Goat Kidney and Black Bean Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Warmly tonifies the spleen and kidneys. Suitable for iron-deficiency anemia caused by spleen and kidney yang deficiency, characterized by a dull or pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness, mental fatigue and reluctance to speak, aversion to cold and cold extremities, spontaneous sweating, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, erectile dysfunction or irregular menstruation, a pale tongue with a swollen body, a thin white coating, and a deep, fine pulse.
given the warm nature, caution is advised if the tongue is red with scant coating or there is tidal fever and night sweats; warming tonics readily stir heat and burden the spleen; caution is advised where dampness-heat or food stagnation accumulates in the middle
Commentary
The sovereign is sheep kidneys, with warm nature and sweet flavor, having Kidney tropism; it tonifies kidney qi and benefits essence and marrow, anchoring the central strategy of the formula. The ministerial layer, black beans (of neutral nature and sweet flavor, entering the Spleen, Kidney, tonifies the kidneys, promotes diuresis, and resolves toxicity), and jujubes (with warm nature and sweet flavor, having Spleen, Stomach, Heart tropism, tonifies qi, nourishes blood and calms the spirit, and harmonizes the formula), lends support that reinforces the sovereign’s main effect. Together the herbs converge on this action, in accord with the yang deficiency pattern.