer antler, on the other hand, can warm kidney Yang and nourish the sinews and bones. Kidney Yang is like the body’s “small furnace” that warms the whole body; deer antler strengthens that “furnace,” making the sinews and bones stronger. These two herbs—one entering Yin, the other entering Yang—work together to replenish essence and marrow and generate Yin-Yang essence and blood.

As for ginseng, ginseng is the “star herb” for greatly tonifying primordial Qi. Primordial Qi is like the body’s “energy pack”; when it is sufficient, the body has strength and vigor in everything. Ginseng also strengthens the spleen and benefits the kidneys; the spleen and stomach are the root of postnatal being, and the kidney is the root of prenatal being — ginseng cares for both roots. Goji berry can nourish the kidneys and benefit essence, and nourish the liver and brighten the eyes. When kidney essence is sufficient, one has vigor; when liver blood is sufficient, the eyes are bright.

These four herbs together are like a well-coordinated “health maintenance team.” Working together, they generate essence, benefit Qi, and nourish blood—covering Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang. With both Qi and blood attended to and Yin and Yang mutually supplemented, the body will naturally improve. If you have deficiency of both Yin and Yang and insufficient Qi and blood, you might try this formula.