Author: Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau), 太醫局
Year: 1107
Source: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang, 太平惠民和劑局方)
Category: Formulas that Drain Downward
Pattern: Declining Ming Men Fire allowing Cold Turbidity to accumulate internally.
Key Symptoms: Habitual constipation or chronic diarrhoea, increased urination with urine that is clear in colour, pale complexion, cold extremities, abdominal pain that is aggravated by cold, a heavy or cold sensation in the lower back and spine
Tongue: Pale with white coat
Pulse: Submerged and slow
Ingredients
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Zhi Ban Xia
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Pinyin: Ban Xia
Chinese: 半夏
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Pinelliae
Taxonomy: Pinellia ternata
English: Pinellia Rhizome |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
Cold-Phlegm in the Lungs (cough with copious sputum)
Especially effective for Damp-Phlegm of the Spleen (Cold-Damp Stagnation)
- Descends Rebellious Qi and stops vomiting (harmonizes the Stomach)
Vomiting due to Phlegm-Damp in the Stomach (Tan Yin), Cold thin mucus, Stomach Deficiency, Stomach Heat or pregnancy
- Dissipates nodules and reduces Stagnation (clumps)
Phlegm in the chest (nodules, pressure, distention, pain)
Phlegm nodules in the neck (goiter, scrofula)
Focal distension in the chest and epigastrium
Obstruction caused by Phlegm anywhere in the body
- Treats sores, skin ulcerations and carbuncles and reduces swelling (external)
Topically as a powder for sores, skin ulcerations and carbuncles
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Contraindicated to Wu Tou. Use with cautions during gestation.
Must be processed before use as raw Ban Xia is toxic. Ingesting the raw form can cause severe irritation of the mouth, pharynx, and gastrointestinal tracts, and has toxic effects on the nervous system. Symptoms of toxicity include a dry mouth, numbness of the tongue, gastric discomfort, burning sensations and swelling of the mouth, tongue, throat and salivation. In serious cases ingesting Ban Xia can result in hoarseness, spasms, dyspnoea and asphyxia.
Processing can be done with ginger and alum (Jiang Ban Xia) to make a warming herb best suited for Cold-Damp and thin Phlegm conditions, or with liquorice (Fa Ban Xia) to make a more neutral herb that is less drying and can be used for Damp-Heat conditions too. |
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Zhi Liu Huang
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Pinyin: Liu Huang
Chinese: 硫黄
Pharmaceutical: Sulfur grundum
Taxonomy: S8
English: Sulphur granules |
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Tastes: Sour, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Kidney and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Relieves toxicity, kills Parasites and stops itching
Important topically for scabies, tinea, Damp-festering sores, ulcers, carbuncles and recalcitrant Yin flat abscess and furuncles and itching
Internally for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
- Tonifies Ming Men Fire and strengthens Yang
Kidney Yang Deficiency with painful lower back and knees and impotence Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiencies with diarrhoea
Asthma due to Kidneys unable to grasp Qi
Constipation or diarrhoea in the elderly caused by Cold
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Standard Dosage: 1.5-3g in pill or powder form for internal use but usually used externally.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for pregnant women because of its toxicity. It should not be combined with Mang Xiao, according to nineteen incompatibilities. |
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Subsitutions:
In the UK Liu Huang must be substituted. No standard substitutions are given but from the symptom presentation any number of Yang tonics which either facilitate the passage of stool such as Rou Cong Rong and Suo Yang, or that stop diarrhoea such as Yi Zhi Ren and Bu Gu Zhi could suffice depending on the presentation.
Preparation: Originally equal amounts were ground into a fine powder and formed into pills with the juice of Sheng Jiang. Standard dosage was 15-20 small pills per day with warm wine or decoction of Sheng Jiang for men and a vinegar distinction for women. At present no distinction is made between men and women and dosage is measured as starting at 0.5g per day and increasing to 3g per day if necessary.
Actions: Fortifies the Ming Men Fire, expels Cold, unblocks the Yang, drains turbidity
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.
