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Suo Yang锁阳

Cynomorii Herba, Cynomorii Caulis · Cynomorium · Songaria Cynomorium Stem

Herbs that Tonify the Yang 补阳药《本草衍义补遗》

Overview

A fleshy, root-parasitic desert plant of northwest China, harvested as a thick reddish stem. Sweet and warm, it tonifies Kidney yang and augments essence and blood, and it strengthens the sinews and bones — the reason it appears in prescriptions for weak, flaccid legs as often as for cold-type impotence. Unusually among the yang tonics it also moistens the intestines, so it suits an older patient whose constipation and cold lower back come from the same deficiency. Wine-fired Suo Yang warms more strongly and drives towards the sinews and bones, with less of the laxative effect.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet · Warm

Channels

Liver · Kidney · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

10–15 g in decoction
锁阳Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Tonifies Kidney yang, augments essence and bloodImpotence, seminal emission, infertility with a cold presentation, a cold and sore lower back and knees, and frequent pale urination. Commonly paired with Rou Cong Rong 肉苁蓉.
  • Strengthens the sinews and bonesWeak, flaccid or wasted legs, and a lower back and knees that feel unstable in the elderly or after long illness.
  • Moistens the intestines, moves the stoolDry, hard stool in the elderly, postpartum, or after a depleting illness, where the dryness sits on a background of yang and blood deficiency rather than heat.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Suo Yang

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Kidney-yang deficiency with impotence, seminal emission or cold-type infertility
    - Cold, sore, weak lower back and knees
    - Flaccid, weak legs and unsteady gait after long illness
    - Constipation from dryness in the elderly or debilitated

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Erectile dysfunctionMale infertilityChronic constipationMuscle weaknessLow back pain

Contraindications

Cautions

Warm and tonifying, so it is unsuitable where there is yin deficiency with heat — flushing, night sweats, a dry mouth at night and a red tongue with little coating — and it should not be used in damp-heat patterns. Its moistening action makes it wrong for anyone already passing loose stools or with an unsettled bowel. Constipation of an excess type, with abdominal fullness, foul breath and a thick yellow coating, needs draining rather than moistening, and this herb will not help it.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies; it is a warming yang tonic rather than a blood mover, but it also moistens the bowel, so it should be prescribed rather than self-selected during pregnancy.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Ben Cao Yan Yi Bu Yi《本草衍义补遗》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.