This product is the above-ground part of the perennial erect herb of the Berberidaceae family, Epimedium Herb (Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.), Sagittate Epimedium Herb (E. sagittatum (S. et Z.) Maxim.), Pubescent Epimedium Herb (E. pubescens Maxim.), Wushan Epimedium (E. wushanense T.S. Ying), or Korean Epimedium Herb (E. koreanum Nakai). It is mainly produced in Shaanxi, Liaoning, Shanxi, Sichuan, and other regions. It is harvested in autumn when the stems and leaves are lush, removing the coarse stems and impurities, and then dried. It is used raw by cutting into shreds or processed with suet oil (refined oil).

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and sweet, warm. act on liver and kidney channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Warming and tonifying kidney yang, strengthening muscles and bones, dispelling wind and dampness.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for impotence, infertility, and frequent urination due to kidney yang deficiency. It has the effects of warming and tonifying kidney yang, and enhancing essence to cure impotence. It can be taken alone by soaking in wine, such as the Epimedium Herb wine in "Shi Yi Xin Jing"; it can also be used in combination with medicinals Prepared Rehmannia Root, Barbary Wolfberry Fruit, Morinda, etc., such as in Zan Yu Pill.
2. Used for pain and impediment of tendons and bones due to liver and kidney deficiency, wind-dampness causing spasms and numbness, etc. It can tonify the liver and kidneys, strengthen tendons and bones, and dispel wind and dampness. For treating numbness and spasms of the limbs, it can be used alone by soaking in wine; for cases accompanied by wilting and weakness of tendons and bones, difficulty in walking, it can be combined with Eucommia Bark, Morinda, Chinese Taxillus Herb, etc. In addition, it is also effective in modern use for cough and asthma due to kidney yang deficiency and hypertension in women during menopause.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Treats impotence and injuries, pain in the stem, promotes urination, tonifies qi, and strengthens willpower."
2. Rihuazi Bencao: "Addresses all cold wind and fatigue, relieves muscle and bone spasms, numbness in the limbs, and strengthens the waist and knees."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 5-10g. It can also be soaked in wine, made into a paste, or used in pills and powders.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

The main active ingredients of this product are total flavonoids, glycosides, and polysaccharides from Epimedium Herb. Additionally, it contains alkaloids, sterols, hentriacontane, and vitamin E. Epimedium Herb can promote nucleic acid and protein synthesis in animals with yang deficiency and exhibits androgenic effects, enhancing immune function, particularly improving low immune function in patients with kidney deficiency. It can dilate peripheral blood vessels, improve microcirculation, increase blood flow, reduce peripheral resistance, and increase coronary flow. It also inhibits poliovirus and other enteroviruses, and possesses anti-hypoxic, sedative, anticonvulsant, antitussive, and phlegm-dispelling effects.