Author: Zhang Zhong-Jing, 張仲景
Year: c. 220
Source: Discussion of Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun, 傷寒論)
Category: Formulas that Warm Interior Cold
Pattern: Jueyin syndrome with deficiency Cold of the middle Jiao and upward rebellion of turbid Yin, Jueyin type disharmony of Yin Wei Mai
Key Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, migraine-like headaches, vertex headaches, aversion to cold (or cold as a trigger)
Secondary Symptoms: Vomiting immediately after eating, indeterminate gnawing hunger, acid reflux with or without epigastric pain, dry heaves, spitting up of clear fluids, diarrhoea, cold hands and feet, agitation, neck pain, backache
Tongue: White, wet or slippery coating
Pulse: Submerged and frail or submerged, thin and wiry
Abdomen: Drum like distention or depression of epigastrium, splashing sounds, reduced tone in abdominal muscles
Ingredients
Wu Zhu Yu
| 9-12g | |
|
Pinyin: Wu Zhu Yu
Chinese: 吴茱萸
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Evodiae
Taxonomy: Evodia rutaecarpa
English: Evodia Fruit
| |
Tastes: Pungent, bitter, hot, mildly toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen, Stomach and Kidney
|
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, promotes the movement of Qi (relieves Stagnation in the Liver channel) and alleviates pain
Stomach or Liver Channel Cold or Phlegm, with headache, epigastric pain with nausea, drooling, reduced taste, a pale tongue with a wiry or weak pulse
Cold bulging disorders in the area traversed by the Liver channel and dysmenorrhea
Disharmony between the Liver and Stomach
- Spreads the Liver, descends rebellious Qi and stops vomiting
Acid regurgitation and vomiting - can be used for either Hot or Cold disorders depending on the other herbs with which it is combined
- Warms the Spleen, stops diarrhoea and expels Damp-Cold
Diarrhoea from Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Damp-Cold Leg Qi
- Leads Fire downward
Mouth and tongue sores (grind into a powder, mix with vinegar and place on the soles of the feet)
|
Standard Dosage: 1.5-4.5g in decoction.
Cautions: It is not suitable to be taken in large dosage for a long time, and contraindicated for yin deficiency with internal heat. |
|
Ren Shen
| 9g | |
|
Pinyin: Ren Shen
Chinese: 人參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Panax ginseng
Taxonomy: Panax ginseng
English: Ginseng Root
| |
Tastes: Sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Lung and Heart
|
Actions & Indications:
- Powerfully tonifies Yuan Qi
Extreme collapse of Qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow breathing, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating and an almost imperceptible pulse (after blood loss, overly profuse sweating or other problems related to severe fluid loss - it can be used alone in these emergencies)
Collapse of Yang
Collapse of Yin
- Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi
Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhoea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum
- Tonifies Lung Qi
Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion
- Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids
- Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit
Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness
- Treats impotence
With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence
- Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions
Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency
|
Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction, 10-30g for exhaustion syndrome due to Qi deficiency.
Cautions: Antagonizing to Li Lu; the warm nature of sun-dried raw Ren Shen is weaker than that of Hong Shen. |
|
Sheng Jiang
| 12sl | |
|
Pinyin: Sheng Jiang
Chinese: 生姜
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Taxonomy: Zingiber officinale
English: Fresh Ginger
| |
Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach
|
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the Exterior, induces perspiration and disperses Cold
Wind-Cold
- Warms the Middle and stops vomiting
Cold in the Stomach especially with vomiting
- Warms the Lungs and stops coughing
Cough due to Wind-Cold Cough due to Lung Deficiency with Phlegm
- Reduces the toxicity of other herbs and seafood
Herb toxicity or seafood poisoning
- Adjusts the Ying and Wei - normalizes the flow of Qi at the center
Taiyang Zhong Feng - Wind-Cold with Deficiency
|
Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with caution for yin deficiency with internal heat and heat exuberance because it helps promote fire and injure yin. |
|
Da Zao
| 4pc | | |
Pinyin: Da Zao
Chinese: 大枣
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Jujubae
English: Jujube Berry / Black Date / Chinese Date
| |
Tastes: Sweet, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Heart
|
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach and augments Qi
Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with weakness, shortness of breath, lassitude, anorexia and loose stools
- Nourishes the Blood and calms the Spirit
Blood Deficiency
Restless Organ Syndrome with wan complexion, irritability and severe emotional debility
- Moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs
|
Standard Dosage: 10-30g in decoction.
Cautions: It is used with cautions in cases of damp-phlegm or food stagnation because it can help dampness produce heat, and induce distention in middle energizer. |
|
Preparation: Decoction.
Actions: Warms and tonifies the Liver and Stomach, directs rebellious Qi downwards, stops vomiting
Contraindications: Vomiting or acid reflux due to Heat, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Notes:
Extraordinary Vessel attributions come from Li Shi-Zhen's (1577-8) Exposition on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao), trans. Chace & Shima (2009).
---------------------------------------
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).
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.