Nourishing Yin and Reducing Internal Heat Dietary Therapy: Liuwei Dihuang Decoction and Cordyceps Sinensis and Polygonum Multiflorum Decoction for Buffalo Back Obesity
Buffalo hump obesity, also known as Cushing's disease or "hyperadrenocorticism," is caused by excessive secretion of cortisol from the adrenal glands. This condition affects fat metabolism and distribution, leading to central obesity characterized by thin limbs and a large torso. Because this condition is often accompanied by symptoms of liver and kidney yin deficiency and kidney heat disturbance, treatment should focus on nourishing yin, reducing heat, and tonifying the liver and kidneys.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that obese people often suffer from qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness. For obesity caused by pathological factors, dieting and exercise alone are often ineffective. Only by regulating the functions of the internal organs and restoring the body's yin-yang balance can the problem of disordered fat metabolism be fundamentally solved. The following two soup formulas are designed based on this concept and specifically for the pathological characteristics of buffalo hump obesity.
Buffalo back obesity and corresponding decoction:
(1) Liuwei Dihuang Decoction. Serving size: 1 person. Ingredients: 5 qian of Rehmannia glutinosa (processed), 5 qian of Poria cocos, 3 qian of Paeonia suffruticosa, 3 qian of Alisma plantago-aquatica, 5 qian of Dioscorea opposita, 3 qian of Cornus officinalis. Preparation: Boil 4 bowls of water down to 1 bowl. Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and reduces fire, nourishes the liver and benefits the kidneys.
Liuwei Dihuang Decoction is a famous traditional Chinese medicine formula. It consists of six herbs: Rehmannia glutinosa (processed), Poria cocos, Paeonia suffruticosa, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Dioscorea opposita, and Cornus officinalis. Rehmannia glutinosa (processed) is the principal ingredient, hence its name. Liuwei Dihuang Decoction is indicated for liver and kidney yin deficiency, dizziness, blurred vision, hearing loss, lower back and knee weakness, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, yin deficiency fever, thirst, frequent urination, and premature graying of hair. It is also commonly used for chronic nephritis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, neurasthenia, hypertension, Cushing's syndrome, and tuberculosis.
Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu Di) is sweet in taste and warm in nature. It has the effects of nourishing blood and yin. Poria cocos (Fu Ling) is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and stomach, calming the mind and soothing the nerves, and promoting diuresis and dampness elimination. Paeonia suffruticosa (Mu Dan Pi) is pungent, bitter, and slightly cold in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat and cooling blood, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Alisma plantago-aquatica (Ze Xie) is sweet in taste and cold in nature. It has the effects of promoting diuresis, eliminating dampness, and clearing heat. Dioscorea opposita (Huai Shan) is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It has the effects of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Cornus officinalis (Shan Zhu Yu) is sour and astringent in taste. It has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, astringing essence, and stopping sweating.
(2) Cordyceps, Polygonum multiflorum, and Black Bean Soup. Serves: 2. Ingredients: 3 qian of Cordyceps, 5 qian of Polygonum multiflorum, 1 liang of black beans, 1 skinless duck. Preparation: Double-boil in 4 bowls of water for 3 hours. Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and kidneys, strengthens the body and replenishes vital energy.
Cordyceps sinensis is one of the "Three Great Treasures of Chinese Medicine." It has a sweet taste and warm properties. It possesses the effects of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, strengthening the body's foundation, promoting longevity, stopping bleeding, and resolving phlegm. It can be used for conditions such as coughing up blood due to lung deficiency and impotence due to kidney deficiency. This product nourishes both yin and yang, and it is nourishing without causing dryness. It can be taken by those with both cold and hot constitutions. It is truly an excellent medicine for regulating the body. Modern research indicates that Cordyceps sinensis can enhance immunity, strengthen bone marrow hematopoietic function, delay aging, fight tumors, lower cholesterol, and lower blood lipids.
Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu) has a bitter and astringent taste and is slightly warm in nature. It is believed to nourish the liver and kidneys, replenish essence and blood, promote hair growth and darken hair, lubricate the intestines and relieve constipation, detoxify, and treat malaria. It is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing kidney yin and promoting longevity. Studies have shown that Polygonum multiflorum has a good lipid-lowering effect and can be used for hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and obesity. Polygonum multiflorum exists in raw and processed forms. Raw Polygonum multiflorum is better at relieving constipation and detoxifying, while processed Polygonum multiflorum is more focused on nourishing the liver and kidneys.
Black beans, also known as "black soybeans," "winter beans," and "ji beans," are sweet in taste and warm in nature. They possess nourishing, blood-activating, blood-tonifying, kidney-tonifying, diuretic, swelling-reducing, wind-dispelling, and detoxifying properties. They can be used to treat edema, lower back pain, beriberi, rheumatism, jaundice, sores, boils, postpartum wind, and diabetes. Furthermore, black beans have the effect of lowering blood lipids and cholesterol. They also have an auxiliary regulatory effect on abnormal glucose metabolism associated with buffalo hump obesity.