Herb Formulas Notebook

Da Xian Xiong Wan

Major Pill [for pathogens] Stuck in the Chest


Author: Zhang Zhong-Jing, 張仲景

Year: c. 220

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


Category: Formulas that Drain Downward

Pattern: Heat and fluids clumping in the chest

Key Symptoms: Hardness, fullness and pain in the chest, stiffness of the upper back and neck, sweating


Ingredients

Da Huang 250g
Ting Li Zi 175g
Mang Xiao 175g
Xing Ren 175g
Gan Sui 30g

Subsitutions:
In the UK two of these ingredients will have to be substituted. Mang Xiao is usually substituted for Yu Li Ren but Gan Sui is such a toxic that forcefully expels water from the body making it difficult to replace without changing the formula entirely.

Yuan Hua has a similar action but is also likely to impossible to source or illegal to use. Zhi Shi could purge the bowel which makes it more or less the same as Da Cheng Qi Tang which focuses on the stool rather than water. Qian Niu Zi and/or Ting Li Zi or some or all of Wu Ling San could be added to drain water downwards via the urine instead of the bowel. Neither entirely copy the function of this formula suggesting that this presentation is hard to treat in the UK and the formula mainly for reference.


Preparation: Ground into powder and formed into pills with 250g of honey. Taken in 6-12g doses with warm water.


Actions: Drains Heat and drives out accumulation of water

Contraindications: Although the pill form moderates the severity of this formula compared to the decocted form it is still only used for acute excess conditions and contraindicated in deficiency.



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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.