Nuan Gan Jian

Author: Zhang Jie Bin / Zhang Jing Yue, 張介賓 / 張景岳

Year: 1624

Source: Collected Treatises of Jing-Yue (Jing Yue Quan Shu, 景岳全書)

Category: Formulas that Regulate Qi

Pattern: Cold-type Bulging-Shan disorder with Liver Blood deficiency

Key Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain that is sharp localised and aggravated by application of cold

Tongue: Pale, especially on the sides and root
Pulse: Submerged, tight

Ingredients

Dang Gui

Pinyin: Dang Gui Chinese: 當歸 Pharmaceutical: Radix Angelicae sinensis Taxonomy: Angelica sinensis English: Chinese Angelica Root / Tang-Kuei / Dong Quai Root
Tastes: Sweet, Pungent, Warm Meridians Entered: Heart and Liver
Actions & Indications: Tonifies the Blood and regulates the menses Blood Deficiency, especially when affecting the Heart and Liver with pale, ashen complexion, lusterless nails, tinnitus, blurred vision and palpitations Blood Deficiency associated irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea Invigorates and harmonizes the Blood and disperses Cold (stops pain due to Blood Stasis) Blood Stasis causing abdominal pain and carbuncles and pain due to Blood Stasis from traumatic injury, especially when accompanied by Deficiency Cold Postpartum menstruation Pregnancy (use with caution) Blood Deficiency with chronic Wind-Damp-Bi Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels Dry Intestines due to Blood Deficiency Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and alleviates pain Sores and abscess (Chuang Yung), internally and topically Stops coughing and treats dyspnea Used adjunctively for coughing Tonifies the Blood while suppressing Parasites Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998) Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction. Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of Damp-Heat stagnating in the Middle, Lung Heat with Phlegm Fire, and Yin deficiency with effulgent Yang because it is warm and sweet in properties. In addition, it should be used with caution in cases of loose stool because it can moisten intestines to smooth stool. Many sources recommend using caution, avoiding or only taking under guidance of a TCM physician during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions. However, there are no studies supporting this and the only scientific literature seems to suggest that Z-Ligustilide has anti-spasmodic activities that alleviate dysmenorrhoea by inhibiting uterine contractions (Du et al., 2006; Dietz et al., 2016). Caution is also advised in breast cancer patients due to its oestrogen stimulating activity. This based upon Lau et al (2005) who found it may stimulate breast cancer growth in vitro, however Yue et al, (2019) demonstrated that it is not that stimulatory in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo through a series of tests, although they suggested it should still be used with caution in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Conversely, a large population study in Taiwan by Wu et al (2014) found it reduced the subsequent risk of endometrial cancer in breast cancer survivors taking tamoxifen, especially in those of reproductive age.

Gou Qi Zi

Xiao Hui Xiang

Rou Gui

Pinyin: Rou Gui Chinese: 肉桂 Pharmaceutical: Cortex Cinnamomi Taxonomy: Cinnamomum cassia English: Cinnamon Bark
Tastes: Pungent, sweet, hot Meridians Entered: Kidney, Spleen, Heart and Liver
Actions & Indications: Warms the Kidneys, Spleen and Heart and strengthens Yang and Ming Men Fire Kidney Yang Deficiency and Deficiency of Ming-Men Fire with aversion to Cold, cold limbs, weak back, impotence and urinary frequency Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency with abdominal pain and Cold, reduced appetite and diarrhoea Kidney Unable to Grasp Qi Heart Yang Deficiency, particularly with chest Bi Disperses deep Cold, warms the channels, unblocks the channels and vessels and alleviates pain Deep Cold causing Qi Stagnation or Blood Stasis with Cold in the Blood causing amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea, Cold-Damp Bi, Yin-type boils (chronic sores that are usually concave and ooze a clear fluid) and sores or abscesses that do not heal It enters the Blood aspect and, in small amounts, enhances the Blood moving action of other substances Leads the Fire back to its source Upward Floating of Deficient Yang (False Heat, True Cold or Heat Above and Cold Below) with flushed face, wheezing, severe sweating (the sweat pours out like oil), weak and cold lower extremities and a deficient and rootless pulse Any condition with Heat in the Upper body (dry mouth, sore throat, or teeth which is worse at night) and Cold in the Lower body (Lower back pain, cold lower extremities, diarrhoea and weakness in the proximal portion of the pulse) Assists in the generation of Qi and Blood Chronic Qi and Blood Deficiency (auxiliary) Aids fasting Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, enable one to communicate with spirits, make the body light, and prevent forgetfulness. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Standard Dosage: 1-5g in decoction. It should be decocted later. Cautions: It is contraindicated for syndrome of yin deficiency with fire effulgent, haemorrhage due to blood heat and pregnant women. It is incompatible with Chi Shi Zhi (nineteen incompatibilities).

Wu Yao

Chen Xiang

Fu Ling

Sheng Jiang

3-5sl

Preparation: Decoction.

Actions: Warms the Liver and Kidneys, promotes the movement of Qi, alleviates pain

Contraindications: Heat, redness, swelling and pain of the scrotum due to Damp-Heat pouring down into the lower Jiao

Research Links:

American Dragon

TCMWiki

Journal of Chinese Medicine

National Resource Centre for Chinese Materia Medica, China

TCM-ID Integrated Database, East China Normal University

TCM-ID Information Database, National University of Singapore

Pubmed

Science Direct

Google Scholar

Bai Du (Chinese)

A+ Medical Encyclopedia (Chinese)

Reference Notes: (click to display)

These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.

Herb Formulas Notebook

Warm the Liver Decoction