Author: Susruta, सुश्रुत
Year: 1st Millenium BC
Source: Compendium of Susruta (Susruta Samhita, सुश्रुतसंहिता)
Category: Formulas that Expel Dampness
Pattern: Low Agni (Digestive Fire) leading to accumulation of Ama (Toxins): Spleen and Lung deficiency with accumulation of Dampness and Phlegm
Key Symptoms: Bloating, sluggish bowels with constipation or diarrhoea, abdominal pain and flatulence, nausea; cough and wheezing with sticky white phlegm, nasal congestion, sore throat; fatigue
Ingredients
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Gan Jiang
| 33g | |
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Pinyin: Gan Jiang
Chinese: 干姜
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Zingiberis
Taxonomy: Zingiber officinale
English: Dried Ginger |
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Tastes: Pungent, hot
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Kidney, Heart and Lung |
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Middle and expels Cold
External Cold affecting the Spleen and Stomach Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiencies
- Dispels Wind-Dampness seeping into the Lower Jiao
Lower Jiao Wind-Cold-Damp Bi
- Rescues Devastated Yang and expels Interior Cold
Devastated Yang with a very weak pulse and cold limbs
- Warms the Lungs and transforms thin mucus
Lung Cold with expectoration of thin, watery or white sputum
- Warms the channels (unblocks the pulse) and stops bleeding
Haemorrhage due to Deficiency Cold, especially uterine bleeding (only if the bleeding is chronic and pale in colour with cold limbs, ashen white face and a soggy thin pulse)
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, remove foul smell and enable one to communicate withe Spirit Light (Shen Ming 神明). 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: It is contraindicated for yin deficiency with internal heat and haemorrhage due to blood heat. |
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Hu Jiao
| 33g | |
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Pinyin: Hu Jiao
Chinese: 胡椒
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Piperis nigra
Taxonomy: Piper nigrum
English: Black Pepper |
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Tastes: Pungent, hot
Meridians Entered: Stomach and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Middle Jiao and disperses Cold and relieves pain
Stomach Cold with vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
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Standard Dosage: 2-4g in decoction. 0.5-1.5g as powder.
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Bi Ba
| 33g | | |
Pinyin: Bi Ba
Chinese: 蓽茇
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Piperis Longi
English: Long Pepper |
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Tastes: Pungent, hot
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold from the Stomach and Intestines, Descends Qi and stops pain
Cold congealing and leading to Qi Stagnation in the epigastrium and abdomen with nausea, vomiting, belching, acid regurgitation, loss of appetite and abdominal pain
Stomach Cold
- Treats toothache (topical)
As a powder for toothache
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Standard Dosage: 1.5-3g in decoction.
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Preparation: Equal parts ground into powder and added to food or other formulas in 1-2g doses, 2-3x per day to aid absorption and bioavailability of other formulas, or mixed with honey for Lung Phlegm.
Actions: Awakens digestion and warms the body by stoking Agni, digests and destroys Ama, alleviates coughs and asthma and benefits breathing, transforms fat, rejuvenates Kapha and the Lungs, alleviates nasal congestion
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.
