Hé Táo Rén (核桃仁), known in English as Walnut (Juglans regia (seed)), is a warm, sweet Chinese herb from the Tonify yang category. It enters the Kidney, Lung and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: tonifies Kidney.
| Pinyin | Hé Táo Rén (He Tao Ren) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 核桃仁 |
| English | Walnut |
| Botanical name | Juglans regia (seed) |
| Category | Tonify yang |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Kidney, Lung, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 6–9g |
| Cautions | Cough from Phlegm-Heat; Yin deficiency with Heat; loose stools |
Actions
- Tonifies Kidney
- Warms Lung, calms wheezing
- Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels
Indications
- Kidney Yang deficiency with sore, weak back and knees, impotence and spermatorrhoea
- Chronic wheezing and cough from deficiency Cold
- Constipation from intestinal dryness
How to remember Hé Táo Rén
Tonify yang herbs are mostly warm or hot and sweet, and most enter the Kidney and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Sweet: like most Tonify yang herbs
- Kidney channel: from its action “Tonifies Kidney”
- Lung channel: from its action “Warms Lung”
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “Moistens intestines”
Other Tonify yang herbs
- Dù Zhòng
- Lù Róng
- Xiān Máo
- Yín Yáng Huò
- Bǔ Gǔ Zhī
- Tù Sī Zǐ
- Bā Jǐ Tiān
- Suǒ Yáng
- Xù Duàn
- Ròu Cōng Róng
- Dōng Chóng Xià Cǎo
- Shā Yuàn Zǐ
- Yì Zhì Rén
- Lù Jiǎo Jiāo
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hé Táo Rén?
Hé Táo Rén is warm and sweet.
Which channels does Hé Táo Rén enter?
Hé Táo Rén enters the Kidney, Lung and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Hé Táo Rén?
Tonifies Kidney; Warms Lung, calms wheezing; Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels.
What is Hé Táo Rén used for?
Kidney Yang deficiency with sore, weak back and knees, impotence and spermatorrhoea; chronic wheezing and cough from deficiency Cold; constipation from intestinal dryness.
Practise Hé Táo Rén and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.