Tonify the yin (bu yin)

Sweet, cold and moistening, these herbs that tonify the yin nourish or enrich a depleted yin, presenting as emaciation, sore lower back and knees, muscle and bone weakness, dry mouth, thirst, dizziness, tinnitus, infertility, dry eyes and a dry, red or cracked tongue. If the Lungs and Stomach are affected, it can also present with a dry cough, dry heaves or dry stool. If yin no longer embraces yang, deficiency heat arises with afternoon fevers, flushed cheeks, hot flashes, night sweats and warm palms and soles.

Examples include gou qi zi (goji berry, Lycium barbarum), hei zhi ma (black sesame, Sesamum indicum), mo han lian (Bhringaraj, Eclipta prostrata), san shen zi (mulberry, Morus alba) and yin er (snow fungus, Tremella fructiformis).