Decoctions
1. Si Ni Tang (Four Reversal Decoction)
Ingredients and Ratios:Fu Zi (Aconite, processed) 15 grams, Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) 9 grams, Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice) 6 grams.
Effects:Restores Yang and rescues from reversal. Fu Zi is extremely pungent and hot, serving as the primary herb for restoring Yang and rescuing from reversal, capable of assisting Heart Yang, warming Spleen Yang, and supplementing Kidney Yang; Gan Jiang is pungent and hot, warming the middle and dispelling cold, enhancing Fu Zi’s ability to restore Yang; Zhi Gan Cao is sweet and warm, tonifying Qi and harmonizing the harsh properties of Gan Jiang and Fu Zi, prolonging the efficacy of the formula. The combination of these three herbs can restore Yang Qi and dispel Yin cold.
Applicable Population and Symptoms:Suitable for individuals with Yang deficiency leading to collapse, spontaneous sweating, cold extremities, diarrhea with clear stools, and faint pulse. It is primarily used to treat the deficiency of Yang Qi in Shaoyin disease with excess Yin cold, serving as a foundational formula for treating Heart and Kidney Yang deficiency with cold reversal.
Usage:First decoct Fu Zi for 1 – 1.5 hours (due to its toxicity, pre-decocting can reduce toxicity), then add Gan Jiang and Zhi Gan Cao, and continue to decoct for about 30 minutes. Take the decoction in two warm doses.
2. Tong Mai Si Ni Tang (Four Reversal Decoction for Unblocking the Pulse)
Ingredients and Ratios:Fu Zi (large, raw, peeled, broken into eight pieces) 20 grams, Gan Jiang (three taels, four for strong individuals), Zhi Gan Cao (two taels).
Effects:Breaks Yin and restores Yang, unblocking internal and external pathways. This formula is an enhanced version of Si Ni Tang with increased amounts of Gan Jiang and Fu Zi. The heavy use of Fu Zi and Gan Jiang aims to strengthen the warming of Yang, dispelling cold, and restoring Yang, allowing Yang Qi to recover and Yin cold to disperse, ensuring smooth blood circulation.
Applicable Population and Symptoms:Suitable for patients with Shaoyin disease and excess Yin obstructing Yang. Symptoms include diarrhea with clear stools, internal cold and external heat, cold extremities, faint pulse, and a flushed face without aversion to cold. This decoction is primarily used in critical situations where Yin cold is severe and obstructing Yang externally.
Usage:First decoct Fu Zi for 1 – 1.5 hours, then add Gan Jiang and Zhi Gan Cao, boil vigorously before reducing to a simmer for 30 – 40 minutes, take the decoction in two warm doses.
3. Bai Tong Tang (White Unblocking Decoction)
Ingredients and Ratios:Four stalks of scallion white, one tael of Gan Jiang, one piece of Fu Zi (raw, peeled, broken into eight pieces).
Effects:Breaks Yin and restores Yang, promoting communication between upper and lower. Scallion white is pungent and warm, capable of unblocking Yang and breaking Yin; Gan Jiang and Fu Zi warm Yang and dispel cold, restoring Yang and rescuing from reversal. The combination of these three herbs allows for the recovery of Yang Qi and smooth communication between upper and lower.
Applicable Population and Symptoms:Used for patients with Shaoyin disease, diarrhea, and faint pulse. It primarily targets the cold transformation of Shaoyin, with excess Yin cold, obstructing Yang Qi, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea and faint pulse, serving to restore Yang and rescue from reversal, facilitating the communication of Yin and Yang.
Usage:First decoct Fu Zi for 1 – 1.5 hours, then add Gan Jiang and scallion white, continue to decoct for about 30 minutes. Take the decoction in two warm doses.
4. Fu Zi Jiang Mi Tang (Aconite and Japonica Rice Decoction)
Ingredients and Ratios:One piece of Fu Zi (processed), Ban Xia (Pinellia), half a sheng of Japonica rice, one tael of Gan Cao, ten dates.
Effects:Warms the middle, dispels cold, transforms dampness, and descends rebellious Qi. Fu Zi warms Yang and dispels cold, Ban Xia dries dampness and descends rebellious Qi, while Japonica rice, Gan Cao, and dates tonify the Spleen and harmonize the middle. The combination of these herbs can disperse cold pathogens, strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, and alleviate symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain.
Applicable Population and Symptoms:Suitable for patients with cold Qi in the abdomen, thunder-like pain, fullness in the chest and flanks, and vomiting. Commonly used for Spleen and Stomach deficiency with internal cold and dampness, leading to rebellious Stomach Qi.
Usage:First decoct Fu Zi for 1 – 1.5 hours, then add Ban Xia, Japonica rice, Gan Cao, and dates, boil until the rice is cooked and the decoction is ready, take in three warm doses.
5. Da Jian Zhong Tang (Major Construct the Middle Decoction)
Ingredients and Ratios:Two heaping portions of Shu Jiao (Sichuan Pepper, stir-fried to remove sweat), four taels of Gan Jiang, two taels of Ren Shen (Ginseng), one sheng of honey sugar.
Effects:Warms the middle, tonifies deficiency, descends rebellious Qi, and alleviates pain. Shu Jiao and Gan Jiang warm the middle and dispel cold, while Ren Shen and honey sugar tonify deficiency and relieve urgency. The combination of these four herbs works to warm the middle, dispel cold, tonify Qi, strengthen the Spleen, and alleviate pain.
Applicable Population and Symptoms:Used for severe abdominal pain due to weak middle Yang and excess Yin cold. Symptoms include severe cold pain in the chest and abdomen, inability to eat due to vomiting, cold in the abdomen, and pain that cannot be touched. Suitable for patients with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency, cold stagnation, and severe abdominal pain.
Usage:Boil Shu Jiao, Gan Jiang, and Ren Shen in four liters of water, reduce to two liters, remove dregs, add honey sugar, and simmer to obtain one and a half liters, take warm.
Chinese Patent Medicines
1. Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan (Aconite Regulate the Middle Pill)
Ingredients:Fu Zi (processed), Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes, stir-fried), Gan Jiang, Gan Cao.
Effects:Warms the middle and strengthens the Spleen. Fu Zi and Gan Jiang warm the middle and dispel cold, while Dang Shen, Bai Zhu, and Gan Cao tonify Qi and strengthen the Spleen. It is mainly used for Spleen and Stomach deficiency with cold, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold extremities, restoring the normal function of the Spleen and Stomach by warming and tonifying Yang.
Applicable Population:Suitable for individuals with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency and internal cold. Common symptoms include cold pain in the stomach, preference for warmth and pressure, worsening symptoms after consuming cold foods, loose stools, and cold hands and feet.
Usage:Oral administration, one large pill at a time, 2 – 3 times a day.
2. Shen Fu Injection (Ginseng and Aconite Injection)
Main Ingredients:Hong Shen (Red Ginseng), Fu Pian (Aconite slices).
Effects:Restores Yang and rescues from reversal, tonifies Qi and stabilizes collapse. This medication is an emergency remedy, using Hong Shen to tonify Qi and Fu Pian to restore Yang, used for symptoms of Yang Qi collapse; it can also be used for palpitations, anxiety, cough, stomach pain, diarrhea, and bi syndrome caused by Yang deficiency (Qi deficiency).
Applicable Population:Primarily used for shock caused by various reasons, such as infectious shock, cardiogenic shock, with symptoms of cold extremities, profuse sweating, weak breathing, and faint pulse; it can also be used for individuals with chronic illness and Yang deficiency with related symptoms.
Usage:Generally administered via intravenous drip, specific dosage to be determined by a physician based on the condition.
3. Gui Fu Di Huang Wan (Cinnamon and Aconite Rehmannia Pill)
Ingredients:Rou Gui (Cinnamon), Fu Zi (processed), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia, cooked), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus, processed), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), Fu Ling (Poria), Ze Xie (Alisma).
Effects:Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Rou Gui and Fu Zi warm and tonify Kidney Yang, while Shu Di Huang and others nourish Yin and tonify the Kidney, seeking Yang within Yin. Used for Kidney Yang deficiency, symptoms include soreness and coldness in the lower back and knees, edema, difficulty urinating or frequent urination, phlegm, cough, and thirst, improving the condition of Kidney Yang deficiency.
Applicable Population:Suitable for individuals with Kidney Yang deficiency, common symptoms include soreness and coldness in the lower back and knees, aversion to cold, increased nighttime urination, male impotence and premature ejaculation, and female infertility due to cold in the uterus.
Usage:Oral administration, water honey pill 6 grams at a time, small honey pill 9 grams at a time, large honey pill 1 pill at a time, twice a day.
4. Si Ni San Jia Wei Wan (Modified Four Reversal Powder)
Ingredients (based on modified Four Reversal Powder):Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange), Shao Yao (Peony), Zhi Gan Cao, etc. (modified ingredients vary by formula).
Effects:Disperses pathogens, relieves depression, regulates the liver and Spleen, and can also warm the middle and dispel cold (if modified with warming herbs). The original formula is mainly used for Yang obstruction and reversal, and liver and Spleen Qi stagnation; if modified with warming herbs, it can enhance the warming effect for conditions of liver Qi stagnation and Spleen cold.
Applicable Population:Suitable for individuals with internal Yang Qi stagnation, unable to express outwardly, leading to cold extremities, along with liver Qi stagnation symptoms such as chest and flank fullness, abdominal pain, and cold signs.
Usage:Oral administration, according to the dosage specified in the product instructions, generally 2 – 3 times a day.
5. Xiao Jian Zhong He Ji (Minor Construct the Middle Mixture)
Ingredients:Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Bai Shao (White Peony), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Da Zao (Dates), Zhi Gan Cao, Yi Tang (Honey Sugar).
Effects:Warms the middle, tonifies deficiency, alleviates urgency and pain. Gui Zhi warms Yang and dispels cold, Bai Shao nourishes blood and restrains Yin, while Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Zhi Gan Cao, and Yi Tang strengthen the Spleen and harmonize the middle, alleviating urgency and pain. It is mainly used for Spleen and Stomach deficiency with cold, abdominal pain, preference for warmth and pressure, acid reflux, and reduced appetite, tonifying the Spleen and harmonizing Qi and blood to relieve abdominal pain due to deficiency and cold.
Applicable Population:Suitable for individuals with middle Jiao deficiency and cold, presenting with dull pain in the stomach, significant pain when fasting, relief after eating, fatigue, and pale complexion.
Usage:Oral administration, 20 – 30 milliliters at a time, three times a day. Shake well before use.