Which herb is used for ST yin xu?

• A. Shi Hu
• B. Mai Men Dong
• C. Tian Men Dong
• D. Xuan Shen

Answer: (A)

ST yin xu means the stomach’s yin is depleted, leading to dryness and thirst. The herb Shi Hu directly nourishes the stomach yin and generates fluids, which relieves the dryness and helps restore the stomach’s moisture balance. It also clears the deficiency heat that can accompany yin deficiency, making it especially suited for ST yin xu with signs like dry mouth and thirst. While other yin-nourishing herbs exist, they’re more often used for different patterns—Mai Men Dong and Tian Men Dong also tonify yin but are more associated with lung or kidney involvement, and Xuan Shen focuses on clearing heat and nourishing yin in other areas. For a stomach-specific yin deficiency, Shi Hu is the best fit.