Author: Mao Yuanyi, 茅元儀
Year: 1621
Source: Treatise on Armament Technology (Wu Bei Zhi, 武備志)
Category: Formulas that Regulate Blood
Pattern: Blood Stasis due to traumatic injury to the Heart Vital Points during the Ma 午 hours of the Horse (11 am - 1 pm)
Key Symptoms: Epigastric and abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting (possibly of blood), coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath due to traumatic injury to the Heart Vital Points during the Wu 午 Horse hours (11 am - 1 pm).
Secondary Symptoms: The Vital Points associated with the Wu Heart Horse hours in the Wu Bei Zhi are: Shaofu He-8, Weizhong Bl-40, Xiyangguan GB-33, Juque Ren-14, Xinhui Du-22 and the elbows (Chize Lu-5, Shousanli LI-10, Quchi LI-11, Zhouliao LI-12, Shaohai He-3, Xiaohai SI-8, Tianjing SJ-10).
Ingredients
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Huang Pi Gen
| 6.24g | |
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Pinyin: Huang Pi Gen
Chinese: 黄皮根
Pharmaceutical: Radix Clausenae lansii
Taxonomy: Clausena lansium
English: Chinese Wampee Root |
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Actions & Indications:
- Moves Qi and alleviates pain
Qi stagnation stomachache, abdominal pain
Pain from hernia (mounting Qi)
Wind-Damp bony Bi pain
Dysmenorrhoea
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Standard Dosage:
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Hou Po
| 3.75g | | (or Dang Gui)
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Pinyin: Hou Po
Chinese: 厚朴
Pharmaceutical: Cortex Magnoliae
Taxonomy: Magnolia officinalis
English: Magnolia Bark |
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Tastes: Bitter, pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao and resolves Stagnation
Abdominal, epigastric, and/or chest fullness, bloating, loss of appetite, poor digestion, constipation
Plum Pit Qi, a feeling of a lump in throat, usually considered psychosomatic today (globus hystericus). Hou Po has modern indications as neuroprotective and also features in formulas like Da/Xiao Cheng Qi Tang which deal with neuropsychiatric symptoms like delirium.
- Promotes the movement of Qi downward, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
Dampness or Phlegm Obstructing the Middle Jiao with distention, fullness, nausea and diarrhoea
- Descends Rebellious Qi, reduces Phlegm and calms wheezing
Cough and wheezing due to Phlegm congesting the Lungs
- Removes the Three Worms
Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for the syndrome of qi deficiency and fluid consumption, and in pregnant women. Due to some of the anticoagulant effects of its constituents it should be used with caution in conjunction with blood thinners. |
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Gu Sui Bu
| 6.24g | |
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Pinyin: Gu Sui Bu
Chinese: 骨碎补
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Drynariae
English: Boneknit Rhizome / Fortune's Drynaria Rhizome |
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Tastes: Bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney |
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies Kidney Yang, strengthens the sinews and bones and benefits the ears (also helps regain strength after injuries)
Weak low back and knees, diarrhoea, tinnitus, diminished hearing, loose, painful teeth and bleeding gums associated with Kidney Deficiency
- Promotes mending of sinews and bones
Traumatic injuries such as falls, fractures, contusions and sprains
Especially useful for ligament injuries and simple fractures
- Stimulates hair growth (topical)
Topically as a tincture for alopecia
- Invigorates the Blood
Blood Stagnation especially due to trauma
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Standard Dosage: 3 - 9g dried in decoction, or 6 - 15g if fresh, or applied topically to site.
Cautions: This herb is warm that can invigorate yang. Use with cautions for the yin deficiency and internal heat. |
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Tao Ren
| 6.24g | | |
Pinyin: Tao Ren
Chinese: 桃仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Persicae
Taxonomy: Prunus persica
English: Peach Seed |
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, neutral, lightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Breaks up Blood Stasis and invigorates Blood circulation
Menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, traumatic injury, flank pain, Lung abscess and Intestinal abscess with fixed abdominal masses associated with Blood Stasis
- Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
Constipation due to dry Intestines
- Drains abscesses
Lung and Intestinal abscesses
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Prohibited for pregnant women. Use with cautions for loose stool. Not overuse because of its toxicity. |
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Preparation: No preparation information is given in the original so may have been given internally or as a poultice.
Actions: Regulates Blood, stops bleeding and alleviates pain, descends Qi
Notes:
Information is taken from McCarthy, (2016), Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat. Symptoms have been inferred from the organs which are affected and the effects of the herbs prescribed as the original provides nothing beyond these formulas being used for injury to these channels. The herbs themselves are presented only in Latin at a species level by McCarthy so a reverse translation has had to applied which may not always be precise. Therefore Huang Pi Gen could refer also to Huang Pi Ye or Huang Pi Guo He which are all different parts of the Chinese Wampee (Clausena Lansium) plant and Hou Po could equally be Xin Yi Hua (Flos Magnoliae) but these seemed the most likely candidates given the probable symptoms of a trauma to the Heart, or Heart Mu.
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.
