Author: People's Republic of China
Year: 2000
Source: Pharmacopoeia of Chinese Medicine. Vol. 1
Category: Formulas that Regulate Qi
Pattern: Pain from Qi and Blood Stagnation due to Wind-Cold Invasion of the head or Yangming
Key Symptoms: Pain anywhere in the body, especially headache, toothache, sinus pain and supraorbital pain, but also joint pain, dysmenorrhoea, stomachache and hypochondriac pain.
Tongue: White coat
Pulse: Tight
Ingredients
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Yan Hu Suo
| 67g | |
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Pinyin: Yan Hu Suo / Xuan Hu Suo
Chinese: 延胡索 / 玄胡索
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Corydalis
Taxonomy: Corydalis yanhusuo seu ambigua seu glaucescens seu repens seu ternata seu turtschaninovii
English: Corydalis Rhizome |
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Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Spleen |
Actions & Indications:
- Invigorates the Blood, regulates Qi and alleviates pain
Chest and rib-side pain
pain in stomach duct and abdomen, gastrointestinal spasm
neuralgia
Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, postpartum stasis stagnation abdominal pain
Neuralgia
Painful swelling from knocks and
falls
- Promotes sleep
Insomnia
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Avoid in pregnancy. |
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Bai Zhi
| 33g | | |
Pinyin: Bai Zhi
Chinese: 白芷
Pharmaceutical: Radix Angelicae dahuricae
Taxonomy: Angelica dahurica
English: Dahurian Angelica Root |
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Tastes: Pungent and warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Expels Wind, eliminates Dampness, unblocks the nasal passages, dispels Cold and alleviates pain
External Wind-Cold patterns, especially with headache
Supra orbital pain, nasal congestion and toothache, arthritis
Any External Wind invasion of the Yangming channels of the head with a frontal headache
- Reduces swelling, eliminates toxins and expels pus
Early-stage superficial sores, boils and carbuncles, pruritis
- Expels Dampness, alleviates discharge and treats leukorrhea and diarrhoea
Vaginal discharge due to Cold-Dampness in the Lower Jiao
- Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bo He and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
Also used topically for fungal infections which may explain some of its anti-Gu actions.
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for Blood Heat induced by Yin deficiency because of its pungent, fragrant, warm, dry property. |
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Preparation: Usually made as a patent remedy by combining extracts of the two herbs in a 2:1 ratio and formed into pills. 4-6 pills are taken twice a day.
Actions: Regulates Qi and Invigorates Blood, Releases the Exterior, Expels Wind and Scatters Cold
Contraindications: Since both of these herbs are pungent and warm, it should not be taken by those with Deficiency patterns or signs of Heat.
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.
