Yi Shen Tang - 挹神湯 - Spirit Lifting Decoction

Author: Jiao Shu-De, 焦树德

Year: 2005

Source: Ten Lectures on the Use of Formulas from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De (Fang Ji Xin De Shi Jiang, 方剂心得十讲)

Category: Formulas that Calm the Spirit

Pattern: Neurasthenia due to Yin deficiency and Liver Yang Rising

Key Symptoms: Headache, dizziness, rashness and irascibility, insomnia and forgetfulness, palpitations and disquieted heart, bouts of booming heat effusion (fever), vexation sweating, unstable emotions, devitalised Jing-Shen, unhappiness and depression
Secondary Symptoms: seminal emission or seminal efflux, sore lumbar region and weak legs, incapacity to work hard

Tongue: Thin white fur
Pulse: Fine and stringlike

Ingredients

Shi Jue Ming

20-45g

(raw, pre-decoct)

Long Gu

15-30g

(crude, pre-decoct)

Pinyin: Long Gu Chinese: 龙骨 Pharmaceutical: Ossa Draconis English: Fossilised Bones
Tastes: Sweet, astringent, neutral Meridians Entered: Liver, Heart and Kidney
Actions & Indications: Settles anxiety and calms the Spirit Agitated Heart and Spirit with emotional distress, restlessness, insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, seizures, or withdrawal mania Calms the Liver and anchors and preserves Floating Yang Irritability, restlessness, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision and a bad temper due to Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising Prevents leakage of fluids Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with spermatorrhea, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding Topically generates muscles and astringes ulcers Chronic non-healing sores and ulcerations Treats Ghost Possession Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing to treat Heart and Abdomen Ghost Possession, Spiritual Matters (精物 Jing Wu) and Old Ghosts (老鬼). This refers to difficult to treat disorders thought to be of supernatural origin. Aids fasting Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, enable one to communicate with the Spirit Light (Shen Ming 神明), and lengthen the lifespan. 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).
Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction. Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi. If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.

Mu Li

15-30g

(pre-decoct)

Pinyin: Mu Li Chinese: 牡蛎 Pharmaceutical: Concha Ostreae English: Oyster Shell
Tastes: Salty, astringent, slightly cold Meridians Entered: Liver and Kidney
Actions & Indications: Heavily settles and calms the Spirit Agitated Heart and Spirit with palpitations with anxiety, restlessness and insomnia Calms the Liver, benefits Yin and anchors Floating Yang Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising or Yin Deficiency with internal Heat with restlessness, irritability, palpitations and spontaneous sweating Prevents leakage of fluids Continuous sweat after febrile disease or in patients with steaming bone disorder Loss of fluids due to Deficiency with night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding Softens hardness and dissipates nodules Various kinds of lumps particularly neck lumps such as goiter or scrofula Absorbs acidity and alleviates pain (calcined) Excessive Stomach pain with a sour taste in the mouth Aids fasting Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of animal parts which can, with protracted taking, fortify the bones and joints (骨节 Gu Jie), kill evil ghosts (邪鬼 Xie Gui), and prolong life. 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).
Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction. Cautions: The high mineral content of this medication may prevent the oral absorption of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. Caution should also be taken due to the possibility of heavy metal absorption from the oysters' environment. If decocting it is advisable to leave the dregs at the bottom as heavy metal particles will naturally sink. It is still probably advisable to avoid for long term use unless the source is known to be clean. Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Xuan Shen, Bai Shao and Wu Wei Zi or Tian Ma. If viewed from a western perspective as a source of calcium which may cause sleep disturbances, then supplementation or inclusion of high calcium/magnesium content herbs (e.g. Kun Bu which is also salty and softens nodulation) could be considered, especially if other signs such as oesteoporosis or muscle cramps are present and the risk of side effects from calcium/magnesium supplements are low (stones, calcified arteries, GI issues). However, this assumes a mechanism which does not match many of the traditional patterns for which it is prescribed.

Sheng Di Huang

12-18g

Huang Qin

10g

(stir fried)

15g

10g

9-12g

12-20g

Bai Ji Li

9-12g

He Huan Hua

Ye Jiao Teng

15g

Subsitutions:
In the UK the shells and pre-decocted ingredients must be substituted. Their typical substitutes include:

Shi Jue Ming == Xia Ku Cao
Long Gu + Mu Li == Xuan Shen + Bai Shao + Wu Wei Zi

Other substitutes like Tian Ma and/or Gou Teng that subdue Yang might be considered too. Calcium and/or Vitamin D supplementation might be considered too if calcium is a possible reason behind this syndrome.

Preparation: Decoction.

Actions: Nourishes Yin and moistens the Liver, subdues Yang and quiets the Shen.

Notes:
Oddly 挹 appears to mean "to scoop up or ladle out" and has other meanings of to give up, surrender, renounce or quit so this formulas name may refer more to the state of the patient, one who has given up their Spirit, rather than the action of the formula like the English translation implies.

Research Links:

American Dragon

TCMWiki

Journal of Chinese Medicine

National Resource Centre for Chinese Materia Medica, China

TCM-ID Integrated Database, East China Normal University

TCM-ID Information Database, National University of Singapore

Pubmed

Science Direct

Google Scholar

Bai Du (Chinese)

A+ Medical Encyclopedia (Chinese)

Reference Notes: (click to display)

These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.

Herb Formulas Notebook

挹 神 湯  Yi Shen Tang

Spirit Lifting Decoction