Cistanche and Egg Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Warmly tonifies the spleen and kidneys; increases white blood cell count. Suitable for leukopenia caused by deficiency of both the spleen and kidneys, characterized by aversion to cold and cold extremities, dizziness and tinnitus, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath and reluctance to speak, soreness and cold pain in the lower back and knees, abdominal distension and loose stools, a pale tongue (possibly with tooth marks), a thin white coating, and a deep, fine, and weak pulse.
in the absence of frank deficiency, or where an excess or heat pattern prevails, indiscriminate warming tonic use is inadvisable; the warming-tonic nature is inadvisable during damp-heat, yin deficiency with fire, or episodes of exterior-heat
Commentary
Cistanche occupies the sovereign position; warm in nature and sweet, salty in flavor, with Kidney, Large Intestine tropism, it tonifies kidney yang, benefits essence and moistens the intestines and becomes the guiding principle of the whole formula. The ministerial layer, egg (with neutral nature and sweet flavor, having Lung, Spleen, Stomach tropism, nourishes yin, moistens dryness, calms the fetus, and tonifies deficiency), lends support that reinforces the sovereign’s main effect. Together the herbs converge on this action, in accord with the qi-blood deficiency pattern.