Summary of TCM Courses
01
All Courses by Ni Haixia
02
Comprehensive Guide to Common Ailments in TCM
03
Focused Study on TCM Topics
04
Online Reading of TCM Learning Books
In daily life, many individuals over the age of 30 begin to experience various pains, such as headaches, dizziness, cervical pain, shoulder periarthritis, cerebral infarction, hypertension, chest tightness, palpitations, angina, chest pain, rib pain, leg pain, lumbar soreness, and limb numbness. What causes these issues?
In TCM, there is a saying: “No flow means pain, no nourishment means pain.”
The phrase “no flow means pain” refers to the obstruction of the flow of Qi and blood within the body due to various external pathogenic factors (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, fire) invading the body, leading to stagnation in the meridians and blockage of the organs, which gradually worsens.
Consequently, the body’s instinct may prompt us to apply pressure to break through the blockage, resulting in a pressure differential that causes pain.“No nourishment means pain” indicates that when the Qi and blood that nourish our muscles, bones, and flesh are deficient, what happens? The body experiences soreness or numbness.
Consider this: if you find yourself in such a situation, having someone apply firm pressure to massage you can provide significant relief. This is because firm massage can effectively promote blood circulation and nourish the affected tissues, alleviating soreness or numbness.
From this, we can see that the fundamental causes of “pain” lie in “no flow” and “no nourishment.” Therefore, to eliminate “pain,” one must focus on resolving stasis and promoting circulation, as well as nourishing Qi and invigorating blood.
Today, I would like to share a formula that integrates Qi and blood tonification with blood stasis resolution, a remarkable folk remedy known as the San Tong Decoction. It promotes circulation in the cardiovascular system, cerebral vessels, and throughout the body, hence the name San Tong Decoction.
San Tong Decoction: 12g Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), 10g Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong), 20g Ge Gen (Pueraria lobata), 9g Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig), 6g Gan Cao (Licorice), 6g Ren Shen (Ginseng), 6g Mai Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus), 6g Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis), 12g Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), 12g Fu Ling (Poria cocos). Decoction in water. One dose per day. A course of treatment lasts 7 days.
(Dosage is for reference only. Consult a TCM physician for specific use.)
What makes the San Tong Decoction so effective in unblocking the cardiovascular and cerebral vessels, as well as the entire body’s circulation? Its effectiveness lies in the fact that this formula incorporates four ancient renowned formulas:
1. Chuan Xiong, Dan Shen, and Ge Gen are known for their ability to unblock the cardiovascular system. Dan Shen invigorates blood and resolves stasis while also nourishing blood; it primarily unblocks the cardiovascular system. When combined with Ge Gen, it can also unblock the cerebral vessels and improve cerebral ischemia, as Ge Gen has the effect of lifting Yang Qi to the brain. Chuan Xiong is a Qi herb in the blood, ascending to the head and descending to the blood sea, relieving stagnation, thus unblocking the entire body’s circulation.If the body’s Yang Qi is insufficient, and the heart Yang is deficient, cold pathogens will re-invade, causing blood stasis to re-accumulate, leading to blockages in the cardiovascular and cerebral vessels.
2. Gui Zhi and Gan Cao are known as Gui Zhi Gan Cao Decoction, originating from the “Treatise on Cold Damage.” Gui Zhi strengthens heart Yang, dispels cold, and promotes Yang Qi, while Gan Cao nourishes body fluids and tonifies the spleen and stomach. Together, they disperse Yang Qi, continuously supplying it to the heart and the entire body. With sunlight shining, the shadows disperse, and cold pathogens flee. After unblocking the blood vessels and strengthening heart Yang, a new problem arises: if the heart is deficient in Qi and blood, will the vessels become blocked again after temporary unblocking? Because blood deficiency leads to blood stasis, it is like a river with insufficient flow, making it prone to blockage.3. Ren Shen, Mai Dong, and Wu Wei Zi are known as Sheng Mai Decoction, originating from the “Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold.” Ren Shen tonifies heart Qi, while Wu Wei Zi and Mai Dong nourish heart blood, thus ensuring sufficient Qi and blood for the heart.4. Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Ren Shen, and Gan Cao are modifications of the Si Jun Zi Decoction, originating from the “Formulas for Benefiting the People.”Main Effects: Tonifies Qi and strengthens the spleen. The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal life and the source of Qi and blood production. Therefore, only when the spleen and stomach are healthy can the five organs receive adequate nourishment.The powerful San Tong Decoction, derived from the four classic TCM formulas—Si Jun Zi Decoction, Gui Zhi Gan Cao Decoction, Sheng Mai Decoction, and Tong Mai Decoction—addresses both the “no flow” and “no nourishment” issues. Will we still experience pain in our bodies?This formula has a wide range of clinical applications and is effective for:headaches, dizziness, cervical spondylosis, limb numbness, cerebral infarction, hypertension, age spots, poor complexion, tinnitus, chest tightness, palpitations, angina, insomnia, irritability, fibroids, cysts, hyperplasia, etc. It has shown good results in regulating and improving these conditions.Clinical ModificationsFor neck pain and shoulder pain, add Ge Gen and increase the dosage of Gui Zhi; for stomach pain, add Ban Xia; for lumbar pain, add Du Zhong; for back pain, add Gou Ji; for joint pain, add Fu Zi; for heel pain, add Guo Sui Bu; for spleen deficiency with dampness, add Chen Pi and Ban Xia.Indications for San Tong Decoction include cardiovascular diseases: cerebral infarction, coronary heart disease, carotid artery plaques, premature beats, etc. Diseases related to Qi and blood deficiency: dizziness, headaches, palpitations, limb numbness, etc. Chronic body pain: headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, cervical pain, heart pain, lumbar pain, knee pain, etc.For specific use, it is necessary to consult a TCM physician for differential diagnosis and treatment.Feedback on San Tong Decoction:Case Feedback 1: I took Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan and Jia Wei Xiao Yao Wan, and my sleep improved significantly. After taking San Tong Decoction for over 20 days, my recurrent dizziness has greatly reduced.Case Feedback 2: My brother has coronary heart disease and had a stent placed a few years ago. His condition worsened significantly in the past two years, needing to rest after walking 100 meters, experiencing several episodes daily. Since drinking San Tong Decoction, after just five doses, he feels particularly good.Case Feedback 3: My family members took San Tong Decoction and San He Yi powder, and the carotid artery check showed significant improvement, although blood pressure still fluctuates.Case Feedback 4: I experienced knee pain while climbing stairs. After taking San Tong Decoction for over ten doses, my left knee pain disappeared, and my right knee is only slightly painful, but much better than before.Case Feedback 5: After consistently taking San Tong Decoction for 21 days, it was truly effective. I had persistent upper back pain for a long time, and after taking it, the pain disappeared. My neck discomfort also improved significantly, and my wife said her menstrual pain, which was frequent, was also alleviated this time.Case Feedback 6: My husband had difficulty straightening his arm, making it hard to dress and undress, and he experienced pain on the inner side of his arm. After taking San Tong Decoction for 11 doses, he improved.Case Feedback 7: San Tong Decoction is incredibly powerful; after taking it, my hands and feet are no longer numb. I wish I had known about it sooner.Case of San Tong Decoction for HeadachesMr. Kong, 48 years old, has experienced episodic headaches for 6 years, accompanied by hypertension and renal cysts. His condition was primarily characterized by frontal pain, which was severe enough to cause sweating. He has a relatively weak spleen and stomach, often experiencing bloating, stomach pain, loose stools, fatigue, and dizziness, along with frequent chest tightness and shortness of breath. Upon examination, his tongue was pale with stasis spots and a thin white coating.Comprehensive diagnosis indicated Qi and blood deficiency, leading to stasis due to prolonged illness. Therefore, I prescribed San Tong Decoction with Ban Xia. After 10 days of treatment, he reported a reduction in headaches and improvement in fatigue, Qi deficiency, and dizziness. No changes were made to the formula, and after another month, he reported a decrease in headache frequency and significant reduction in pain intensity, with stomach pain and bloating, as well as chest tightness, resolved. After continuing the formula for another month, he reported that headaches had basically stopped, and he had not experienced any episodes for nearly 20 days. A follow-up blood pressure check revealed that he could maintain normal blood pressure without antihypertensive medication. The medication was discontinued, and during a subsequent check-up, it was found that the renal cyst had also significantly reduced. Later, I used medication to regulate the renal cyst, and ultimately, the 3.5 cm renal cyst completely disappeared. A year after stopping the medication, a follow-up visit showed that the patient’s blood pressure and overall health were normal, and he had not experienced any headaches since.Case of San Tong Decoction for Neck and Shoulder PainMs. Li, 52 years old, presented with neck and shoulder pain, along with soreness and numbness in the front of her left arm. When her neck and shoulder pain flared up, she could not lift her arm, and she experienced swelling and pain in her armpit, as well as a feeling of pressure in her head. Dressing, combing her hair, and eating became difficult, and the pain often worsened after exposure to cold or during weather changes. The patient reported frequent chest tightness and stabbing pain, with dark menstrual blood containing clots. Upon examination, her lips were pale, her complexion was sallow, and her tongue was dark purple with stasis spots, with engorged sublingual veins and a large tongue with tooth marks.Comprehensive diagnosis indicated deficiency of both Qi and blood, along with cold dampness and blood stasis. Therefore, I prescribed San Tong Decoction. After 10 days of treatment, the patient reported significant relief in neck and shoulder discomfort. After 15 days, she reported that the neck and shoulder pain had eased. No changes were made to the formula, and after continuing for over a month, the patient reported that the neck and shoulder pain had completely resolved, with only a residual soreness. The chest tightness and stabbing pain also disappeared, and her menstrual blood became red without clots. The patient’s complexion showed significant improvement, becoming much more radiant. No changes were made to the formula, and after another month, the patient reported that all symptoms had disappeared, and she felt light and clear-headed, leading to the discontinuation of the medication. Six months later, a follow-up visit showed that the patient was completely normal.Case of San Tong Decoction for Hypertension and Cerebral InfarctionMr. Zhang, 63 years old, suffered a cerebral infarction three months ago. After discharge, he had no control over his left limbs and face, making eating and drinking difficult. His family brought him in for consultation. The patient had a history of hypertension and a diet rich in fatty and heavy foods, but he had become significantly weaker after being bedridden for two months, with a marked decrease in appetite and weight. Upon examination, his tongue was red, with a yellow greasy coating and a large tongue with tooth marks.Comprehensive diagnosis indicated blood stasis obstructing the meridians, combined with Qi and blood deficiency. Therefore, I prescribed San Tong Decoction. After 10 days of treatment, the patient was able to perform slight movements with the affected limbs. After 20 days, the left side of his face showed some recovery, and his tongue became more agile, allowing him to eat and drink without difficulty. After 30 days, there was further improvement in movement of the affected limbs. After two months of treatment, the patient was able to get out of bed independently, and after three months, he had basically regained self-care ability, with stable blood pressure maintained at normal levels. Two years later, a follow-up visit showed that the patient’s legs and feet were as agile as those of a normal person, with no residual symptoms.Well, that’s all I would like to share today. In summary, the efficacy of San Tong Decoction is incredibly powerful, and I hope everyone can remember that it is best to consult a physician for personalized adjustments based on individual conditions.
For neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, apply Hei Bai Tong.