What are the differences between Zuo Gui Wan and You Gui Wan?
Dec 09, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Zuogui Pill and Yougui Pill are both classic traditional Chinese medicines for tonifying the kidneys, but they differ in focus. They generally vary in core functions, indications, ingredients, medicinal properties, and suitable populations. The core function of Zuogui Pill is nourishing yin and tonifying the kidney, enriching essence and replenishing marrow, primarily focusing on nourishing kidney yin to address kidney yin deficiency. In contrast, the core function of Yougui Pill is warming and tonifying kidney yang, enriching essence and replenishing marrow, with an emphasis on strengthening kidney yang.
Both Zuo Gui Wan and You Gui Wan are classic traditional Chinese medicines for tonifying the kidneys, but they differ in focus. The differences generally include core functions, indications, ingredients, medicinal properties, and target populations. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Core Functions: The primary function of Zuo Gui Wan is nourishing yin and replenishing the kidney, enriching essence and marrow. It specifically targets kidney yin deficiency. In contrast, You Gui Wan primarily warms and tonifies kidney yang, enriches essence and marrow, and focuses on strengthening deficient kidney yang.
2. Indications: Zuo Gui Wan is used for symptoms caused by insufficient kidney yin, such as dizziness, blurred vision, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, tidal fever, night sweats, dry mouth, and sore throat. You Gui Wan treats conditions due to kidney yang deficiency and declining life gate fire, including cold intolerance, cold limbs, cold pain in the lower back and knees, low energy, impotence, and premature ejaculation.
3. Ingredients: Zuo Gui Wan mainly contains yin-nourishing herbs such as Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu Di), Lycium barbarum (Gou Qi Zi), and Dioscorea opposita (Shan Yao), combined with Yang-supporting components like deer horn gelatin. You Gui Wan centers on warming herbs such as Aconite root (Fu Zi), Cinnamon bark (Rou Gui), and deer horn gelatin, supplemented by yin-nourishing and blood-tonifying herbs like Rehmannia glutinosa and Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui).
4. Medicinal Properties: Zuo Gui Wan has a rich,滋nourishing nature that strongly nourishes yin without causing dryness or heat. You Gui Wan is warm and potent in warming the body, effectively dispelling cold, making it suitable for individuals with clear signs of yang deficiency.
5. Target Populations: Zuo Gui Wan is appropriate for individuals with yin-deficient constitutions who commonly exhibit signs of internal deficiency heat. You Gui Wan suits those with yang-deficient constitutions, particularly those showing obvious symptoms of aversion to cold and cold sensitivity.
Medication must be prescribed based on accurate syndrome differentiation to avoid improper use that may increase bodily strain. Dosage and treatment duration should strictly follow medical advice; self-substitution is not recommended. If symptoms do not improve, treatment plans should be adjusted promptly, and special populations require professional guidance.
