Fish Bladder and Three Seeds Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Nourishes the kidneys and consolidates essence. Suitable for nocturnal emissions caused by unstable kidney essence.
because it runs warm overall, this decoction is best avoided in yin-deficient, fire-prone constitutions; those who are robust with internal accumulated heat are not suited to this formula; the tonifying-warming action may aggravate internal heat; avoid during feverish or inflammatory episodes; as astringent herbs are present, they should not be used early while external pathogens, damp-heat, or food stagnation remain
Commentary
The formula is led by fish bladder as the sovereign herb; nature neutral, flavor sweet, channeled into the Kidney, it chiefly tonifies the kidneys, supplements essence, nourishes the sinews, and stops bleeding, striking at the root of the condition. The ministerial layer, sandwort seeds (of warm nature and sweet flavor, entering the Liver, Kidney, tonifies the kidney and secures essence), and dodder seeds (neutral in nature and pungent, sweet in flavor, with Liver, Kidney, Spleen tropism, tonifies the liver and kidneys, secures essence, and calms the fetus), lends support that reinforces the sovereign’s main effect. Finished with schisandra berries, tempering the formula’s tendency, the formula attains a regulated, neither-excess nor-deficient balance. Together the herbs converge on this action, in accord with the kidney qi insecurity pattern.