Herbs that Tonify Qi
Shan Yao 山药
Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae Chinese Yam Rhizome, Dioscorea
Also known as Huai Shan Yao, Huai Shan
✓ CALE Exam ✓ National Exam
Materia Medica Data
- Category
- Herbs that Tonify Qi
- Temperature
- Neutral
- Nature & Flavour
- Sweet, Neutral
- Channels Entered
- KI, LU, SP
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae
- Chinese
- 山药
- Tone Marks
- shān yao
- Also Known As
- Huai Shan Yao, Huai Shan
- Translation
- Mountain Herb, Mountain Medicine
Chinese Herb Actions
- Tonifies the Qi and Yin of the Spleen and Stomach For Deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach with lack of appetite and energy, loose stools, spontaneous sweating, abdominal distention after eating, and a pale tongue. It can be used alone in large doses for this purpose.
- Tonifies the Qi and Yin of the Lung For Lung Qi and Yin Deficiency characterized by chronic coughing and wheezing. If Yin Deficiency is pronounced, there may be no sputum or very small amounts of sticky sputum.
- Tonifies Yin Nourishing, slightly astringent, and not drying, this herb is effective at treating Xiao Ke (wasting and thirsting syndrome). It can be used alone in large quantities for this purpose.
- Tonifies Kidney Yin and Stabilizes the Kidneys
Herb-Drug Interactions
- May interfere with Anti-Diabetic drugs.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
- https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK
- https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh
- https://amzn.to/42aMz73
- https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt



