Author: Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong, 吴瑭 / 吴鞠通
Year: 1798
Source: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases (Wen Bing Tiao Bian, 溫病條辨)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Yin
Pattern: Stomach Yin deficiency
Key Symptoms: Faint or indistinct pain or burning in the epigastric region, hunger but no desire to eat, dry mouth and throat
Secondary Symptoms: constipation, retching, hiccup
Tongue: Dry, red with scanty coat
Pulse: Thin and rapid
Ingredients
| Sha Shen | 9g | |
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Mai Men Dong
| 15g | |
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Pinyin: Mai Men Dong
Chinese: 麥門冬
Pharmaceutical: Radix Ophiopogonis
English: Dwarf Lilyturf Root |
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Lung and Heart |
Actions & Indications:
- Moistens the Lungs, nourishes Yin and stops coughing
Lung Yin Deficiency with a hacking, dry cough or a cough with thick, difficult to expectorate sputum, or hemoptysis
Pathogenic Warm-Dryness Dryness that has transformed into Fire
- Nourishes Stomach Yin and generates Fluids
Stomach Yin Deficiency with dry mouth and tongue
- Moistens the Intestines
Constipation, dry mouth and irritability as a result of febrile disease or Yin Deficiency
- Clears the Heart and eliminates irritability
Ying Stage Heat with fever and irritability which is worse at night
Yin Deficiency with fever and irritability which is worse at night
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, prevent senility and make one free from hunger. 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: 10-15g in decoction.
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Sheng Di Huang
| 15g | |
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Pinyin: Sheng Di Huang
Chinese: 生地黃
Pharmaceutical: Radix Rehmanniae
Taxonomy: Rehmannia glutinosa
English: Chinese Foxglove Root / Rehmannia Root |
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Tastes: Sweet, bitter, cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Stomach and Kidney |
Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and cools the Blood
Ying Stage Heat with high fever, thirst and a scarlet tongue
Xue Stage Heat
Hemorrhage due to Blood Heat
- Nourishes Yin, generates fluids, increases saliva and treats wasting and thirsting
Yin Deficiency with Heat signs
Injury to fluids
Throat pain due to Yin Deficiency
Wasting and thirsting disorder (消渴 Xiao Ke - diabetes)
- Cools Heart Fire
Heart Fire
- Calms the Spirit agitated by Parasites damaging the Yin
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
- Breaks up Blood Stasis, expels Cold and Hot Bi, replenishes Bone Marrow and promotes the growth of Muscles and Flesh
Broken bones or severed sinews from falls and a damaged center (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, and prevent forgetfulness. 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: 10-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of diarrhea, abdomen distention due to spleen deficiency. |
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Yu Zhu
| 4.5g | | (dry fried)
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Pinyin: Yu Zhu
Chinese: 玉竹
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati
Taxonomy: Polygonatum odoratum
English: Fragrant Solomon's Seal Root / Wei Rui |
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Heart |
Actions & Indications:
- Nourishes Yin, moistens Dryness, moistens the Lungs, nourishes the Stomach and generates fluids
Lung Yin Deficiency with cough, dry throat, irritability and thirst
Lung and Stomach Dry Heat
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Steaming Bone Disorder (骨蒸 Gu Zheng)
Wasting and thirsting with intense hunger and constipation
- Extinguishes Wind and softens and moistens the sinews
Internal Wind generated by insufficient fluids with pain and spasms in the sinews
Dizziness due to Yin Deficiency and Internal Stirring of Wind
External Wind-Heat with Yin Deficient constitution
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, remove black patches from the face, render the complexion shiny, make the body light, and prevent forgetfulness. 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: 10-15g in decoction.
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Bing Tang
| 3g | | |
Pinyin: Bing Tang
Chinese: 冰糖
Pharmaceutical: Crystalli Saccharo
English: Crystal Sugar / Rock Sugar |
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Tastes: Sweet, neutral
Meridians Entered: Lung and Spleen |
Actions & Indications:
- Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Stomach
Qi Deficiency in the Spleen and Stomach
- Moistens the Lung to relieve coughing
Cough due to Lung Dryness Blood-stained sputum
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
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Preparation: Decoction.
Actions: Benefits the Stomach and generates fluids
Contraindications: Dampness obstructing the middle Jiao (focal distention with greasy tongue coating)
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.
