Sheng Mai Yin: The Best Qi-Replenishing Summer Drink 

Replenish your Qi and protect your health from excessive sweating this summer by learning how to easily make your own Sheng Mai Yin herbal drink at home. 

It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was just two months ago that the ActiveHerb blog covered how sweat is considered a precious bodily fluid according to TCM, and how excessive sweating weakens the Wei Qi (immune system) and Heart, and depletes the Jing (essence).  

Back then, the temperatures were blissfully temperate. But as of this writing, with America recently celebrating its 247th birthday while millions of Americans are under extreme heat advisories, excessive sweating is a guarantee if you go outside. 

In light of this, TCM has a centuries-old recipe for a beverage that may protect your health from the consequences of sweating your tush off. 

What is Sheng Mai Yin? 

Sheng Mai Yin is a TCM formula that’s been a staple remedy for centuries. You can think of it as ‘healthy Kool-Aid’ or ‘oriental Gatorade.’ It’s particularly effective in summer for replenishing Qi and nourishing Blood and other body fluids after excessive sweating. 

The origins of Sheng Mai Yin are traced back to the esteemed TCM physician Sun Simiao, who documented the formula in his renowned medical text, “Qian Jin Fang” (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold; written circa 650 CE). Sun Simiao emphasized that “Qi fills the meridians, and without Qi, they weaken.” This suggests it’s not that excessive sweating itself directly robs your body of Qi, but rather, it’s the weakening of the energy pathways that makes you feel like a zombie.

Thus, physician Sun Simiao, known as the ‘King of Medicine’ in China, created Sheng Mai Yin to invigorate the meridians by enhancing Qi and ensuring the body’s pathways are adequately nourished. If only Sun Simiao knew about patent rights, he could have copyrighted Sheng Mai Yin as a drink that replenishes and strengthens the body’s vital energy (“tonifying the Qi” in TCM-speak). 

Qi tonics like Sheng Mai Yin support the body’s natural functions, boost immune response, and enhance overall stamina. If you’re a pickleball addict or have a job that requires you to spend time outdoors in the sweltering summer, Sheng Mai Yin may negate the harmful side effects of excessive sweating.

What Are The Ingredients In Sheng Mai Yin?

Unlike many Western beverages, there are no additives or added sugars in Sheng May Yin. Traditionally, the drink contains just three ingredients:

Ren Shen (Asian Ginseng): 

Known for its powerful Qi-tonifying properties, Ginseng invigorates Qi and enhances the body’s overall vitality. It addresses Qi deficiency, which often manifests as fatigue, shortness of breath, and general weakness—symptoms you’ll likely experience after a marathon pickleball session mid-summer.

Mai Dong (Ophiopogon)

The root of this tuber nourishes Yin and generates fluids, which is crucial for maintaining hydration and moistening the lungs. Mai Dong counteracts the feeling that you’re trapped in a sauna (dryness and heat) in the summer.

Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra): 

As a natural astringent (it constricts bodily tissues), Wu Wei Zi prevents the leakage of vital energy and body fluids. It helps conserve Qi and body fluids, reducing excessive sweating and stabilizing the body’s functions.

How Does Sheng Mai Yin Work?

“The pulse is the path through which blood travels. It is strong when it has enough Qi (vital energy) and weak when it lacks Qi. This prescription replenishes Qi to fill the blood path and restore the pulse, hence it is called Shengmai Yin.”

This is how Sun Simiao described Sheng Mai Yin in “Qian Jin Fang.” Unlike Western medicine, in TCM, the “pulse” is not merely a physiological rhythmic throbbing through an artery. Instead, it is an invisible pathway for Qi and Blood to flow. This path needs both blood and Qi to be effective. However, the mere presence of sufficient blood alone is not enough; it must be active and energized blood. Moreover, simply adding fluids through an IV won’t invigorate the pulse because the blood needs to be functional and filled with Qi.

Sheng Mai Yin supports a full pulse by tonifying Qi and replenishing body fluids. By strengthening the Qi (Ren Shen), nourishing the Yin and fluids (Mai Dong), and preventing further depletion (Wu Wei Zi), Sheng Mai Yin is the ultimate summer elixir.

Who Can Benefit From Sheng Mai Yin?

Olympic athletes competing in the 2024 Paris quadrennial in August would be wise to have their training staff make batches of Sheng Mai Yin. But world-class competitors aren’t the only people who may benefit. Elderly adults often experience Qi deficiency due to aging and a lack of thirst. Sheng Mai Yin helps enhance their energy levels and overall vitality. In addition, people recovering from illness should chug it. This is because the body’s Qi can be significantly depleted post-illness or surgery;  Sheng Mai Yin aids in restoring strength and speeding up recovery. Also, people who are constantly tired can benefit from the Qi-enhancing properties of this formula. And, of course, Sheng Mai Yin may offer relief for the millions of people just sitting around sweating profusely in hot and muggy climates.

In China, Sheng Mai Yin is clinically used in hospitals. The formula is often administered as an injection or intravenous drip to rapidly replenish Qi and body fluids, especially for patients experiencing severe fatigue, dehydration, or cardiovascular issues. 

How Is Sheng Mai Yin Prepared? 

Old School Sheng Main Yin Preparation

Traditionally, Sheng Mai Yin is prepared as a decoction into a drinkable herbal tea. Therefore, bulk herbs are called for in this recipe.

Ingredients:

1. Ren Shen (Ginseng): 10 grams
2. Mai Dong (Ophiopogon): 10 grams
3. Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra): 10 grams

Instructions:

1. Preparation: Purchase these bulk herbs from ActiveHerb. Bulk herbs are either wild-harvested or farm-grown to protect their natural habitats. Experienced professionals identify the harvests of the right species at proper maturity, clean them, cut them or slice them, and dry them. 
2. Boiling: Place the herbs in a pot and add about 500 ml of water. Bring to a boil.
3. Simmering: Once the water reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
4. Straining: After simmering, strain the liquid to remove the solid herbs. The resulting liquid is your Sheng Mai Yin drink.
5. Consumption: Drink the Sheng Mai Yin while it’s warm. For better absorption, it can be consumed once or twice a day, preferably before meals. Try to avoid drinking it chilled, as cold beverages create internal dampness. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and warm them up before drinking.
   
   New School With Extract Granules
   
   Thanks to ActiveHerb extract granules, making Sheng Mai Yin takes just seconds. Simply combine Ren Shen, Mai Dong and Wu Wei Zi together, stir and serve!
   

Sidenote: Say No To Radishes!

There is a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine that “radish is the opposite of ginseng” because radish can break up Qi and eliminate stagnation, and people who need to eat ginseng usually have weak Qi. Eating a salad radish may not seem like a big deal. However, radishes are like kryptonite for people with weak Qi! It will suppress their already weak vitality. That’s why radish and ginseng should not be eaten at the same time. It’s not because of any chemical reaction but because it eliminates the tonic Qi of ginseng. 

Have you ever drunk Sheng Mai Yin? Let us know below.