Properties: Sweet, mild, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart and Spleen
Extraordinary Vessels: Chong, Yin Wei, Yin Qiao, Yang Qiao
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Quiets the Heart, calms the Spirit and soothes the nerves
Palpitations, insomnia or forgetfulness due to either Spleen and Heart Insufficiency or Internal Obstruction of Turbid Phlegm
Shen disturbance
Restless Heart
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
- Strengthens the Spleen and harmonizes the Middle Jiao
Spleen Deficiency Dampness with anorexia, diarrhoea and epigastric distention
- Strengthens the Spleen
Phlegm Dampness due to Spleen Deficiency with thin mucus in which Phlegm moves upward manifesting as palpitations, headache, dizziness and a thick, greasy tongue coat
- Promotes urination and leaches out Dampness
Urinary difficulty, diarrhoea or oedema due to Stagnation of Fluids or Dampness
Fluid Stagnation
Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of difficult urination due to kidney deficiency or spermatorrhea due to deficiency-cold.
Notable Constituents: Full composition available from
Rios, 2011.
- Pachymic acid
Triterpenoid with anti-inflammatory activity via phospholipase A2 inhibition.
- Dehydrotumulosic acid
Another triterpenoid phospholipase A2 inhibitor.
- β-D-Glucan
β-Glucan with antioxidant and immunostimulatory activities common to many mushrooms (Nakashima et al., 2018. It is thought they may work by activating microbial Pattern Recognition Receptors, training the immune system for when an actual pathogen invades (van Steenwijk et al., 2021) making them suitable for immune prevention rather than after infection.
- Poricoic acid G
Lanostane-type triterpene acid that is significantly cytotoxic to leukemia HL-60 cells (Lai et al., 2016). Other forms of Porporic acid may also be chemopreventive agents against chemical carcinogenesis (Rois et al., 2012).
- 3-Dehydrotrametenolic acid
Tetracyclic triterpenoid derived from lanosterol possibly acting as an insulin sensitiser (Sato et al., 2002) and anticancer compound like other lanostanoids.
Appears in 21 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan (Arborvitae Seed Pill to Nourish the Heart)
From: Compilation of Materials of Benevolence for the Body (1549)
Ding Xian Wan (Arrest Seizures Pill)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Ding Zhi Wan (Settle the Emotions Pill)
From: Wondrous Lantern for Peering into the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases (1773) by Shen Jin-Ao
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang (Ass-Hide Gelatin and Egg Yolk Decoction)
From: Popular Guide to the Discussion of Cold Damage (Qing Dynasty)
He Che Wan (Placenta Pill)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Hu Po Duo Mei Wan (Succinum Pill for Promoting Sleep)
From: Systematic Great Compendium of Medicine Past and Present (1556) by Xu Chun-Fu
Jia Jian Dao Chi Xie Xin Tang (Modified Guide Out the Red and Drain the Heart Decoction)
From: Selected Formulas for Warm-Heat Pathogen Diseases (c. 1900)
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang (Antelope Horn and Uncaria Deocction)
From: Revised Popular Guide to the Discussion of Cold Damage by Yu Gen-Chu, Revised by He Bing-Yuan (Qing dynasty)
Long Chi Qing Hun San (Dragon's Tooth Powder to Clear the Ethereal Soul)
From: Comprehensive Medicine According to Master Zhang (1695) by Zhang Lu-Yu / Shi-Wan
Miao Xiang San (Marvellously Fragrant Powder)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)
Ming Mu Di Huang Wan (Improve Vision with Rehmannia Pill)
From: Scrutiny of the Precious Jade Case (1642) by Fu Ren-Yu
Mo Li Mei Gui Shi Mian Yu (Jasmine and Rose Insomnia Bath)
From: Shen-nong.com
Sang Piao Xiao San (Mantis Egg-Case Powder)
From: Extension of the Materia Medica (1116)
Sheng Tie Luo Yin (Iron Filings Drink)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Drink)
From: Deriving New Treatments for Patterns of Miscellaneous Disorders in Chinese Internal Medicine (1958)
Wu Bi Shan Yao Wan (Incomparable Discorea Pill)
From: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces by Sun Si Miao (650)
Yang Xin Tang (Nourish the Heart Decoction)
From: Indispensable Tools for Pattern Treatment by Wang Ken-Tang (1602)
Yang Xin Tang (Nourish the Heart Decoction)
From: Systematic Great Compendium of Medicine Past and Present (1556) by Xu Chun-Fu
Yi Shen Tang (Spirit Lifting Decoction)
From: Ten Lectures on the Use of Formulas from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De by Jiao Shu-De (2005)
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan (Mother-of-Pearl Pill)
From: Formulas of Universal Benefit from My Practice (1132) by Xu Shu-Wei
Zhou Gong Bai Sui Jiu (Master Zhou's Hundred Years Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, has been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
