Constantly feeling cold hands and feet, and averse to cold? Stop blindly taking strong Yang-tonifying medicines! The more you tonify, the more you get "heatiness" or internal heat; once you stop, you revert back to your old state. The key issue is not grasping the essence of the TCM principle "seeking Yang from within Yin."

TCM often says, "Solitary Yin cannot generate life, lone Yang cannot grow." Yin and Yang are fundamentally interdependent, mutually generating and rooted in each other. The Yang Qi in the body requires an ample foundation of Yin fluids to be produced and transformed. Conversely, only when Yang Qi is abundant can the zang-fu organs continuously generate Yin fluids.

So simply supplementing yang is like adding fire to a furnace that's already burning vigorously without adding water—the fire burns hotter and hotter, ultimately scorching the yin fluids, leading to symptoms of internal heat such as dry mouth and sore throat. A truly wise approach to supplementing yang is to warm yang on the foundation of nourishing yin, ensuring that yang has a root to rely on, resulting in a solid supplementation without inducing dryness or heat.

Today, I’d like to recommend a representative formula that supplements both yin and yang—Yougui Wan (Right-Returning Pill). This formula originates from Zhang Jingyue’s *Jingyue Complete Book* from the Ming Dynasty and is considered the “nemesis” of severe yang deficiency.

In this formula, six herbs, such as prepared rehmannia root (Shu Dihuang), dogwood fruit (Shanzhuyu), Chinese yam (Shanyao), and wolfberry (Gouqizi), which nourish yin and blood, firmly secure the foundation of yin fluids. These are combined with powerful herbs like cinnamon bark (Rougui) and aconite (Fuzi), which directly target the Gate of Life (Mingmen) to greatly supplement original yang. Even more ingeniously, dodder seeds (Tusizi) and deer antler glue (Lujiaojiao) are added to both tonify kidney yin and assist kidney yang, addressing both aspects. The entire formula focuses purely on supplementation without purging, making it particularly suitable for individuals with severe yang deficiency and pronounced aversion to cold.

When it comes to tonifying kidney yang, many people think of Guifu Dihuang Wan (Cinnamon Bark and Aconite Rehmannia Pill). How does it differ from Yougui Wan?

Gui Fu Di Huang Wan only uses three yin-nourishing herbs combined with cinnamon and aconite, making it far less potent in both yin-nourishing and yang-warming aspects compared to You Gui Wan. It is better suited for mild cases of kidney yang deficiency and works well for daily regulation. However, if the symptoms of yang deficiency are severe and you want to address the root cause, You Gui Wan is still the better choice.

Do you also struggle with getting internal heat every time you try to nourish yang? Compare and see which regulating formula is best suited for you!