TCM Book ClubIssue 3793One issue daily, accompanying the growth of TCM practitioners
IIntroduction: Among the formulas for tonifying deficiency, we are already familiar with Six Flavor, Eight Flavor, Four Gentlemen, and Four Substances. These formulas often target one aspect of Qi, Blood, Yin, or Yang, or are focused on a specific organ, making their dimensions relatively singular. However, in cases of chronic, severe illness, a common complex state of “Spleen and Kidney deficiency, excess fire in the Heart and Lung that should be suppressed, and Yang of the Liver and Kidney that should be warmed” arises, for which there is no corresponding classic formula. Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction was established for such syndromes, with the basic principle being the simultaneous tonification of Yin and Yang, focusing on nourishing Kidney essence and unblocking the Middle Jiao. (Introduction by Yi Yi)
—This article is approximately5500words, expected reading time14minutes—
Author/Ma Jisong, Edited by Bai Heming, Ma XuanqingQuanzhen Yiqi Decoction is derived from “Feng’s Secret Record” and was formulated by the famous physician Feng Zhaozhang (courtesy name Chuzhan) during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.It consists of熟附子 (Shu Fuzi, Prepared Aconite), 人参 (Ren Shen, Ginseng), 麦冬 (Mai Dong, Ophiopogon), 五味子 (Wu Wei Zi, Schisandra), 熟地 (Shu Di, Prepared Rehmannia), 白术 (Bai Zhu, White Atractylodes), and 怀牛膝 (Huai Niu Xi, Achyranthes).Feng believed that in cases of chronic and severe illness, the organs are interconnected and affected, with the Spleen and Kidney being the most critical.
He stated: “Both Spleen and Kidney are deficient in Yin and Yang, with excess fire in the Upper Jiao and insufficient fire in the Lower Jiao, Spleen Yin is insufficient, and Kidney Yin is damaged. In the Shaoyin organ, the focus is on true Yang; if Yang does not return, evil cannot be expelled; in the Jueyin organ, it stores blood, and if blood does not nourish, the pulse cannot rise. Therefore, this formula is used to lower fire, normalize the movement of water and earth, restore essence and Qi, repel all evils, allow fire to generate earth, and earth to generate metal, transforming this essence into the source of true Yin and true Yang, stabilizing the Dantian as a means of preserving life, hence it is named Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction.”
He pointed out that this formula: “Contains both Yin and Yang, with appropriate dryness and moisture, expels evil and supports the righteous, opens the meridians and unblocks the collaterals. Although it contains seven ingredients, it nourishes all five organs, providing strong protection against external evils, with a focused effect that is not superficial, tonifying quickly and effectively, nourishing Yin without stagnation, tonifying the Spleen without dryness, clearing the Lung without cold, strengthening fire without heat, lowering fire while calming the Heart, nourishing the essence while moistening the Liver,” making it particularly suitable for cases of damage to all five organs due to chronic and severe illness.
The author shares his experiences using this formula to treat various complex, obscure, severe, and critical conditions, achieving good results. Here are a few case summaries for reference, hoping for guidance from fellow practitioners.
Case of Measles Complicated by Pneumonia Mismanaged Leading to Exhaustion
Mao Xiaoliu, male, 3 years old, first diagnosed on March 7, 1972.
The child was born to parents in their 40s, as the only child, and was entirely artificially fed due to the mother’s lack of milk, with a preference for fragrant and dry foods, and a weak constitution with many illnesses.After the Spring Festival, he contracted the measles virus; initially, the rash appeared normally, but while playing outside during the rash phase, he was exposed to cold, causing the rash to disappear overnight, followed by high fever, restlessness, and difficulty in expectorating phlegm, with fullness in the chest and rapid breathing.
A local hospital diagnosed him with measles complicated by pneumonia, and after injections of penicillin and streptomycin, the fever and wheezing slightly improved, but no further treatment was continued. Two days later, the high fever and cough recurred, and after ineffective treatment with the previous medication, he was urgently taken to an old TCM physician specializing in treating rashes, who diagnosed that the rash had not fully erupted and prescribed Yin Qiao San combined with Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang for two doses, resulting in the rash appearing all over the body, with cold sweats, severe cough, and diarrhea.
His temperature dropped to 36°C, and he was urgently taken for intravenous therapy, treated for five days. Although the rash gradually receded and sweating slightly improved, other symptoms persisted, with urine being scant and abdomen distended, refusing food and water, and due to his emaciated state, veins were difficult to locate, and Western medicine was unwilling to continue treatment.His older brother, who was familiar with me, invited me three days after discharge to decide his fate.
Current Diagnosis:The child was emaciated, with prominent bones, a sallow complexion, slow eye movement, weak breathing, hoarse crying, cool skin, distended abdomen, scant urination, and daily loose stools of 2-3 times, light yellow in color and not much in quantity. He experienced wheezing and coughing, with thick phlegm that could not be expectorated, low breath sounds in both lungs, with many moist rales, heart rate at 170 beats/min, and low heart sounds. The tongue was pale white, with red edges, no coating at the front but slightly yellow and greasy at the root, and the pulse was thin, slippery, and rapid.
It was clear that the deficiency had caused the measles toxin to invade, leading to a cold evil entering, and excessive use of cool dispersing herbs had harmed Yang, while intravenous therapy had led to more output than intake, increasing the burden on the heart and kidneys, compounding the errors, making the situation quite challenging.Fortunately, after three days of stopping intravenous therapy, he was still able to take in some thin rice porridge, so I prescribed Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction for treatment:
PrescriptionLu Dang (15g), Fu Ling (15g), Shan Yao (15g), Shu Di (10g), Di Guo Pi (10g), Zhi Sang Pi (10g), Bai Zhu (10g), Mai Dong (7g), Mu Xiang (7g), Shu Fuzi (3g), Wu Wei Zi (3g). Two doses.
The parents were skeptical about the ability to save him and only purchased one dose. After taking it without any adverse effects, they continued with two more doses.After finishing three doses, urination significantly increased, cough and wheezing slightly improved, skin temperature returned to normal, and in three days, he had four bowel movements, still not formed but slightly more than before, the abdomen became softer, appetite improved, eye movement became more responsive, and crying was louder.
Additional Sheng Chao Gu Ya (15g) was added, and three more doses were given.Cough and wheezing greatly improved, appetite increased, and bowel movements normalized, the tongue edges became less red, and the pulse rate decreased. Breath sounds and heart sounds became clearer, heart rate at 135 beats/min. The diarrhea medicine was discontinued, and Bai Shao and Yu Zhu (10g each) were added for five doses, and all symptoms gradually improved.
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Commentary
The child suffered from mismanagement and mistreatment, leading to repeated injuries to the deficient body, particularly with both Spleen and Kidney Yin and Yang being severely deficient.Thus, Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction was used to tonify both Yin and Yang, and due to the loose stools, Niu Xi was removed (as stated in “Pharmaceuticals and Their Transformations”: “If there is diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency… it is not advisable to use”). Given the red tongue edges and yellow coating at the root, with difficulty in expectorating phlegm and a slippery pulse, and knowing that he preferred fragrant and dry foods, it was clear that phlegm heat was obstructing the Lung, hence the addition of the diarrhea medicine.
Heavily used Shan Yao and Fu Ling to moisten Spleen Yin, promote urination, transform phlegm, and solidify stools. The 7g of Mu Xiang assisted Ren Shen and Bai Zhu in tonifying the Spleen and promoting movement without causing dryness, while preventing the cloying nature of Di Guo and Mai Dong. Shu Fuzi was only used at 3g to “generate Qi with minimal fire”.No bitter cold herbs were used in the formula, as the antibiotics had been ineffective for a long time, and further use of bitter cold would have no hope of recovery!
In the second diagnosis, Gu Ya was added to restore the postnatal essence. In the third diagnosis, as phlegm heat gradually cleared, the diarrhea medicine was removed, and Yu Zhu and Bai Shao were added to moisten the Lung and calm wheezing (Wang Haogu said Bai Shao: “Can treat Lung Qi obstruction and wheezing cough”), ultimately transforming danger into safety.
Case of Lung Heart Yang Deficiency on the Brink of Crisis
Liou, male, 69 years old, first diagnosed on October 28, 1988.
In his youth, he smoked excessively and worked in geology, often feeling wind and cold, suffering from recurrent cough for over twenty years. In the winter of 1985, he was hospitalized due to cough and swelling, diagnosed with Lung Heart disease, and after half a month of treatment, he began to quit smoking.
However, due to playing cards all day and being lazy in activity, he developed frequent cough and wheezing with slight movement, morning facial swelling, evening leg swelling, scant urination, poor appetite, aversion to cold, fatigue, and palpitations with purple lips. He particularly suffered from cold weather, requiring oxygen; otherwise, he would have difficulty breathing. In less than four years, he had been hospitalized nearly ten times. He often used aminophylline and cough syrup. Given the difficulty of Western medicine to cure him, he sought my treatment.
Current Diagnosis:He was thin and sallow, with an aged appearance, unsteady gait, wearing cotton clothing even before the cold weather, with swollen eyes, low voice, and difficulty in expectorating phlegm. Barrel-shaped chest, widened intercostal spaces, many moist rales in both lower lungs, and a distended abdomen. The tongue was pale purple and fat, with teeth marks, grayish-white and slippery coating.Upon inquiry:“Scant urination, light leg swelling, abdominal distension, poor appetite, little thirst, sore lower back and knees, infrequent and difficult bowel movements,” with both pulses being thin, slippery, and deep.
This was a severe case of Lung Heart disease, with weak Kidney Yang, cold water invading the heart:
PrescriptionFuzi (first down), Mai Dong, Shu Di, Ting Li Zi, Fang Ji, Huai Niu Xi each 10g, Jiao Bai Zhu, Sheng Huang Qi, Bu Guo Zhi, E Guo Shi (crushed) each 15g, Fu Ling, Dang Shen each 30g, Wu Wei Zi (crushed), Zhi Ma Huang, Luo Shui Chen (chopped, added later) each 5g.After finishing three doses, he felt fine.Ting Li Zi and Bai Zhu were each increased by 5g, and five more doses were given, with urination becoming smoother, wheezing and swelling slightly improved, and phlegm expectorated more easily. The heavy and cold herbs were removed, and Hou Po was added at 7g and Bo Zi at 10g. Five doses.
In the fourth diagnosis, with a significant increase in white phlegm being expelled, wheezing and coughing greatly improved, urination became much smoother, appetite increased, aversion to cold decreased, and he was able to walk steadily. The purple lips and white slippery coating gradually receded, and the pulse slightly rose:Ma Huang was removed and Gui Zhi was added at 10g. Seven doses.Symptoms continued to improve, and he was able to stop wearing cotton clothing. With Jiang Ban Xia and Chen Pi each at 10g, Hou Po and Bo Zi were replaced.
In the sixth diagnosis, all symptoms were basically stable, and he could consume half a jin of grains daily, switching to pill form for gradual treatment:The above formula was supplemented with Dang Gui, Di Long, and San Qi each at 10g. Ten doses were made into honey pills, taken three times a day, 10g each time, on an empty stomach.
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Commentary
This patient clearly had chronic Lung Heart disease, affecting the Spleen and Kidney, with multiple organ damage and severe Yang deficiency, hence Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction was used to strongly tonify the Kidney and Spleen, nourish the Heart, and benefit the Lung, combined with the “Jin Gui” Fang Ji Huang Qi Decoction to tonify Qi and reduce swelling.
Ma Huang San was used to expel external cold, assist blood circulation, and relieve bronchial spasms to alleviate wheezing; Bu Guo Zhi, Wu Wei Zi, Chen Xiang, and E Guo Shi were used to warm the Kidney and gather Qi to relieve wheezing; Ting Li Zi was used to strengthen the heart and promote urination. The combined use of these herbs can improve organ function, promote Qi and blood circulation, increase urination, and reduce swelling, while enhancing appetite and energy.
However, at over seventy years old and with thirty years of illness, he could only extend his life with the disease. In the winters of 1990, 1991, and 1992, he still experienced illness, and adjustments to the above formula were made, with only four hospitalizations in three years. In the winter of 1993, during severe cold, Red Ginseng and Fuzi were each increased to 20g, but urination remained scant, and swelling was severe. Although there were no signs of internal heat, there was slight bleeding from the nasal cavity and gums, leading to caution against further increasing the dosage of Ginseng and Fuzi, ultimately resulting in excessive Yin and the loss of residual Yang.
Case of Pneumonia Caused by Excessive Cold
Feng, female, 75 years old, first diagnosed on November 6, 1998.
She had a history of hypertension, coronary heart disease, lung heart disease, and chronic nephritis. Six months ago, she was hospitalized for hepatitis for nearly two months, and ten days ago, she unfortunately contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week.
After using antibiotics, although the fever subsided, it did not clear, with dry mouth and a desire to drink, scant urination, difficulty in bowel movements, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. Phlegm was not easily expectorated, and slight movement caused wheezing, with poor appetite and aversion to cold. The tongue was purple and dark, with a thick yellow coating, and the sublingual veins were like worms, with a soft and slippery pulse.
This was a case of deficiency of both Qi and Yin in an elderly body, with phlegm heat lingering:It was necessary to tonify Qi and Yin while simultaneously clearing and transforming phlegm heat, with the addition of digestive herbs to harmonize the stomach:
PrescriptionJiang Ban Xia, Xing Ren, Zhi Bei Mu, Lou Chen Pi, Yu Nei Jin, Sheng Bai Zhu each 10g, Lu Dang, Chao Mai Ya, Zi Jin Niu, Bei Tiao Shen each 15g, Gui Zhi 5g, Fu Ling 30g.Second Diagnosis on November 11:After finishing four doses, the patient felt more comfortable, with frequent gas movement and gradual relaxation of abdominal distension, the coating thickened slightly, and her spirit improved, but she still had dry mouth and irritability, with aversion to cold and phlegm. The mouth was slightly sweet and greasy, with a soft and slippery pulse. The previous formula was adjusted to include more Qi-nourishing herbs due to increased wheezing:Remove Gui Zhi and Chen Pi, and add Peilan and Tiao Shen each at 10g, and add Chen Xiang 3g (chopped into small pieces, added later). Five doses.Third Diagnosis on November 14:After taking only three doses, she felt cold from within, with clear saliva flowing like a surge, feeling fatigued and unable to support herself, with a white slippery coating on the tongue, and the pulse gradually becoming deep. This indicated that phlegm heat had not cleared, and Yang had further weakened.Half of the large Bei Mu, Lou Pi, Tiao Shen, and Zi Jin Niu were added, along with Fuzi and Gui Zhi each at 10g, allowing her to finish the remaining medicine.Fourth Diagnosis on November 17:The cold symptoms slightly reduced, but the back still felt cool, and both pulse and tongue showed signs of cold, with still much clear saliva, poor appetite, and difficulty in bowel movements, with morning facial swelling and evening leg swelling.The formula was changed to Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction:Shu Fuzi (first down), Shu Di, Gui Zhi, Chen Pi, Jiang Ban Xia, Jiu Huai Niu Xi, Chao Bo Zi each 10g, Dang Gui, Bai Zhu each 15g, Fu Ling, Lu Dang each 20g, Gan Jiang, Mai Dong each 7g, Wu Wei Zi (crushed), Chen Xiang each 3g. Three doses.Fifth Diagnosis on November 27:After taking the first dose, she felt abdominal distension, diarrhea, increased urination, and fatigue.She then decided to take the other two doses, each prepared for three days, with only one decoction per day, and both urination and bowel movements returned to normal, phlegm gradually decreased, swelling slightly reduced, and cold symptoms lessened, with the pulse rising slightly, and she could eat two liang of well-cooked noodles daily.The sublingual veins changed from purple to red.Although there were signs of Qi and blood circulation, she still experienced palpitations and difficulty sleeping:Lu Dang, Zao Ren, Bai Zhu, Chao Mai Ya each 15g, Shu Di, Huang Qi, Gui Zhi, Mai Dong, Chuan Xiong, Xiang Yuan Pi, Chao Dang Gui, Jiu Huai Niu Xi each 10g, Shu Fuzi 7g, Gan Jiang, Chen Xiang, Wu Wei Zi (crushed) each 5g. Three doses.Sixth Diagnosis on December 20:She continued with one dose of medicine for three days, and all symptoms gradually improved. As the cold wave arrived, she decided to switch to medicinal adjustments:The above formula was supplemented with E Guo Shi and Ting Li Zi each at 10g, San Qi and Yu Rou each at 7g, for ten doses. Additionally, two kilograms of honey were used to make a syrup, taken three times a day, one tablespoon each time.Currently, her condition is stable, and she is still undergoing treatment.
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Commentary
Feng suffered from multiple organ diseases, with a very poor constitution, and the dryness of late autumn exacerbated her cough, leading to pneumonia.Initially, the focus was on tonifying Qi and Yin while clearing and transforming phlegm heat, which was appropriate, but due to her sensitivity to the herbs and her inherently Yang-deficient constitution, I overlooked Ye Tianshi’s principle that “if cooling reaches six or seven tenths, it should not be overly cold,” and the follow-up formula still leaned towards cooling, resulting in the emergence of new symptoms.
Thus, I urgently prescribed Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction to greatly tonify Spleen and Kidney Yin and Yang, adding Dang Gui and Gui Zhi to invigorate blood and strengthen the heart, while Er Chen, Gan Jiang, and Bo Zi were used to transform phlegm and eliminate dampness, and Chen Xiang was used to gather Qi and guide the herbs to the Kidney to relieve wheezing. However, due to the strong potency of the herbs, taking three decoctions daily was too much for her constitution, so I adjusted it to one dose every three days, which was more suitable, indicating that the method of taking medicine requires careful consideration!
Case of Blood Bi due to Deficiency
Tan, female, 61 years old, first diagnosed on April 4, 1998.
The patient experienced numbness in both legs and soreness in the lower back for six months, having taken both TCM and Western medicine without significant effect.
Current Diagnosis:She also had blurred vision, tinnitus, dizziness, insomnia, chest tightness, poor appetite, dry mouth, and loose stools. The tongue was red, with a yellow greasy coating, and the pulse was left deep and slow, right bound and intermittent (blood pressure and blood lipids were normal, but the ECG indicated insufficient myocardial blood supply).
This indicated deficiency of both Heart and Spleen, with difficulty in Qi and blood circulation, so I initially planned to tonify the Spleen, calm the heart, and unblock the collaterals:
PrescriptionDan Dang Shen each 15g, Bai Zhu Shao, Lou Chen Pi, Zhi Yuan Zhi, Shi Chang Pu, Chao Huang Qin, Jiang Ban Xia, Yu Jin, Shen Qu each 10g, Xie Bai, Wu Wei Zi (crushed) each 7g, Fu Shen, Ji Xue Teng each 30g. Five doses.
Second Diagnosis:Chest tightness, back soreness, dizziness, and insomnia slightly improved, but she still had poor appetite, leg numbness, and loose stools several times a day, with increased facial swelling in the morning and leg swelling in the evening. The pulse and tongue remained the same, so I removed Huang Qin, Jiang, Yuan, and Xia, and added Chuan Niu Xi 15g, Yi Yi Ren 30g, and Sha Ren 5g. Five doses.
Third Diagnosis:No significant effect was observed, and the pulse remained deep and slow, with intermittent occurrences. Upon detailed inquiry, she mentioned that she often worked in the fields, and given her advanced age, both Spleen, Kidney, and Heart Yin and Yang were deficient, requiring strong tonification:Fuzi and Wu Wei Zi (crushed) each 7g, Hong Shen, Xie Bai, Mai Dong, Mu Xiang, Chuan Xiong, Jiu Huai Niu Xi, Shi Chang Pu, and Wei Yi Zhi each 10g, Chao Shu Di, Chao Bai Zhu Shao each 15g, Chao Shan Yao, Ji Xue Teng each 30g.
Fourth Diagnosis on April 23:Urination became smoother, bowel movements gradually normalized, appetite increased, swelling decreased, back soreness improved, and leg numbness significantly reduced. She requested to continue with the original formula for five more doses.
April 30:Swelling subsided, appetite improved, and leg numbness disappeared. The pulse was rarely intermittent, but the tongue remained slightly red, with tinnitus and blurred vision not fully resolved.Remove Hong Shen, Mu Xiang, Chuan Xiong, and add Dang Shen 30g, Gou Qi Zi, Guo Sui Bu each 15g, for eight doses, ground into powder, taken with warm salt water, three times a day.Follow-up over the years showed that everything remained stable, and the ECG indicated improvement in myocardial blood supply.
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Commentary:
Tan’s condition was due to advanced age and cold dampness obstructing the meridians, leading to leg and back numbness, swelling, and loose stools. In the first two diagnoses, due to insufficient inquiry and considering the red tongue, I hesitated to use Fuzi, resulting in poor efficacy.
In the third diagnosis, as she reported that her tongue had always been slightly red, I prioritized the pulse over the tongue and adjusted the treatment to Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction, adding Xie Bai, Xiong, Chang, Shao, Shan Yao, and Ji Xue Teng to strongly tonify Yin and Yang, invigorate the meridians, and promote Qi and blood circulation, allowing cold dampness to be expelled, leading to increased urination, reduced swelling, and improved appetite and numbness.
Since I had already used Mai, Wei, Shen, and Zhu, I used Shu Di, Bai Shao, and Shan Yao in their roasted forms, and did not use Huang Qi, otherwise it would have caused obstruction! Huai Niu Xi, if not prepared with wine, would also lead to diarrhea! This case, while not entirely aligned with the causes of blood bi in the “Jin Gui”, shares a similar mechanism of deficiency leading to poor blood circulation, hence I named it Blood Bi due to Deficiency.
Case of Kidney Yang Deficiency and Impotence
Huang, male, 44 years old, first diagnosed on November 20, 1993.
He was sent down for labor at the age of 17 for five years, working excessively, and often felt fatigued. Although he was slightly thin, he had no significant major illnesses.
He married at 31, had a child the following year, and his sexual life was basically normal, but he gradually felt that during intercourse, his erection was not firm, and his right testicle often felt cold and painful, which he did not treat. This year, the condition worsened, with the right testicle gradually atrophying, frequent urgent urination, difficulty in urination, accompanied by lower back soreness and aversion to cold, with cold extremities, almost no sexual desire, and difficulty sleeping (rarely feeling the desire to sleep before 11 PM), poor appetite, and a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, dizziness, and fatigue. The pulse was thin, soft, and slippery, with a red tongue and white greasy coating.
This clearly indicated early deficiency of both Kidney Yin and Yang:
PrescriptionFuzi (first boiled), Mai Dong, Jiu Huai Niu Xi, Xian Ling Pi, Wei Yi Zhi, Chao Wu Yao each 10g, Fu Shen, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Chuan Duan, He Huan Pi each 15g, Dang Shen, Shu Di, Shan Yao each 20g, Wu Wei Zi (crushed) 7g. Five doses.
Upon follow-up, urination gradually normalized, appetite increased, dizziness decreased, the coating slightly improved, and sleep became more stable. Continuing with five more doses, urination was controllable, sleep was stable, and aversion to cold decreased.
Remove He Huan Pi, Wu Yao, Yi Zhi, and add Gou Qi Zi and Tu Si Zi each 15g, Ba Ji Tian 10g. Another ten doses were given, with significant improvement in lower back soreness and gradual recovery of sexual desire, but still with a weak erection. The tongue coating gradually normalized, and the pulse rose.
Remove Fu Shen, Huai Niu Xi, and add Shan Yao, Shu Di, and Feng Fang each 10g, and Huang Jing 15g. Ten doses.
Fifth Diagnosis:The right testicle gradually returned to normal, and the duration of intercourse extended. The extremities warmed, and he requested to switch to a slow-release formulation. The above formula was supplemented with Lu Jiao Shuang 10g, for ten doses, and honey was added to make a syrup, taken three times a day, one tablespoon each time, with three doses of syrup.
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Commentary
Although there are many causes of impotence, deficiency of the Kidney is the most common. The patient clearly suffered from labor-related Kidney damage, hence Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction was effective. The initial prescription of Suo Quan Wan was for controlling urination.
In the third diagnosis, after normalizing urination, Gou Qi, Tu Si, and Ba Ji Tian were added to tonify both Yin and Yang of the Kidney. In the fourth diagnosis, Feng Fang was added to invigorate Yang and treat impotence (as stated in “Tang Bencao”: the bee’s nest “is for impotence”). If impotence is caused by damp heat or liver stagnation, this formula should not be used indiscriminately. Additionally, the patient was just over forty, and if he were older, the effects might not be as rapid.
ConclusionFeng’s establishment of Quanzhen Yiqi Decoction is a creative application of the theory of “Yin and Yang mutually rooted, water and fire sharing the same source, with the Kidney and Spleen as the foundation of pre- and postnatal” as proposed by masters such as Zhao Yangkui, Xue Lizhai, and Zhang Jingyue.
He observed the tonifying formulas for deficiency, “For insufficient water, there are Six Flavors; for insufficient fire, there are Eight Flavors; for insufficient Qi, there are Four Gentlemen; for insufficient Blood, there are Four Substances; for insufficient Heart and Spleen, there are Bu Zhong Yi Qi and Gui Pi”, yet “For the unique deficiency of Spleen and Kidney, with excess fire in the Heart and Lung that should be suppressed, and Yang of the Liver and Kidney that should be warmed, there is no corresponding medicine”, hence this formula was established.
Therefore, recent practitioners have used this formula flexibly to treat chronic enteritis, liver cirrhosis with ascites, chronic nephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia, post-stroke sequelae, and late-stage tumors.The first TCM consultant to the Ministry of Health, Zhang Cigong, also used this formula to treat dengue fever, bleeding due to Spleen not governing blood, and to rescue heart failure in warm diseases, all demonstrating his ingenuity.However, this formula ultimately relies on warming herbs, and caution should be exercised when selecting it for those with obvious heat signs. Additionally, Fuzi should be gradually increased from a small amount and pre-boiled, while Wu Wei Zi should be crushed before being added to the medicine.—Copyright Statement—• This article is excerpted from “Wen Guo Xi Yi Compilation” (2000) | Author/Ma Jisong, Edited by Bai Heming, Ma Xuanqing• Article edited by Wang Qinli | Recommended by Xiao Jia | Typeset by Shisan | Proofread by Huang Yaozi | Second proofread by Zhao Jiaqiang, Qu Xiaxia | Reviewed by Ju Ye.• The copyright of this article belongs to the rights holder. It is for learning and exchange purposes only, please do not use the medicine indiscriminately.
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