Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Treat Dryness
Pattern: Dryness of the Lungs, or parasites on the skin
Key Symptoms: Cough, rapid breathing. Used externally kills parasites.
Ingredients
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Bai Bu
| 100g | |
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Pinyin: Bai Bu
Chinese: 百部
Pharmaceutical: Radix Stemonae
English: Stemona Root |
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung |
Actions & Indications:
- Moistens the Lungs and stops coughing
Acute and chronic cough (especially due to Deficiency including Yin Deficiency)
- Expel parasites and kills lice
Head and body lice or fleas (topically)
As a wash for bacterial vaginosis
As a wash or soak for fungal infections
As a nightly retained enema for pinworms
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Bai Jiu
| 500ml | | |
Pinyin: Jiu
Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine |
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Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
- Warms Yang and Expels Cold
All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
- Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
Temporary low mood, celebration
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Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.
The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire. |
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Subsitutions:
Bai Jiu (white alcohol) traditionally means rice wine but can be substituted with any other high strength spirit.
Preparation: Soak the herbs in 500ml of alcohol for seven days, then open, demove the dregs nad store for use. Take 15ml three times per day after meals for cough, or wash the affected area for skin parasites.
Actions: Moistens the Lungs and descends Qi, stops coughing and kills parasites.
Contraindications: Damp-Heat conditions, pregnancy and long term in the young and middle aged use due to the harmful effects on continuous alcohol consumption.
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.
