Source: Materia Medica Arranged According to Pattern (1108)
Category: Formulas that Regulate Blood
Pattern: Blood stasis obstructing the vessels in the abdomen, Yin Wei Mai Heat pain with Jueyin pattern.
Key Symptoms: Bouts of severe acute pain in the lower abdomen, stabbing pain in the epigastrium or chest, postpartum abdominal pain
Secondary Symptoms: Irregular menstruation, long menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhoea, retention of lochia
Tongue: Dark body, stasis spots
Pulse: Thin, wiry or rough
Abdomen: No pain on pressure in either epigastrium or lower abdomen
Ingredients
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Wu Ling Zhi
| 8-12g | |
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Pinyin: Wu Ling Zhi
Chinese: 五灵脂
Pharmaceutical: Faeces Trogopterori
English: Flying Squirrel Feces |
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Tastes: Sweet, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Spleen |
Actions & Indications:
- Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and alleviates pain
Blood Stasis with amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and epigastric pain
- Transforms Stasis and stops bleeding
Uterine bleeding and retained lochia due to Blood Stasis
- Treats childhood nutritional impairment
Childhood nutritional impairment with focal distention
- Eliminates toxins
Internally and topically for various insect and snake bites
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should not be used with Ren Shen and it is contraindicated to pregnant women.
Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Yan Hu Suo and Lian Fang. |
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Pu Huang
| 8-12g | | |
Pinyin: Pu Huang
Chinese: 蒲黄
Pharmaceutical: Pollen Typhae
Taxonomy: Typha angustifolia
English: Cattail Pollen / Bulrush Pollen |
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Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Liver and Heart |
Actions & Indications:
- Stops bleeding by astringing
External bleeding due to traumatic injury
Various forms of internal bleeding such as uterine bleeding, hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, hemafecia or subcutaneous bleeding
- Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood Stasis
Chest pain, postpartum abdominal pain and menstrual pain due to Blood Stasis
- Promotes urination
Lin Syndrome
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, makes the body light, boosts the Qi and physical strength and prolongs life so an to make one immortal. 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).
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Use with cautions for pregnant women. |
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Subsitutions:
In the UK Wu Ling Zhi must be substituted for Yan Hu Suo + Lian Fang.
Preparation: Decoction.
Actions: Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood stasis, disperses accumulation, alleviates pain
Contraindications: Pregnancy, stomach deficiency
Notes:
Extraordinary Vessel attributions come from Li Shi-Zhen's (1577-8) Exposition on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao), trans. Chace & Shima (2009).
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.
