Author: Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau), 太醫局
Year: 1107
Source: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang, 太平惠民和劑局方)
Category: Formulas that Clear Heat
Pattern: Damp-Heat in the Stomach and Large Intestine
Key Symptoms: Red and white dysenteric disorders, focal distention, stifling sensation in the chest and diaphragm
Ingredients
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Huang Lian
| 6g | |
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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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Mu Xiang
| 1.5g | | |
Pinyin: Mu Xiang
Chinese: 木香
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aucklandiae
English: Costus Root |
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Tastes: Pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine and Gall Bladder |
Actions & Indications:
- Promotes the movement of Qi and alleviates pain
Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation with anorexia, a feeling of food sitting in the Stomach, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea and vomiting
Liver or Gallbladder Qi Stagnation with flank pain, distention or soreness
Relieves the symptoms of Gu Sydnrome while suppressing parasites (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
- Adjusts and regulates stagnant Qi in the Intestines
Intestinal Qi Stagnation with diarrhoea or dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain and tenesmus
- Strengthens the Spleen and prevents Stagnation
Stagnation from tonic herbs, especially when the transportive and transformative functions of the Spleen are weak
- Dispels Damp-Heat and harmonizes the Liver and Spleen
Disharmony of the Liver and Spleen with hypochondriac pain and distention, a bitter taste in the mouth, a yellow tongue coat and possibly jaundice
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, prevent oppressive Ghost Dreams whether sleeping during the day or the night. 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.
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Preparation: Traditionally formed into pills by frying the Huang Lian with Wu Zhu Yu in 2:1 ratio and the Wu Zhu Yu then discarded. The Huang Lian and Mu Xiang is then ground into a powder in a 4:1 ratio and formed into pills with vinegar.
Actions: Clears Heat, transforms Dampness, promotes the movement of Qi, relieves dysenteric disorders
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.
