In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), liver blood is considered the core refined substance that nourishes the entire body's organs, meridians, and sense organs. It not only nourishes the eyes to maintain vision, enriches the fascia to ensure flexible limbs, and moisturizes the nails to keep them strong and rosy but also calms the spirit, regulates women's menstruation. To replenish liver blood effectively, it is essential to address the root cause. A classic Chinese patent medicine can achieve simultaneous tonification of both the liver and kidneys, helping you regain a clear mind and healthy body.

When blood fails to nourish the liver, the root lies in the kidneys.

TCM theory states that "the kidney belongs to water, the liver belongs to wood, and the kidney is the mother of the liver." Kidney essence serves as the material basis for generating liver blood. When symptoms of liver blood deficiency such as dizziness, blurred vision, dry eyes, dull complexion, limb numbness, brittle nails, and scanty menstruation occur, it is often due to kidney yin deficiency and insufficient essence failing to transform into blood, depriving liver blood of its source of generation.

A simplified analogy can be made: Kidney yin is like an underground reservoir, kidney essence is the water pumped into the well, and liver blood is the irrigation canal supplying the fields. If the reservoir dries up, the well water becomes insufficient, causing the canals to dry up, and the fields—deprived of nourishment—will "wither." Therefore, replenishing liver blood should follow the principle of "nourishing kidney water to generate liver wood." A representative formula for this is Gui Shao Di Huang Wan.

Guishao Dihuang Wan: A classic, effective formula for tonifying both the liver and kidneys.

Gui Shao Di Huang Wan is derived from Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with the addition of Angelica sinensis (Danggui) and White Peony Root (Baishao), first documented in the Ming Dynasty's "Shou Shi Bao Yuan". It is now available as a proprietary Chinese medicine of the same name and is commonly used to nourish the liver and kidneys, supplement yin blood, and clear deficiency heat.

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan serves as the foundation for nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys, solidifying the "kidney water" foundation. Angelica sinensis, known as the "sacred herb for blood," directly enriches liver blood. White Peony Root nourishes blood, restrains yin, and soothes the liver, harmonizing it. Together, they moisten the liver wood with yin blood, promoting vitality and flourishing.

Indications for Gui Shao Di Huang Wan

Dizziness, blurred vision, and dry, tired eyes

When liver and kidney essence-blood is insufficient and cannot ascend to nourish the head and eyes, symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, dry eyes, and unclear vision may appear. This formula nourishes essence and blood, providing "nourishing fluid" to the brain and eyes, alleviating discomfort and restoring vitality.

Symptoms of Yin Deficiency and Internal Heat

If symptoms such as tinnitus resembling cicada chirping, heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, afternoon feverishness, night sweats, red tongue with little coating are present, they are often due to kidney yin deficiency and upward flaring of deficient fire. This medication can nourish kidney yin and enrich liver blood; when yin fluids are sufficient, deficient fire naturally subsides.

Aching and soreness in the lower back and legs, numbness and cramping in the limbs

The kidneys govern bones, and the liver governs tendons. Deficiency of the liver and kidneys can lead to insufficient marrow and lack of nourishment in the sinews and vessels, resulting in soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, numbness or cramping in the limbs. This formula replenishes both essence and blood, strengthening the waist and bones, and moistening the sinews and vessels.

Heel pain

The heel is where the kidney meridian circulates. Deficiency of kidney essence results in malnutrition of the bones, easily causing lingering pain in the heel. This medication can replenish essence and blood, strengthen sinews and bones, and alleviate pain.

Poor sleep quality

The liver stores the ethereal soul, and the heart stores the spirit. Deficiency of yin and blood in the liver and kidneys can allow deficient fire to disturb the heart, leading to difficulties falling asleep, light sleep with easy waking, and excessive dreaming. This medication replenishes liver blood and kidney yin, allowing the spirit and soul to return to their proper places, thereby improving sleep quality.

That's all for today's sharing. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, and I will carefully address them!