Shān Yào (山药), known in English as Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita), is a neutral, sweet Chinese herb from the Tonify qi category. It enters the Spleen, Lung and Kidney channels. Its main action: tonifies Spleen and Stomach, stops diarrhoea.
| Pinyin | Shān Yào (Shan Yao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 山药 |
| English | Chinese yam |
| Botanical name | Dioscorea opposita |
| Category | Tonify qi |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Spleen, Lung, Kidney |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | Excess patterns; Damp accumulation without deficiency |
Actions
- Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, stops diarrhoea
- Tonifies Lung qi and Yin
- Tonifies Kidney, astringes Jing
- Generates fluids, treats wasting-thirst
Indications
- Spleen deficiency diarrhoea
- Lung deficiency cough
- Kidney deficiency spermatorrhoea
- Diabetes
How to remember Shān Yào
Tonify qi herbs are mostly sweet, and most enter the Spleen, Lung and Stomach channels.
- You can work these out
- Sweet: like most Tonify qi herbs
- Spleen channel: from its action “Tonifies Spleen and Stomach”
- Lung channel: from its action “Tonifies Lung qi and Yin”
- Kidney channel: from its action “Tonifies Kidney”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: Tonify qi herbs vary in nature
Formulas containing Shān Yào
- Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán
- Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán
- Zuǒ Guī Wán
- Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán
- Yòu Guī Wán
- Jiàn Pí Wán
- Suō Quán Wán
- Qǐ Jú Dì Huáng Wán
- Tù Sī Wán
Other Tonify qi herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Shān Yào?
Shān Yào is neutral and sweet.
Which channels does Shān Yào enter?
Shān Yào enters the Spleen, Lung and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Shān Yào?
Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, stops diarrhoea; Tonifies Lung qi and Yin; Tonifies Kidney, astringes Jing; Generates fluids, treats wasting-thirst.
What is Shān Yào used for?
Spleen deficiency diarrhoea; Lung deficiency cough; Kidney deficiency spermatorrhoea; diabetes.
Which formulas contain Shān Yào?
Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán, Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán, Zuǒ Guī Wán, Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán, Yòu Guī Wán, Jiàn Pí Wán, Suō Quán Wán, Qǐ Jú Dì Huáng Wán and Tù Sī Wán.
Practise Shān Yào 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.