Source: Xiao’er Yaozheng Zhijue (Key to Therapeutics of Children’s Diseases).

Ingredients:
No.1  Shudihuang (Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparatae) 24 g
No.2  Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni) 12 g
No.3  Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 12 g
No.4  Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 9 g
No.5  Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 9 g
No.6  Fuling (Poria) 9 g

Administration:
Grind the drugs into fine powder and mix with honey to make boluses; take 6 -9 g each time and three times daily with warm boiled water or light salty water. Or decoct the above drugs with dosages in proportion to the original recipe.

Actions: Nourishing yin and invigorating the kidney.

Clinical Application:
This recipe is indicated for deficiency syndrome of kidney-yin, marked by soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, vertigo, tinnitus, deafness, night sweat, seminal emission, diabetes, teaming sensation in the bones, hectic fever, feverish sensation in the palms and soles, dry tongue and sore throat, gomphiasis, pain in heels, dribbling urination, persistent opening of fontanel, reddened tongue with little fur, thready and rapid pulse. It is applicable to chronic nephritis, hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, renal tuberculosis, hyperthyroidism, central retinitis, anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding, menopausal syndrome and other diseases, which pertain to the syndromes of kidney-yin deficiency. 

In case of hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency, add Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) and Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri) to enhance the action of clearing away heat, which constitute another recipe entitled Zhibai Dihuang Wan. If concomitant with deficiency of the liver-yin manifesting blurring of vision, add Gouqizi (Fructus Lycii) and Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi) to nourish the liver, forming another recipe entitled Qiju Dihuang Wan. If concomitant with deficiency of the lung-yin manifesting cough and dyspnea, add Maimendong (Radix Ophiopogonis) and Wuweizi ( Fructus Schisandrae) to preserve the lung-yin, forming another recipe entitled Maiwei Dihuang Wan.

Elucidation:
The syndrome is caused by deficiency of kidney-yin and flaring up of deficiency fire. It should be treated by nourishing yin and invigorating the kidney. The first ingredient in larger dosage is the monarch drug, meant to enrich the kidney essence. Ingredients No. 2 and No. 3 act as minister drugs, the former bearing the functions of nourishing the liver and kidney and retaining kidney essence, and the latter reinforcing the spleen and kidney and consolidating kidney essence. Ingredient No. 4 can promote diuresis to eliminate dampness and prevent the first ingredient from generating dampness.

Ingredient No. 5 possesses the functions of clearing away heat from the liver and inhibiting the warm property of No. 2. While the last ingredient, mild in its action of eliminating dampness from the spleen, helps No. 3 promote transportation and transformation of the spleen. These three ingredients play the role of adjuvant drug. The combination of all ingredients achieves "three tonic effects and three purgative effects", focusing on the former. With yin of the liver, spleen and kidney reinforced, this recipe is mainly aimed at nourishing the kidney-yin, thus forming the recipe for promoting opening and closing, reinforcement with purgation and reinforcing kidney-yin.