Dipsacus and Pork Kidney Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Nourishes the spleen and strengthens the kidneys. Suitable for chronic prostatitis caused by deficiency of both the spleen and kidneys.
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
At the head stands Dipsacus asper, the sovereign, with slightly warm nature and bitter, pungent flavor, having Liver, Kidney tropism; it tonifies the liver and kidney, strengthens sinews and bones, and calms the fetus, underpinning the principal thrust of the decoction. These are joined ministerially by pork kidney (neutral in nature and sweet, salty in flavor, with Kidney tropism, tonifies kidney qi and promotes urination), reinforcing the sovereign’s main effect. Viewed as a whole, the formula addresses the damp-heat in the lower jiao presentation, treating both root and branch.