Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Qi
Pattern: Qi and Yin deficiency with flaring of Ming Men Fire due to damage from Warm Disease (Wen Bing).
Key Symptoms: Hot flashes, night sweats, cough with phlegm and blood, vexation and agitation, fatigue, dry mouth with thirst and parched throat.
Ingredients
|
Xi Yang Shen
| 30g | |
|
Pinyin: Xi Yang Shen
Chinese: 西洋參
Pharmaceutical: Radix Panacis Quinquefolii
Taxonomy: Panax Quinquefolium
English: American Ginseng |
|
Tastes: Sweet but slightly bitter, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung, Heart, Kidney and Spleen |
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies Qi, generates fluids, nurtures the Stomach and nourishes Yin
Qi, Yin and Body Fluid Deficiencies with Heat signs and chronic un-abating fever
Aftermath of a febrile disease with weakness, irritability and thirst
- Benefits Lung Yin and clears Fire from the Lungs
Lung Qi and Yin Deficiencies with depleted Fluids and Blazing Deficiency Fire which impairs the the clearing and dispersing functions of the Lungs with long-term wheezing and coughing up of Blood-streaked sputum
Cough, hemoptysis and loss of voice due to Lung Yin Deficiency
- Sedates Heat in the Intestines and stops bleeding
Heat in the Intestines with hematochezia due to Yin Deficiency
- Calms the Spirit agitated by Parasites damaging the Yin
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
|
Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
|
|
|
Bai Jiu
| 650ml | | |
Pinyin: Jiu
Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine |
|
Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
- Warms Yang and Expels Cold
All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
- Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
Temporary low mood, celebration
|
Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.
The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire. |
|
Subsitutions:
Bai Jiu (white alcohol) traditionally means distilled rice wine but can be substituted with any clear 40% spirit.
Preparation: Place the herb in a jar with 650ml of alcohol and seal the lid for 7 days. Open and take one small teacup twice per day on an empty stomach.
Actions: Tonifies Qi and enriches Yin, clears Fire and engenders fluids.
Contraindications: Damp-Heat conditions and long term use due to the harmful effects on continuous alcohol consumption.
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.
