1. Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Activates blood and opens the orifices.
Indications: Long-standing blood stasis in the upper body leading to deafness, rosacea, red and painful eyes, hair loss, skin with dark or purplish spots, purple and dark tongue, thin and rough pulse.
Key diagnostic points: Pain in the head and facial features, dark skin, purple and dark tongue.
Formula: Chi Shao (Red Peony) 3g, Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum) 3g, Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) 6g, Hong Hua (Safflower) 9g, Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) 9g, Lao Cong (Old Scallion) 3 stalks, Da Zao (Jujube) 7 pieces, She Xiang (Musk) 0.15g.
Usage: Boil the first seven ingredients in 250g of yellow wine until reduced to one cup, strain, add She Xiang and simmer briefly, take before bed.
2. Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Activates blood, dispels stasis, regulates qi, and alleviates pain.
Indications: Chest pain, persistent headache, stabbing pain in a fixed location, prolonged hiccups, internal heat and irritability, palpitations and insomnia, irritability and anger, increasing heat in the evening, or dark red tongue with stasis spots, dark lips or dark circles under the eyes, rough or tight pulse.
Diagnosis: Chest pain, dark red tongue, rough pulse.
Formula: Tao Ren 12g, Hong Hua 9g, Dang Gui (Angelica) 9g, Sheng Di (Rehmannia) 9g, Chuan Xiong 5g, Chi Shao 6g, Niu Xi (Achyranthes) 9g, Jie Geng (Platycodon) 5g, Chai Hu (Bupleurum) 3g, Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange) 6g, Gan Cao (Licorice) 3g.
Usage: Boil and take.
3. Gexia Zhuyu Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Activates blood, dispels stasis, regulates qi, and alleviates pain.
Indications: Accumulation below the diaphragm, abdominal pain that does not move, dry throat and mouth, skin with dark spots, purple and dark tongue, thin and rough pulse.
Key diagnostic points: Accumulation below the diaphragm, abdominal pain that does not move.
Formula: Wu Ling Zhi (Flying Squirrel Feces) 6g, Chuan Xiong 6g, Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex) 6g, Chi Shao 6g, Wu Yao (Lindera) 6g, Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis) 3g, Gan Cao 9g, Dang Gui 9g, Tao Ren 9g, Hong Hua 9g, Xiang Fu (Cyperus) 6g, Zhi Ke 6g.
Usage: Boil and take.
4. Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Activates blood, dispels stasis, warms the meridians, and alleviates pain.
Indications: Pain from blood stasis in the lower abdomen, or pain with or without accumulation, or distension and pain in the lower abdomen, or lower back pain during menstruation, or irregular menstruation with dark purple blood, or stasis clots, or excessive bleeding with white discharge, lower abdominal pain, dark red tongue, rough pulse.
Diagnosis: Pain from blood stasis in the lower abdomen, dark menstrual blood with stasis clots.
Formula: Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) 7 seeds, Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) 0.5g, Yuan Hu (Corydalis) 3g, Mo Yao (Myrrh) 3g, Chuan Xiong 3g, Guan Gui (Cinnamon) 3g, Chi Shao 6g, Wu Ling Zhi 6g, Pu Huang (Cat Tail Pollen) 10g, Dang Gui 9g.
Usage: Boil and take.
5. Shen Tong Zhu Yu Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Activates blood, regulates qi, dispels stasis, and opens the channels.
Indications: Qi and blood obstruction causing shoulder pain, arm pain, lower back pain, or generalized pain that does not heal over time, purple and dark tongue, or stasis spots, rough and wiry pulse.
Diagnosis: Pain in limbs or whole body, purple and dark tongue, rough pulse.
Formula: Qin Jiao (Gentiana) 3g, Chuan Xiong 6g, Tao Ren 9g, Hong Hua 9g, Gan Cao 6g, Qiang Huo (Notopterygium) 3g, Mo Yao 6g, Dang Gui 9g, Wu Ling Zhi 6g, Xiang Fu 3g, Niu Xi 9g, Di Long (Earthworm) 6g.
Usage: Boil and take.
6. Shixiao San (Song · “Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang”)
Effect: Activates blood, dispels stasis, resolves masses, and alleviates pain.
Indications: Blood stasis causing abdominal pain, menstrual pain, postpartum abdominal pain, dark red tongue with stasis spots, rough pulse.
Diagnosis: Abdominal pain, dark red tongue with stasis spots, rough pulse.
Formula: Wu Ling Zhi, Pu Huang, and the above herbs in equal parts, ground into powder.
Usage: Take 6g each time, 1-2 times a day. Can also be wrapped in cloth and boiled in soup, or use decoction slices.
7. Bu Yang Huan Wu Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Tonifies qi, activates blood, and opens the channels.
Indications: Hemiplegia from stroke, facial droop, slurred speech, drooling, or constipation, frequent urination, incontinence.
Diagnosis: Hemiplegia, qi deficiency, blood stasis, pale tongue with white coating, weak and slow pulse.
Formula: Sheng Huang Qi (Astragalus) 120g, Dang Gui Wei (Tail of Angelica) 6g, Chi Shao 6g, Di Long 3g, Tao Ren 3g, Hong Hua 3g.
Usage: Boil and take.
8. Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan (Modern · “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu”)
Effect: Activates blood, dispels stasis, opens the channels, and alleviates pain.
Indications: Qi and blood stagnation causing abdominal pain, leg pain, arm pain, bruises from trauma, internal and external sores, masses, dark red tongue with stasis spots, rough pulse.
Diagnosis: Abdominal pain, leg pain, arm pain, masses.
Formula: Dang Gui 15g, Dan Shen (Salvia) 15g, Ru Xiang (Frankincense) 15g, Mo Yao 15g.
Usage: Boil and take. Can also be ground into fine powder for 4 doses, taken twice a day with warm wine.
9. Dian Kuang Meng Xing Decoction (Qing · “Yilin Gai Cuo”)
Effect: Activates blood, regulates qi, dispels phlegm, and opens the orifices.
Indications: Uncontrollable laughter and crying, abusive language, lack of regard for kin, many bad behaviors, or hemiplegia with spasms, excessive sadness, and dementia.
Diagnosis: Mental disorder, singing loudly, discarding clothes without regard for kin.
Formula: Tao Ren 24g, Chai Hu 9g, Xiang Fu 6g, Mu Tong (Akebia) 9g, Chi Shao 9g, Ban Xia (Pinellia) 6g, Da Fu Pi (Areca Peel) 9g, Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel) 6g, Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel) 9g, Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry Bark) 9g, Su Zi (Perilla Seed) 12g (ground), Gan Cao 15g.
Usage: Boil and take.
10. Di Dang Decoction (Eastern Han · “Shang Han Lun”)
Effect: Attacks and expels accumulated blood.
Indications: Accumulated blood in the lower jiao, hard and painful lower abdomen, frequent urination, forgetfulness, mania, dark red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery pulse.
Diagnosis: Hard and painful lower abdomen, forgetfulness, constipation.
Formula: Shui Zhi (Leech) 5g (stir-fried), Meng Chong (Fly) 3g (wings and legs removed, stir-fried), Tao Ren 6g (peeled), Da Huang (Rhubarb) 6g.
Usage: Boil and take, first take one decoction, if not effective, take again.