Source: Jinlan Traditional Chinese Medicine
In the “Continuing Cases of Famous Physicians,” there is a recorded case where the physician Wu Fuxian treated Zhao Taixue, who suffered from cough due to water retention and frequent wheezing. Initially, it was misdiagnosed as a common cold, and he was treated with wind-dispelling and exterior-releasing formulas.However, the patient’s condition not only did not improve but worsened, accompanied by facial edema. Ultimately, a formula for warming the middle and calming water was used, which alleviated all symptoms.This ancient TCM treatment recorded refers to the formula Zhen Wu Tang, a classic prescription by the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing in the “Treatise on Cold Damage”.
In fact, Zhao Taixue’s symptoms were primarily due to Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency and water retention.However, the initial physician mistakenly thought it was a common cold and treated it with wind remedies, which damaged the body’s righteous qi, leading to further weakness of Yang and exacerbation of the condition.When Wu Fuxian treated him, he used Zhen Wu Tang to restore the patient’s kidney qi, promote the smooth flow of qi, strengthen the spleen qi, and control the water, achieving the goal of alleviating symptoms and treating the disease.Among the many formulas passed down by Zhang Zhongjing, Zhen Wu Tang is indeed a remarkable existence.It is a classic remedy against Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency, and the combination of its ingredients contains many secrets.In the “Treatise on Cold Damage,” Zhen Wu Tang primarily addresses two major categories of diseases, each fully demonstrating the clinical strength of Zhen Wu Tang.So, what are the two major disease categories that Zhen Wu Tang targets? Let’s explore together.
01
Yang Deficiency with Water Overflow
Patients may experience difficult urination, heaviness and pain in the limbs, and edema, especially pronounced below the waist.Accompanied by chills, cold limbs, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or symptoms like cough and wheezing.
02
Sun Disease
Due to improper sweating methods, Yang fails to transform water, and after sweat is expelled, symptoms still do not alleviate.Patients continue to experience fever, even palpitations and dizziness, muscle twitching, and a momentary blankness in the mind, feeling the need to press their hands against the ground to stabilize themselves, as if about to fall.In fact, both of these disease categories are related to Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency and excessive water dampness.
Weak Spleen Yang makes it difficult for water dampness to circulate, ultimately accumulating in the body, while Kidney Yang deficiency leads to impaired transformation, causing excessive water dampness.With weakened Kidney Yang, the flow of transformation also becomes abnormal, leading to water retention and preventing normal urination.With a large amount of water dampness in the body, it overflows to the skin surface, resulting in pain and edema in the limbs.If excessive sweating in Sun Disease injures the Yang Qi, it will also deplete the body’s fluids, leading to a severe deficiency of Yang Qi, causing the muscles and tendons to lose nourishment, resulting in twitching and trembling, with Yang deficiency and water overflow affecting the heart,thereby causing restlessness.Therefore, treatment needs to warm the kidneys, assist Yang, strengthen the spleen, and promote water metabolism.So, what are the components of Zhen Wu Tang?According to the “Treatise on Cold Damage,” the full formula consists of “Fu Ling (Poria) 3 liang, Bai Shao (White Peony) 3 liang, Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes) 2 liang, Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) 3 liang, and Pao Fu Zi (Processed Aconite) 1 piece”.
The formula utilizes both diuretic and damp-resolving herbs, as well as warming Yang and kidney-replenishing herbs, achieving the goal of alleviating symptoms and treating diseases through their combined effects.The Fu Zi in the formula is very pungent and hot, which can warm Yang and assist the kidneys, as well as transform qi and promote water.Meanwhile, Bai Zhu can strengthen the spleen and dry dampness, and Fu Ling can promote water metabolism; these two herbs work together to restore spleen qi and expel dampness through urination.Sheng Jiang is pungent and warm, which can help Fu Zi warm Yang and dispel cold, while also dispersing water dampness together with Fu Ling and Bai Zhu, and can also harmonize the stomach and stop vomiting.However, the most remarkable herbs in the formula are undoubtedly Bai Shao and Fu Zi.Bai Shao is sour and astringent, and in Zhen Wu Tang, it has four main uses:
First, as stated in the “Shennong’s Herbal Classic,” Bai Shao can “promote urination”, and the “Record of Famous Physicians” also states that Bai Shao can “eliminate water dampness and benefit the bladder,” thus Bai Shao has the effect of “promoting urination and moving water”;Second, it softens the liver and alleviates pain;Third, it astringes yin and relaxes the tendons, relieving the tension and twitching of the muscles;Fourth, it prevents the drying heat of Fu Zi from injuring yin blood, allowing for “long-term use for gradual treatment”.Fu Zi is a herb that is both loved and hated by physicians, especially in Zhen Wu Tang, it is truly remarkable.As the famous Qing Dynasty physician Luo Mei said, “If the Spleen receives Fu Zi, then fire can generate earth, and water can return”, this is a method of “tonifying earth to treat water”; “If the Kidney receives Fu Zi, then Kan Yang can be stimulated, and water can be contained”, this is the method of “stimulating Yang to contain water”.
Although Zhen Wu Tang primarily consists of pungent and hot herbs, the combination with bitter, drying, and diuretic herbs, along with a small amount of sour and astringent adjuncts, allows it to achieve the remarkable effect of balancing both treatment and prevention.Overall, the principle of Zhen Wu Tang’s composition is “to warm the Spleen and Kidney to assist Yang, and promote urination to expel water evil”. Despite the formula consisting of only five herbs, it exhibits extraordinary effects, showcasing the infinite power of classical formulas.
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