- Ba Ji Tian tonifies Kidney-Yang and Kidney-Essence.
- Gan Cao harmonizes.
Case History 31.3
Dysmenorrhoea: Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang Deficiency-Female, Age 33
A 33-year-old woman had been suffering from painful periods for 10 years. The pain occurred
during the period and the blood was bright-red and rather scanty. She felt cold in general and
colder during the period. She had had 4 miscarriages. She also suffered from backache,
dizziness, tinnitus, poor memory, a dry mouth at night and night-sweating. Her urination was
frequent and occasionally it dribbled. She felt always very tired and her knees ached. Her tongue
was of a normal colour but without spirit on the root. Her pulse was generally Weak and, on the
left side, very Fine and Empty at the deep level.
Diagnosis This is a complicated condition characterized by a deficiency of both
Kidney-Yin and Kidney-Yang. The symptoms of Kidney-Yin
deficiency are: dizziness, tinnitus, dry mouth at night, night-sweating,
poor memory, tongue root without spirit and pulse Empty at the deep
level. The symptoms of Kidney-Yang deficiency are: feeling cold, achy
knees, and frequent and dribbling urination. The miscarriages were due
to the Kidney deficiency. Thus, this is a Deficiency type of
dysmenorrhoea.
Treatment principle The treatment principle adopted was to nourish Kidney-Yin and warm
and tonify Kidney-Yang. The emphasis was put on nourishing
Kidney-Yin as when both Yin and Yang are deficient, it is important to
nourish the substance first (Kidney-Yin) rather than the function
(Kidney-Yang). The very Fine pulse which is also Empty at the deep
level also indicates the importance of nourishing the Yin primarily.
However, secondary tonification of Kidney-Yang should not be
overlooked.Herbal treatment The formula used was a variation of Tiao Gan Tang Regulating the
Liver Decoction:
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae sinensis 9 g
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae albae 9 g
Shan Yao Radix Dioscoreae oppositae 6 g
E Jiao Gelatinum Corii Asini 6 g
Shan Zhu Yu Fructus Corni officinalis 6 g
Ba Ji Tian Radix Morindae officinalis 4 g
Zhi Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis praeparata 3 g