When the lower body feels heavy and clammy

A feeling of heaviness and clamminess in the lower body, a lower abdomen that feels burdened, tiredness, a pale complexion, warmth that lingers while the hands sometimes stay cold… In TCM, these signs may be associated with Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner settled on a background of Blood Deficiency. The lacking Blood no longer nourishes the lower body enough, and Dampness, being heavy, sinks and mixes there with Heat.

Yu Dai Wan is a formula from the Chinese pharmacopoeia, traditionally intended for women. Its construction is easy to read: it contains the four herbs of Si Wu Tang, the basic Blood formula, to which are added two herbs that are complete opposites: phellodendron, bitter and cold, and galangal, hot and pungent.

Nourishing the Blood, lightening the lower body

White peony, the herb with the highest dose, and prepared rehmannia nourish the Blood and the Yin; Chinese angelica and Sichuan lovage help it circulate. Phellodendron, which has a particular affinity for the Lower Burner, clears Heat and dries Dampness. Galangal, at an equal dose, answers it: its warmth protects the Middle from the coldness of phellodendron.

Clears Damp-Heat: Bitter and cold, phellodendron acts preferentially on the lower part of the body, where it clears Heat and dries Dampness.

Nourishes and harmonises the Blood: The four herbs of Si Wu Tang both nourish the Blood and keep it circulating: rehmannia and white peony nourish, Chinese angelica and Sichuan lovage set it in motion.

Promotes a feeling of lightness: Galangal warms the Middle and supports the transformation of Dampness, so that the formula lightens without chilling.