Author: Wang Shi-Xiong / Wang Meng-Ying, 王士雄 / 王孟英
Year: 1852
Source: Warp and Weft of Warm Diseases (Wen Re Jing Wei, 溫熱經緯)
Category: Formulas that Harmonise
Pattern: Disharmony between Liver and Stomach during early pregnancy
Key Symptoms: Morning sickness, vomiting of acid or bitter fluids during early pregnancy
Secondary Symptoms: Fullness sensation in the chest, flank pain, frequent sighing and belching, distending sensation of the head with dizziness, irritability, thirst, a bitter taste in the mouth
Tongue: Light red with yellow coat
Pulse: Wiry, slippery
Ingredients
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Zi Su Ye
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Zi Su Ye
Chinese: 紫苏叶
Pharmaceutical: Folium Perillae
English: Perilla Leaf |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the Exterior and disperses Cold
Wind-Cold with fever, chills, headache, nasal congestion, cough or a stifling sensation in the chest (especially in older people)
- Promotes the movement of Spleen and Stomach Qi and Harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with nausea, vomiting, or anorexia
Intestinal gas
- Improves Lung function and expands the chest
Asthma
Chest distention
Cold induced wheezing
- Calms the fetus and alleviates morning sickness
Restless fetus and morning sickness
- Alleviates seafood poisoning Detoxifies any type of allergy
Seafood poisoning (fish and crab), used alone or in combination
- Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bo He and Bai Zhi, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
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Huang Lian
| 9g | | |
Pinyin: Huang Lian
Chinese: 黄连
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Coptidis
Taxonomy: Coptidis chinensis
English: Coptis Rhizome / Goldthread Rhizome |
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Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Stomach, Large Intestine and Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and drains Dampness
Damp-Heat in the Stomach or Intestines with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorder
Stomach Heat with vomiting and/or acid regurgitation
- Drains Fire and resolves Fire toxicity
Heat with Blazing Fire (Toxic Heat) with high fever. irritability, disorientation, delirium, a red tongue and a rapid, full pulse
Heat from Excess with toxicity: painful, red eyes and a sore throat
Boils, carbuncles and abscesses (Chuang Yung)
- Clears Heat and stops bleeding
Blood Heat with epistaxis, hematuria, hemafecia and hemoptysis
- Clears Heat topically
Infected wounds, red and painful eyes, ulcerations of the tongue and mouth (topical)
- Clears Heart Fire (sedative)
Heart Fire
Lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys
- Drains Stomach Fire
Stomach Fire
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, improve memory. 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: 2-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold syndrome. Because its taste is extremly bitter and dryness, overdosage and long-time taking will impair spleen and stomach, yin and fluids. |
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Preparation: Decoction.
Actions: Soothes the Liver, harmonises the Stomach, descends rebellious Qi, stops vomiting
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.
