Ejection formulas

Ejection formulas are formulas that cause vomiting to expel phlegm-drool, abiding food, or poisons. Ejection formulas correspond to ejection among the eight methods. They are used for the following conditions:

• Wind stroke, mania and withdrawal, phlegm reversal, and throat impediment due to phlegm-drool congestion in the throat, chest and diaphragm, or stomach duct.
• Abiding food (food that has stagnated for a long time) in due to dietary irregularities such as voracious eating and drinking.
• Accidental ingestion of poisonous substances (as long as they are still in the stomach).
• Dry cholera with inability to vomit or defecate due to blockage of the qì dynamic in the center burner.

Cautions

• Worm-expelling formulas are harsh and can damage stomach qì, so they should be discontinued as soon as the desired effect has been achieved.
• They should be used with care in the weak and elderly, as well as in pregnant and postpartum women.
• If after administering treatment retching and vomiting persists, give ginger juice or cold rice gruel, or cold water. If retching and vomiting persist after this, medicinal treatment can be applied. For example, persistent vomiting after using Melon Stalk Powder (瓜蒂散 guā dì sǎn), the patient can be given musk (Moschus, 麝香 shè xiāng) 0.03gr and clove (Caryophylli Flos, 丁香 dīng xiāng) 0.3‒0.6gr in powder form. Persistent vomiting after taking Sagacious Three Powder (三圣散 sān shèng sǎn), a decoction of scallion whites can be given.
• If after vomiting, there is continual qì counterflow, treatment can be provided to downbear stomach qì.
• If a worm-expelling formula fails to produce vomiting, manual stimulation of the throat using a finger or a feather may help. Drinking water may also help.
• After the patient has vomited, care should be taken to avoid exposure to wind and other elements, since vomiting can cause vacuity that causes susceptibility to external contractions.

See ejection and ejection medicinals