Bright Eye Rehmannia is based on the classical formula Support Good Vision with Rehmannia (Ming Mu Di Huang Wan), itself a variation of the classic Kidney strengthening formula Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan). Bright Eye Rehmannia focuses primarily on nourishing the Yin of the Kidneys and Liver to support healthy vision, nourish the eyes and mitigate Liver Yang rising. All of the herbs for Six Rehmannia Pill are found in Bright Eye Rehmannia. With Kidney and Liver Yin deficiency, the Essence (Kidneys) and Blood (Liver) are not abundant and are unable to nourish the upper part of the body, especially the orifices. The base formula focuses on tonifying Kidney and Liver Yin, draining Fire and supporting the Spleen. There are basically two groups of ingredients found in the base formula: tonifying herbs and herbs that predominantly drain. The first group is comprised of Prepared Rehmannia root, Asiatic cornelian cherry and Chinese yam rhizome. Prepared Rehmannia root, known as a “Blood of the Blood” herb, nourishes the deepest aspect of the Blood, as well as tonifies the Kidneys and Liver and boosting the Essence (Jing). Chinese yam rhizome stabilizes and binds, and Asiatic cornelian cherry retains the Essence, protecting Yin and body fluids. Prepared Rehmannia root, Asiatic cornelian cherry, Chinese yam rhizome tonify Liver and Kidney Yin. The second group of herbs is comprised of Asian water plantain rhizome, Tree peony root bark and Poria. Tree peony root bark cools deficiency Heat, gently invigorates Blood without injuring the Blood or Yin, dispels Liver Blood stasis and clears ascending Liver Fire. Asian water plantain rhizome supports healthy urination and leaches out Dampness. It is often used with herbs that tonify the Kidneys to prevent Kidney Fire. Thus Tree Peony root bark is used in this formula to mitigate ascending Liver Fire, and Asian water plantain rhizome to prevent ascending Kidney Fire. Poria tonifies the Spleen, eliminates Dampness by supporting healthy urination, calms the Spirit and harmonizes the Middle Burner. More specifically addressing nourishment of the eye, Lycium fruit and Chrysanthemum flower nourish and benefit the eyes. Lycium fruit brightens the eyes, nourishes and supplements the Liver and Kidneys, benefits the Essence and enriches the Yin. It supports good vision for eyes that have that have failed to be nourished by adequate Essence, Blood and Yin. Chrysanthemum flower, cooling and aromatic, can ascend or descend, drain or tonify, making it particularly useful in supporting the aim of the formula. It is particularly effective at dispersing Wind Heat, cooling and tonifying the Liver and brightening the eyes. Dong quai root tonifies and invigorates Blood, especially for patterns of deficiency affecting Heart and Blood. It is an important herb to address Blood stasis, especially accompanied by Cold due to deficiency. It is suitable for all Blood patterns involving stasis, deficiency and dryness. It helps in this formula by tonifying Blood, but also by moving it and balancing some of the cold herbs found in this formula. Bupleurum root, a rising and dispersing herb, dispels Heat generated from deficiency and spreads Liver Qi to relieve constraint. Tribulus fruit extinguishes Wind, brightens the eyes, calms the Liver and anchors the Yang. Abalone shell calms ascendant Liver Yang patterns and quells Fire. It also enriches Liver Yin. ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENTMing Mu Di Huang Wan is from Shen Shi Yao Han, Scrutiny of the Priceless Jade Patient by Fu Ren-Yu to support healthy vision by tonifying Liver and Kidney Yin.
