Deer Antler Wine

Deer Antler Wine

　　　　[Source] *Orthopedics in Traditional Chinese Medicine*

　　[Ingredients] 10g deer antler, 30g Chinese yam, 0.5L white spirit

　　[Function] Nourishes kidney yang, enriches essence and blood, strengthens tendons and bones.

　　[Indications] Deficiency fatigue and essence depletion in men, deficiency of both essence and blood, impotence, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, aversion to cold and lack of strength, weak bones and fatigue, enuresis and spermatorrhea, dizziness and deafness; poor development in children, uterine cold and infertility in women, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea.

　　[Preparation] Slice the deer antler thinly, crush the Chinese yam, place them in a clean bottle, soak in 0.5L of good liquor, and seal the bottle. After 7 days, open, filter out the dregs, and keep the liquid.

　　[Usage] Take 5–10ml each time, three times a day, on an empty stomach.

　　[Notes] Deer antler is sweet and salty in flavor and warm in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. *Compendium of Materia Medica* states that it “generates essence and nourishes marrow, nourishes blood and benefits yang, strengthens tendons and bones. Treats all types of deficiency, deafness, blurred vision, dizziness, deficiency diarrhea.” *The Names and Records of Famous Physicians* mentions that long-term use of deer antler “promotes longevity.” Currently, it is mainly used clinically as a tonic for strengthening primordial yang, replenishing qi and blood, enriching essence, and strengthening tendons and bones. The deer antler essence contained in deer antler is an excellent systemic tonic that can enhance the body’s working capacity, improve sleep and appetite, and eliminate muscle fatigue. Chinese yam is sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, entering the lung, spleen, and kidney meridians. *Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica* describes it as “treating injury to the middle [burner], supplementing deficiency and emaciation, dispelling cold and heat pathogens, benefiting the middle and boosting qi and strength, promoting muscle growth, strengthening yin, and with long-term use improving hearing and vision, lightening the body, preventing hunger, and prolonging life.” *Japanese Herbal Medicine* says it “assists the five organs, strengthens tendons and bones, enhances willpower and calms the spirit, treats spermatorrhea and forgetfulness.” Although Chinese yam has tonifying effects on the heart, lungs, spleen, and kidneys, its medicinal power is mild and slow, and it must be combined with other herbs in clinical applications to achieve its full efficacy.