Herb Formulas Notebook

Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang

Pubescent Angelica and Taxillus Decoction


Author: Sun Si Miao, 孫思邈

Year: 650

Source: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces (Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, 備急千金要方)


Category: Formulas that Expel Dampness

Pattern: Wind-Cold-Damp Obstruction with Liver and Kidney deficiency; Bi Syndrome due to deficiency of the Du Mai.

Key Symptoms: Heaviness and pain at fixed locations in the lower back and extremities, aversion to cold, attraction to warmth
Secondary Symptoms: Weakness and stiffness, hypertonicity and immobility, parasthesias or numbness, palpitations

Tongue: Pale body, white coat
Pulse: Thin, weak, slow
Abdomen: Soft and weak lower abdomen, hupertonicity of rectus abdominis muscle in lower abdomen


Ingredients

Du Huo 9g
Xi Xin 6g
Fang Feng 6g
Qin Jiao 6g
Sang Ji Sheng 6g
Du Zhong 6g
Niu Xi 6g
Rou Gui 6g
Dang Gui 6g
Chuan Xiong 6g
Sheng Di Huang 6g
Bai Shao 6g
Ren Shen 6g
Fu Ling 6g
Gan Cao 6g

Subsitutions:
In the UK Xi Xin may have to be substituted. The options for this are either Wei Ling Xian, or Wu Zhu Yu and Sheng Jiang, or the dosage of Yang fortifying herbs may be increased.


Preparation: Decoction.


Actions: Expels Wind, Disperses Painful Obstruction, tonifies deficiency

Contraindications: Strong excess or Damp-Heat patterns of Painful Obstruction



Notes:
A variation of this formula with increased dosages distilled in alcohol is given by Bob Flaws (2008) in his Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs under the heading Du Huo Ji Sheng Jiu.

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Ploberger (2017), in Westliche und traditionell chinesische Heilkräuter, offers the following alternative using western herbs:

Radux Angelicae archangelicae(Angelica)6g(Emperor)
Rhizoma Zingiberis recens(Fresh Ginger)4g(Minister)
Radix Levistici(Lovage Root)3g(Minister)
Folium Juglandis(Walnut leaf)9g(Assistant)
Fructus Juniperi(Juniper berries)4g(Assistant)
Flos Arnicae (Arnica flowers)4g(Assistant)
Radix Harpagophytii(Devil's Claw)5g(Assistant)
Radix Paeoniae alba(White Peony)3g(Assistant)
Herba Galeopsidis ochroleuca(Hempnettle)5g(Assistant)
Radix Glycyrrhiziae(Licorice root)2g(Envoy)



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Reference Notes: (click to display)

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