You Gui Wan
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
右归丸 · Yòu Guī Wán
Zhang Jingyue’s pure Kidney Yang tonic for exhaustion of Ming Men fire, with cold limbs, lumbar weakness, impotence, frequent clear urine and a pale swollen tongue — without the draining herbs of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Yang-Tonifying Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Primary Function
- Warm and tonify Kidney Yang, fill essence and marrow
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Strongly tonify Kidney Yang and essence without draining
- Classical Source
- Jing Yue Quan Shu (Zhang Jingyue, Ming dynasty)
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
Zhang Jingyue’s pure Kidney Yang tonic for exhaustion of Ming Men fire, with cold limbs, lumbar weakness, impotence, frequent clear urine and a pale swollen tongue — without the draining herbs of Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for clear Ming Men fire decline without oedema needing drainage — pure filling and warming, stronger and less draining than Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
枸杞子Gou Qi Zi12g
Goji Berry / Lycium Fruit- supplements the kidney and liver
- improves vision
菟絲子Tu Si Zi12g
Cuscuta Seed- supplements kidney yang
- boosts the kidney essence
杜仲Du Zhong12g
Eucommia Bark- supplements kidney and liver and strengthens the sinews
當歸Dang Gui9g
Chinese Angelica Root- nourishes and harmonizes blood
肉桂Rou Gui6g
Cinnamon Bark- warms and unblocks yang qi
附子Fu Zi6g
Prepared Aconite Root- supplements fire and assists yang
鹿角膠Lu Jiao Jiao12g
Deer Antler Glue- supplements kidney essence
Classical Composition
- Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shu Di Huang) 8 liang (240g)
- Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shan Yao) 4 liang (120g)
- Corni Fructus (Shan Zhu Yu) 3 liang (90g)
- Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi Zi) 3 liang (90g)
- Cuscutae Semen (Tu Si Zi) 4 liang (120g)
- Cervi Cornus Colla (Lu Jiao Jiao) 4 liang (120g)
- Eucommiae Cortex (Du Zhong Zi) 4 liang (120g)
- Cinnamomi Cortex (Rou Gui) 2 liang (60g)
- Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 3 liang (90g)
- Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Zhi Fu Zi) 2-6 liang (60-180g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Warms and supplements kidney yang
- supplements essence
- and boosts marrow.
Indications
- You Gui Wan is intended for patterns of kidney yang insufficiency and ming men fire deficiency marked by mental fatigue and general weakness due to aging or chronic disease, fear of cold, hypothermic limbs, sore loins, impotence, spermatorrhea, infertility, decreased food intake, unformed stools, urinary incontinence, a pale tongue with a white coating, and a deep, delayed pulse.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- The pattern treated with this formula is deficiency of both kidney yang and ming men fire.
- As the kidney is the viscus of water and fire, it stores ming men fire and is therefore regarded as the root of the original yang.
- Kidney yang deficiency and the decline of the ming men fire fail to warm the earth (spleen) affecting the spleen-stomach function.
- Thereby, the patient presents with mental fatigue, general weakness, sore and cold loins, decreased appetite, and unformed stools.
- The kidney dominates tian gui (reproduction-stimulating essence, corresponds with the tenth heavenly stem, 天癸) and stores the essence.
- Therefore, kidney yang deficiency results in the decline of tian gui and reproductive dysfunction manifesting impotence, spermatorrhea, infertility, and urinary incontinence.
- The treatment principle, as recorded in The Complete Works of [Zhang] Jing-yue, is to boost the source of the fire, namely, the original yang stored in the right kidney.
Treatment strategy
- The treatment principle is to strongly tonify Kidney Yang and essence without draining.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
You Gui Wan pure-tonifies Kidney Yang and essence. Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan warms Yang on a Yin base with mild draining. Zuo Gui Wan pure-tonifies Kidney Yin and essence. Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan adds diuresis for Yang-deficient oedema.
Clinical Differentiation
- You Gui Wan is often used to treat kidney yang deficiency and decline of ming men fire.
- This clinical pattern is marked by mental fatigue and general weakness, fear of cold, cold limbs, sore loins and weak knees, impotence, deep, slow pulse.
Safety notes: You Gui Wan is intended for patterns of pure deficiency only. Therefore, it is inappropriate to prescribe for those with kidney deficiency complicated with dampness accumulation, for it does not include medicinals that drain.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of You Gui Wan?
You Gui Wan has the actions of warming and tonifying Kidney Yang, replenishing Essence (Jing), and tonifying Blood. It is a pure tonifying formula designed to restore the declining fire of the Ming Men (Gate of Vitality) and rebuild the foundational Yang of the Kidneys.
Which modern diseases is You Gui Wan suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Kidney Yang deficiency, including senile or Yang-deficiency type osteoporosis, certain cases of infertility or low sperm quality, chronic fatigue with pronounced cold signs, some chronic kidney or nephrotic presentations of Yang deficiency, and reproductive or lower-back weakness associated with this pattern.
Is You Gui Wan suitable for improving cold limbs, lower back weakness, fatigue, and reduced sexual function?
For presentations of aversion to cold, cold extremities, sore and weak lower back and knees, mental and physical fatigue, impotence or reduced libido, frequent clear urination or incontinence, loose stools, a pale tongue with white coating, and a deep slow pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Kidney Yang deficiency and decline of Ming Men fire — TCM commonly applies You Gui Wan as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment.
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.