Replenish the Right

Replenish the Right is a faithful rendition of Restore the Right Kidney Pill (You Gui Wan), an important formula for addressing deficient Kidney Yang and Essence (Jing). It derives its name from the Chinese physiological view that Kidney Yang is stored in the right Kidney, while Yin resides in the left. Seventeenth century scholar Zhang Jing-Yue described this pattern in Collected Treatises (Jing Yue Quan Shu) as Source Yang deficiency and decline of the prenatal endowment such that the Fire at the Gate of Vitality wanes, Spleen and Stomach become Cold and deficient. Cold lodges in the Lower Burner and Water arises, leading to occasional water retention.

While Replenish the Right primarily warms and tonifies the Yang, its collective action is to nourish the Essence and Blood. This reflects the Chinese view of the interdependence of Yin and Yang; that neither can exist or thrive without the other. As Yin and Yang share the same root, the Kidney, they are best tonified together. Though Replenish the Right addresses disharmonies of both the Middle and Lower Burner, its source deficiency is of the Yang of the Kidney. Replenish the Right augments Essence and is an excellent tonic for anyone experiencing occasional fatigue. The amount of prepared Aconite root is at the lower range of the recommended dosage for this formula, allowing it to be taken for a longer period of time.

The chief ingredients, prepared Aconite root, Chinese cinnamon bark and Deer horn gelatin, warm and fortify the Source Yang, and the latter also replenishes the Essence and tonifies the marrow. Prepared Aconite root revives devastated Yang Qi, tonifies the Fire at the Gate of Vitality and expels Cold Damp obstruction. Chinese cinnamon bark fortifies the Kidney and Spleen Yang, and warms the Heart Yang. It also disperses Cold, warms the channels, alleviates stagnation and leads upward floating Yang back to its source. It encourages the generation of Qi and Blood as an auxiliary herb to the Qi and Blood tonics found in this formula. Deer horn gelatin nourishes and tonifies Essence and Blood and tonifies Kidney Yang.

Prepared Rehmannia root tonifies the Blood, nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin, tonifies the Essence and strongly enriches the Yin. Dong quai root tonifies and invigorates Blood, disperses Cold and alleviates stagnation.

Asiatic cornelian cherry nourishes the Kidney and Liver, stabilizes the Kidneys, secures the Essence and assists the Yang. Chinese yam rhizome and Lycium fruit tonify and augment the Spleen and Stomach, nourish Liver Blood, tonify Kidney Yin and Yang, tonify Lung Qi, and benefit the Essence. Chinese dodder seed tonifies the Yang, augments the Yin, secures the Essence and tonifies the Kidney, Liver and Spleen without being cloying. Eucommia bark tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens sinews and bones and aids in promoting the smooth flow of Qi and Blood. It soothes an occasional sore, weak lower back and legs and supports healthy tendons and bones.

With stronger signs of Qi and Blood deficiency, use Ten Treasures or Women’s Precious from the Kan Herbals line. If there are signs of Wind Cold Damp in the lower extremities, use Meridian Circulation from the Kan Herbals line.

ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
Zhang Jing-Yue, an early 17th century scholar, wrote two texts in which he organized and compiled herbal knowledge from previous ages. Replenish the Right is based on the classical Chinese herbal formula You Gui Wan, found in the Collected Treatises of Zhang Jing-Yue (Jing Yue Quan Shu).