Author: Zhang Zhong-Jing, 張仲景
Year: c. 220
Source: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Lue, 金匱要略)
Category: Formulas that Regulate Blood
Pattern: Liver Fixation (Gan Zhuo, 肝著) where the Qi dynamic is obstructed in the chest
Key Symptoms: A sensation of fullness, distention or pain in the chest that is better for pressure, comes and goes.
Secondary Symptoms: Preference for warm drinks, uterine bleeding during the second half of pregnancy.
Pulse: Wiry and large
Ingredients
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Xuan Fu Hua
| 9g | |
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Pinyin: Xuan Fu Hua
Chinese: 旋覆花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Inulae
Taxonomy: Inula helenium, racemosa, japonica seu britannica
English: Elecampane Flower |
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Tastes: Bitter, pungent, lightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Expels Phlegm and removes pathogenic water (Resolves Phlegm Stagnation in the Lungs)
Phlegm Accumulation in the Lungs with Qi Rebellion
Accumulation of Phlegm and thin mucus
Best for Cold disorders but in combination with the appropriate herbs can be used for Hot disorders
- Descends Qi and stops vomiting (Calms rebellious Stomach Qi)
Vomiting, hiccup and belching
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g wrapped in decoction.
Cautions: This herb has villi that stimulates throat and causes bucking and vomiting. So it should be decocted with wrapping. |
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Cong Bai
| 14pc | |
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Pinyin: Cong Bai
Chinese: 葱白
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Allii
English: Spring Onion / Green Onion / Scallion / Fistular Onion Stalk |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the exterior and induces sweating
Wind-Cold especially very early stages
- Disperses Cold and unblocks Yang
Abdominal pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
Nasal congestion and pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
- Relieves toxicity and disperses clumps
Toxic sores and abscesses (topical)
- Kills parasites
Abdominal pain due to Intestinal parasites
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Qian Cao Gen
| 6-9g | | |
Pinyin: Qian Cao Gen
Chinese: 茜草根
Pharmaceutical: Radix Rubiae cordifoliae
Taxonomy: Rubia cordifolia
English: Indian Madder Root / Manjistha |
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Tastes: Bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
Bleeding due to Blood Heat with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemoptysis, hemafecia, hematuria and uterine bleeding
- Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood Stasis
Pain due to Blood Stasis, especially chest and flank pain
Retained lochia Pain from traumatic injury and joint pain
Early-stage carbuncles
- Disperses Wind-Dampness
Bi pain
- Unblocks the channels and vessels
Wind pain in the bones and joints
- Cools the Liver and transforms Phlegm
Chronic, stubborn cough with pain in the chest due to Liver Fire Attacking the Lungs
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction, but can be up to 30g.
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Subsitutions:
The original text lists the last ingredient as a small amount of Xin Jiang (新絳, New Crimson) which has been interpreted in many ways. Most follow what has been given here, as Qian Cao Gen but other possibilities include Su Mu, Hong Hua, Tao Ren, Dang Gui or Dan Shen.
Preparation: Decoction
Actions: Unblocks the Yang, expands the Chest, dredges Stasis, transforms clumps
Notes:
One liang is taken as 3g in modern sources but in Eastern Han times it was equivalent to 13.875g. This means that the dosages in classical formulae could have been more than 4x what is given today making them far higher than recommended safe dosages today but prompts consideration of what an effective dose may be (He, 2013).
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.
