Dog Kidney and Mussel Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Warms and tonifies kidney yang. Suitable for premature ejaculation caused by kidney yang deficiency.
the whole decoction leans warm; use with caution in those with yin deficiency and internal heat or lingering excess heat; the warming-tonic nature is inadvisable during damp-heat, yin deficiency with fire, or episodes of exterior-heat
Commentary
Dog kidneys occupies the sovereign position; with warm nature and salty flavor, having Kidney tropism, it tonifies kidney yang and benefits essence and marrow and becomes the guiding principle of the whole formula. These are joined ministerially by mussels (with warm nature and sweet, salty flavor, having Liver, Kidney tropism, tonifies the liver and kidneys and nourishes essence and blood), and ginger (with warm nature and pungent flavor, having Lung, Spleen, Stomach tropism, disperses cold, relieves cough and harmonizes the stomach), reinforcing the sovereign’s main effect. Completing the formula, scallions, harmonizing the stomach and supporting dietary nourishment, and cooking wine, acting as the envoy to harmonize the various ingredients, so that potency is moderated and stomach qi protected. Together the herbs converge on this action, in accord with the yang deficiency pattern.