Maiwei Dihuang Wan (simplified Chinese: 麦味地黄丸; traditional Chinese: 麥味地黃丸) is a blackish-brown pill used in Traditional Chinese medicine to "nourish the kidney to receive qi".[1] It tastes slightly sweet and sour.

It is "contraindicated in children under 13 years old, pregnant women, weak persons and patients with heart disease, severe tracheitis and hypertension".[2] In addition, this pill is "unsuitable for long term use", and "overdosage is strongly discouraged". Each pill weighs about 0.6 grams.

Patients taking this pill should "abstain from eating uncooked and cool foods".[3]

Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is erroneously described as being contraindicated for pregnant women. There are no herbs in it which are contraindicated for pregnancy.[4] It is safe and can be useful for pregnant or nursing women.

A combination of soy isoflavones (types of plant-derived phytoestrogens) and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (from which Maiwei Dihuang Wan is derived)[5] is potentially effective for postmenopausal women with severe vasomotor episodes (often referred to as "hot flashes") as an alternative to hormonal therapy.[6]

Chinese classic herbal formula

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Name Chinese (S) Grams
Radix Ophiopogonis 麦冬 60
Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis seu Fructus Schisandrae Sphenantherae 五味子 40
Radix Rehmanniae Preparata 熟地黄 160
Fructus Corni (processed) 山茱萸(炙) 80
Cortex Moutan 牡丹皮 60
Rhizoma Dioscoreae 山药 80
Poria 茯苓 60
Rhizoma Alismatis 泽泻 60

See also

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References

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  1. ^ State Pharmacopoeia Commission of the PRC (2005). "Pharmacopoeia of The People's Republic of China (Volume I)". Chemical Industry Press. ISBN 7-117-06982-1.
  2. ^ Long Zhixian, Li Qingye, Liu Zhanwen. "Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine" (方剂学 fāngjì xué), Academy Press (学苑出版社 xuéyuàn chūbǎnshè), Beijing University of Traditional Medicine. 2005. ISBN 7-5077-1270-2.
  3. ^ Zuo Yanfu, Zhu Zhongbao, Huang Yuezhong, Tao Jinweng, Li Zhaoguo. "Science of Prescriptions", Publishing House of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2002. ISBN 7-81010-650-3.
  4. ^ Chinese Herbal Medicine, Bensky, Claver, and Stoger, Eastland Press
  5. ^ "MAI WEI DI HUANG WAN for Lung YIN Deficiency".
  6. ^ Limopasmanee, W.; Chansakaow, S.; Rojanasthien, N.; Manorot, M.; Sangdee, C.; Teekachunhatean, S. (2015). "Effects of the Chinese Herbal Formulation (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan) on the Pharmacokinetics of Isoflavones in Postmenopausal Women". BioMed Research International. 2015: 902702. doi:10.1155/2015/902702. PMC 4471402. PMID 26146635.