Sha Yuan Zi沙苑子
Astragali Semen · Flatstem Milkvetch Seed · Tong Ji Li
Overview
The small, flattened kidney-shaped seed of a milkvetch, named for the Shayuan district where the best material was gathered. Sweet and warm, entering Liver and Kidney, it supplements without being cloying and secures at the same time — it firms the Kidney's grip on essence and urine while nourishing the Liver so that tired, blurred eyes clear. That mild dual character makes it a long-course herb for the depleted rather than a strong yang tonic. Salt-preparing is the usual dispensary form and drives it into the Kidney; plain dry-frying makes it gentler and easier on the stomach.
Nature & Flavor
Sweet · WarmChannels
Liver · KidneyTypical Dosage
10–20 g in decoctionActions
4 core actions
- Supplements the Kidney and secures essenceSeminal emission, premature ejaculation, dribbling or frequent urination and a sore, weak lower back from a Kidney that neither warms nor holds.
- Nourishes the Liver and brightens the eyesBlurred or dim vision, eye strain and dizziness in a depleted patient — used over weeks rather than for an acute red eye.
- Checks abnormal dischargeClear, copious vaginal discharge with a cold weak lumbus, where the pattern is deficiency rather than damp-heat.
- Processed formsThe salt-prepared seed is the form most often dispensed for urinary and lumbar complaints; the dry-fried seed is gentler and is chosen where the digestion is delicate.
In Formulas
Formulas containing Sha Yuan Zi
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Seminal emission and premature ejaculation from Kidney deficiency
- Frequent or dribbling urination with a sore, weak lower back
- Blurred, dim vision and eye strain in a depleted patient
- Clear, copious vaginal discharge of deficiency type
Western Medical Keywords
Searchable condition terms
Contraindications
Cautions
Warm and astringent, so it holds things in — the wrong direction where there is damp-heat with burning, urgent or cloudy urination, an active urinary infection, marked fire from yin deficiency, or constipation from heat. Because it secures, it should not be given while a pathogen still needs clearing. Persistent urinary symptoms and any change in vision deserve a diagnosis before a long herbal course. Our dispensary data flags no toxicity and no allergy risk for this herb.
Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies
For licensed practitioners’ reference only
References
- 《中华人民共和国药典》.
2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
3. Cura x Cura dispensary monograph record.
Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.