Author: Susruta, सुश्रुत
Year: 1st Millenium BC
Source: Compendium of Susruta (Susruta Samhita, सुश्रुतसंहिता)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Qi
Pattern: Food stagnation due to Spleen and Lung Taiyin deficiency
Key Symptoms: Sluggishness, constipation, bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain and indigestion, haemorrhoids, coughing with clear white phlegm, nasal congestion, rashes and sores, bleeding gums, eye inflammation, obesity.
Ingredients
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Yu Gan Zi
| 33g | |
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Pinyin: Yu Gan Zi
Chinese: 余甘子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Phyllanthi emblica
Taxonomy: Phyllanthus emblica
English: Emblic / Indian Gooseberry / Emblic Leaf-flower Fruit |
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Tastes: Sweet, sour, astringent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Promotes digestion and strengthens the stomach, promotes the secretion of saliva
Abdominal distension
Indigestion
Dry mouth
- Relieve cough
Cough with sore or painful throat
- Clears Heat, cools and invigorates the Blood
Blood stasis with Heat
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Standard Dosage: 3-9g in pills or powder
Cautions: It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach. |
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He Zi
| 33g | |
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Pinyin: He Zi
Chinese: 诃子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Terminaliae Chebulae
Taxonomy: Terminalia Chebula
English: Myrobalan Fruit |
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Tastes: Bitter, sour, astringent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Lung and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Astringes the Intestines and stops diarrhoea
Chronic diarrhoea and dysenteric disorders (both Heat and Cold patterns)
Intestinal Wind with hemafecia
- Contains leakage of Lung Qi, stops coughing, improves the condition of the throat (Descends Lung Qi) and relieves Qi Stagnation in the diaphragm and chest
Chronic cough, wheezing, and especially loss of voice
Cough due to Phlegm-Fire Obstructing the Lungs (in combination)
- Kills Parasites and expels Demons
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Mao He Zi
| 33g | | |
Pinyin: Mao He Zi
Chinese: 毛訶子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Terminaliae Billericae
Taxonomy: Terminalia Billerica
English: Belleric Fruit |
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Tastes: Sweet, astringent, neutral
Meridians Entered: Spleen and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
Diarrhoea, hepatobiliary diseases, Heat syndromes
- Astringes and Tonifies Blood
Weakness after illness
- Harmonises the properties of medicine
Added to other formulas as assistant
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Standard Dosage: 3-9g as pills or powder.
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Preparation: Equal parts ground into powder and added to food or other formulas in 0.5-5g doses, 2-3x per day. For bleeding gums and eye disorders it may be infused in water and used as a wash.
Actions: Resolves Food Stagnation, tonifies the Spleen and assists the downbearing Lungs Qi, transforms Phlegm and clears Heat.
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.
