Herb Formulas Notebook

Bai Hu Jia Ren Shen Tang

White Tiger plus Ginseng Decoction


Author: Zhang Zhong-Jing, 張仲景

Year: c. 220

Source: Discussion of Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun, 傷寒論)


Category: Formulas that Clear Heat

Pattern: Injury to Qi and fluids from Yangming Heat; Shang Xiao 上消, Xiao Ke due to Lung and Stomach Heat damaging Fluids and Qi.

Key Symptoms: "Four Greats": Great fever, unquenchable thirst, great sweat, great (large) but forceless pulse; or in Xiao Ke: great thirst with a dry mouth and tongue.
Secondary Symptoms: Aversion to Heat, red face, irritability, headache, toothache, bleeding of the gums and nose, generalised weakness, aversion to cold on the back

Tongue: Likely to be red
Pulse: Large but forceless


Ingredients

Shi Gao 30-90g
Zhi Mu 9-15g
Ren Shen 3-9g
Zhi Gan Cao 3-6g
Jing Mi 9-15g

Subsitutions:
In the UK Shi Gao must be substituted but no other substances really suffice in this instance, especially since the decoction already contains Zhi Mu which is the only thing that can occasionally take its place in other formulae.

Xi Yang Shen may be used instead of Ren Shen for its greater fluid generating properties.


Preparation: Decoction.


Actions: Clears Qi level Heat, drains Yangming Fire, generates fluids, alleviates thirst

Contraindications: Cold disorders. Should be discontinued if signs of headache, stiffness in the neck, icy-cold limbs, subjective sensations of cold or impairment of mental faculties occur



Notes:
One liang is taken as 3g in modern sources but in Eastern Han times it was equivalent to 13.875g. This means that the dosages in classical formulae could have been more than 4x what is given today making them far higher than recommended safe dosages today but prompts consideration of what an effective dose may be (He, 2013).



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These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.