Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Warm Interior Cold
Pattern: Cold in the Middle or Lower Jiao
Key Symptoms: Abdominal pain, testicular pain affecting the lower abdomen in men, abnormal vaginal discharge in women, epigastric pain and distention, chest oppression, no desire for food or drink, vomiting.
Ingredients
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Xiao Hui Xiang
| 120g | |
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Pinyin: Xiao Hui Xiang
Chinese: 小茴香
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Foeniculi
Taxonomy: Foeniculum vulgare
English: Fennel Seed |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Liver and Kidneys, expels Cold and alleviates pain
Cold in the Lower Jiao with lower abdominal pain
Cold Invading the Liver Channel with Cold bulging disorders
- Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Stomach
Stomach Cold with abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite and vomiting
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Standard Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
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Bai Jiu
| 650ml | | |
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: Place the herbs in a large jar with 650ml of alcohol, place in a pan of water and bring to a boil several times. Remove, allow to cool, open and use. Take 1-2 teacups three times per day before meals.
Actions: Scatters Cold and stops pain, opens the stomach and promotes digestion.
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.
