Essence (Jing) is Yin, the complement to Spirit (Shen), which is Yang. Jing- Shen conveys the inseparable duality of the corporeal and non-corporeal aspects of human life. Our physical form arises from a fundamental material matrix passed on to us by our parents and ancestors in an unbroken protoplasmic succession. It is this basic stuff − the inherited Prenatal Essence (Xian Tian Jing) − that connects us with our roots in history, our personal destiny and the future of our progeny. Essence itself has both a Yin (Water) and Yang (Fire) aspect; it is the source of both Vital Substance and Vital Heat that together engender all processes of growth, maturation and regeneration within the organism, from the moment of conception to the moment of death. Because Essence represents the substrate of bodily form and function, its deterioration can lead to an untimely decline of the Source or Yuan Qi. The conservation of Yin and Yang Essence is fundamental to supporting healthy fertility, reproduction, development, immunity and aging. There is some controversy over whether inherited Essence can ever be replenished once it is gone, since it is continuously being used up in the process of living. It can, however, be supplemented with special nutrient-rich substances that have qualitative similarities to human organs, blood, serum, semen and other internal secretions. The logic is that natural biological materials, especially those containing gelatinous ingredients that resemble our own bodily substances, must also contain concentratedamounts of the Original Essence (Yuan Jing) from which they arise. By consuming these Essence-rich plant and animal ingredients, we are able to sustain our own personal reservoir, while fortifying the softness, elasticity, juiciness, animation and vigor that reflect an enduring capacity for being creative, healthy and alive. Replenish Essence contains both animal and vegetable materials that will cultivate the primal soil of our psyche and soma, the root of Jing-Shen. In contrast to the formula for supplementing the Kidney, this one emphasizes Essence consolidating and enriching ingredients. RATIONALE Deer horn gelatin, Lycium fruit, raw Rehmannia root and Cordyceps fruiting body are the primary ingredients that replenish Essence. Epimedium herb, Chinese dodder seed, Eucommia bark, Loranthus herb, Eleuthero root and rhizome and Cordyceps fruiting body further enhance the action of supplementing Yin (Essence, Blood and Moisture) and invigorating Yang (Original Qi and Vital Heat). White peony root, Asiatic cornelian cherry and Schisandra fruit nurture and consolidate Essence, Blood and Moisture. Fluorite, Chinese amomum fruit and Sharp-leaf galangal fruit warm Yang and anchor Qi, helping to keep the “Fire of the Life Gate” (Ming Men Huo) within its proper locale, below the navel in the Elixir Field (Dan Tian). Finally, Phellodendron bark, Lotus stamen, Plantain seed and Asian water plantain rhizome counter the accumulation of Heat and Dampness and quiet the excitement of Shen that sometimes results from the dense and stimulating character of these warming, enriching ingredients. This rather complex formula combines animal and vegetable sources that support and maintain the body’s primary reserves of vital juices and warmth, thus preserving the integrity of the material matrix (Jing) that is the embodiment of the mind (Shen).
