Mussel and Dried Shrimp Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Nourishes the liver and kidneys. Suitable for chronic prostatitis caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency, characterized by lower back soreness and weak legs, dryness in the perineum and throat, tinnitus, nocturnal emissions, scanty and yellow urine, a red tongue with a thin red coating, and a fine, rapid pulse.
given the warm nature, caution is advised if the tongue is red with scant coating or there is tidal fever and night sweats; in those with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity, excess liver fire, or internal damp-heat, this warming formula may fuel fire and should be avoided; in the absence of frank deficiency, or where an excess or heat pattern prevails, indiscriminate warming tonic use is inadvisable; as a warming-tonic formula, it is not for those with excess heat, damp-heat, or unresolved exterior patterns
Commentary
Mussels occupies the sovereign position; warm in nature and sweet, salty in flavor, with Liver, Kidney tropism, it tonifies the liver and kidneys and nourishes essence and blood and becomes the guiding principle of the whole formula. These are joined ministerially by dried shrimp (of warm nature and sweet flavor, entering the Liver, Kidney, tonifies kidney yang, supplements essence, and promotes lactation), and ginger (nature warm, flavor pungent, channeled into the Lung, Spleen, Stomach, disperses cold, relieves cough and harmonizes the stomach), reinforcing the sovereign’s main effect. The formula is rounded out by scallions, harmonizing the stomach and supporting dietary nourishment, and cooking wine, acting as the envoy to harmonize the various ingredients, keeping the combination balanced and well-tempered. Together the herbs converge on this action, in accord with the yin deficiency pattern.