Author: Various
Source: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008)
Category: Formulas that Tonify Qi
Pattern: Spleen Qi deficiency
Key Symptoms: Tiredness, lack of strength, reduced appetite, loose stools
Ingredients
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Ci Wu Jia
| 60g | |
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Pinyin: Ci Wu Jia
Chinese: 刺五加
Pharmaceutical: Radix Acanthopanacis senticosi
Taxonomy: Eleutherococcus senticosus
English: Siberian Ginseng Root |
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Tastes: Pungent, slightly bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Kidney and Heart |
Actions & Indications:
- Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi to aid transformation and transportation and warms the Kidneys to aid Yang in warming the Spleen
Weak lower back and legs
A sense of heaviness with anorexia
Fatigue
- Augments the Heart Qi and calms the Shen
Heart Qi Deficiency with Insomnia with many dreams, poor concentration and mild depression
- Invigorates the Blood and unblocks the collaterals
Problems due to poor peripheral circulation with Blood Stasis signs
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Standard Dosage: 6-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of yin deficiency with effulgent fire.
Caution must be taken to have the correct species. Cortex Periplocae (Xiang Jia Pi) is often mistaken for this herb but contains toxic cardiac glycosides which could be dangerous, as well as poorer therapeutic effects and none of the adaptogenic properties of Wu Jia Pi (Complemedis.com). |
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Bai Jiu
| 1.3L | | |
Pinyin: Jiu
Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine |
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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
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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. |
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Subsitutions:
Bai Jiu (white alcohol) traditionally means distilled rice wine but can be substituted with any clear 40% spirit.
Preparation: Place Siberian Ginseng in a large jar with 1.3L of alcohol and seal the lid for one half-month. Take 15ml twice per day.
Actions: Tonifies Qi and fortifies the Spleen
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.
