Author: Bao Xiang-Ao, 鮑相璈
Year: 1846
Source: New Compilation of Proven Formulas (Yan Fang Xin Bian, 驗方新編)
Category: Formulas that are Applied Externally
Pattern: Bi Syndrome due to sudden injury
Key Symptoms: Swelling, severe pain and tenderness in the joints and lumbar region
Ingredients
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Sheng Jiang
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Pinyin: Sheng Jiang
Chinese: 生姜
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Taxonomy: Zingiber officinale
English: Fresh Ginger |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the Exterior, induces perspiration and disperses Cold
Wind-Cold
- Warms the Middle and stops vomiting
Cold in the Stomach especially with vomiting
- Warms the Lungs and stops coughing
Cough due to Wind-Cold Cough due to Lung Deficiency with Phlegm
- Reduces the toxicity of other herbs and seafood
Herb toxicity or seafood poisoning
- Adjusts the Ying and Wei - normalizes the flow of Qi at the center
Taiyang Zhong Feng - Wind-Cold with Deficiency
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with caution for yin deficiency with internal heat and heat exuberance because it helps promote fire and injure yin. |
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Cong Bai
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Pinyin: Cong Bai
Chinese: 葱白
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Allii
English: Spring Onion / Green Onion / Scallion / Fistular Onion Stalk |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the exterior and induces sweating
Wind-Cold especially very early stages
- Disperses Cold and unblocks Yang
Abdominal pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
Nasal congestion and pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
- Relieves toxicity and disperses clumps
Toxic sores and abscesses (topical)
- Kills parasites
Abdominal pain due to Intestinal parasites
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Da Huang
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Pinyin: Da Huang
Chinese: 大黄
Pharmaceutical: Radix et Rhizoma Rhei
Taxonomy: Rheum palmatum
English: Chinese Rhubarb Root |
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Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Heart |
Actions & Indications:
- Drains Heat and purges accumulations
Intestinal Heat Excess, with high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal distention and pain, delirium, a yellow tongue coat and a full pulse
Yang-Ming Fu Stage
Qi Level Heat in the Intestines
- Drains Fire
Fire from Excess with intense fever, sore throat, and painful eyes and constipation
Fire toxin sores due to Xue Level Heat, especially with constipation
- Clears Heat, transforms Dampness and promotes urination
Damp-Heat with oedema, jaundice, painful urinary dysfunction and acute, hot dysenteric disorders
- Drains Heat from the Blood
Bloody stool either from hemorrhoids or Heat in the Intestines
Chaotic movement of hot Blood with hemoptysis or epistaxis with constipation
It can be powdered and administered orally for bleeding in the upper digestive tract
- Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood Stasis
Blood Stasis with amenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses or fixed pain
Blood Stasis due to traumatic injury
Intestinal abscess
- Clears Heat and reduces Fire toxicity
Topically or internally for burns or skin lesions (Chuang Yung) due to Heat
- Clears Heat and eliminates Phlegm
Chronic Accumulation of Phlegm-Heat with cough, dyspnea, mania, disorientation and other symptoms of Phlegm Misting the Heart
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Excessive decoction will reduce the purgative action. Therefore it should be added at end to achieve this purpose and over-decocted to eliminate this action.
Cautions: It should be used with caution in case of spleen and stomach deficiency for its bitter and cold property which is easily to damage stomach qi. It is contraindicated to women during pregnancy, menstruation or lactation for it has actions of activating blood and resolving stasis, and can make the purged substances follow lactating out. |
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Preparation: Pound Sheng Jiang and Cong Bai until soft, blend with grey flour (flour mixed with the juice of herbs, in this case maybe the Da Huang powder) that has been stir fried hot and apply it. Alternatively grind Sheng Da Huang and mix with juice of Sheng Jiang and apply.
Actions: Removes channel obstructions, regulates Qi and Blood and alleviates pain.
Notes:
Xu Xiangcai, in the Complete External Therapies of Chinese Drugs, presents a similar recipe where Da Huang is ground into a powder and mixed with 25ml of juice extracted from pounding Sheng Jiang. The Cong Bai is parched in a pot and wrapped in a piece of white cloth, and rubbed onto the injured part until the skin turns red with a burning sensation. Then apply the 1/4 of the paste and cover with gauze or mulberry paper. Dressing is changed daily.
I have also seen a variation of this where chunks of Sheng Jiang and Cong Bai are dry fried and wrapped in cloth, and then used as a hot compress which is alternated with Tui Na techniques.
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.
