N. Tonic Medicines
Restoratives, Tonics, Adaptogens
The tonics are perhaps the most important group of medicines in today’s modern society for two main reasons:
- firstly, they have the ability to nourish, restore and strengthen either a tissue, organ or system within the body, which modern medicine, in general, cannot do;
- secondly, they are so much more needed today with the stress, diet, environmental toxins and lack of exercise thats part of modern society.
Tonics are often specifically good for certain things, rather than being general cure-all tonics, as they are often taken for in the west. Some tonics are more appropriated to women, and the blood, such as Peony and Dang Gui, while other are better for men, such as Ginseng and Shilajit. Some heat the body, increase Yang, and promote Lust, such as Deer Horn or Red Ginseng, while others nourish the Yin and fluids of the body, and are therefore cool and moist in nature, such as Asparagus root, Comfrey and Marshmallow.
1. Tonics according to Chinese Tradition
The Chinese divide tonic medicines into 4 Broad Categories, each being more associated with specific Organs:
- Qi–Lung, Spleen, Kidney
- Blood–Liver, Heart, Uterus
- Yin–Kidney, Liver, Lung, Stomach, Heart
- Yang–Kidney, Spleen, Heart
i. Qi Tonics
Medicines that tonify Qi tend to be Neutral, or else mildly Warm in nature. They are sweet, pleasant tasting medicines, and some are used as food. They especially tonify the Spleen and Lungs, the two organs primarily associated with the formation of Qi. Some also strengthen Heart or Kidney Qi.
Rice, Dolichis Bai Bian Dou, American Ginseng Xi Yang Shen, Polygonatum Huang Jing,
ii. Blood Tonics
Medicines that Tonify Blood tend to be Warm, moist and rich in Nature. They especially strengthen the Liver, Heart and Uterus–the ‘Blood Organs’.
Iron
iii. Yin Tonics
Yin Tonics are Cool and Moist, and rich or oily in nature. They moisten and nourish the Body, especially affecting the Lungs, Stomach and Kidneys. Some of them have hormonal affects.
Egg Yolk
iv. Yang Tonics
Yang tonics tend to be Warm and dry, and appropriated to the Kidneys or Spleen. The Spleen Yang is associated with the ‘Fire of Digestion’, the Kidney Yang is associated with the sex drive.
Opening Roots
Astragalus seed Sha Yuan Zi, Alpinia oxyphylla Yi Zhi Ren
Sea Cucumber, Deglued Deer Horn, Mature Deer Horn
2. Tonics according to the Western Tradition
In the Western Tradition, the Three Primary Organs are the Organs associated with the Three Faculties and Three Vital Principles; Heart, Brain and Liver. To these may be added Semen Tonics, those which nourish Sperm and promote Fertility. The following list is derived from Traditional Western and modern Unani sources.
i. Heart Tonics
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Pine nut Raisin Withania Carrot root Red Behen Curculigo Cotton seed Shilajit |
Walnut Chickpea Asparagus root Wild Parsnip root White Behen Chlorophytum Sesame seed Testicles |
3. Tonics according to Ayurveda–Rasayanas
Tonics in Ayurveda are called Rasayana, and are medicines which nourish, strengthen or increase some or all of the Seven Bodily Constituents: Chyle, Blood, Flesh, Fat, Bone, Marrow, and Sperm. Some also increase Essence.
Balya group – increase Strength
Colocynth, Mucuna pruriens, Asparagus racemosus, Glycine debilis, Convolvulus paniculatus, Physalis flexuosa, Hedysarum gangeticum, Picrorhiza, Sida cordifolia, Sida rhombifolia
Vringhaniya group – promote nutrition, increase Fat
Ascelpias rosea, Dregea volubilis, Sida cordifolia, Kakoli root, Khirakakoli root, Sida rhomboidea, Sida rhombifolia, Hibiscus vitifolius, Convolvulus paniculatus (white variety), Lettsomia nervosa
Chinese Classification