Search in dictionary
Spirit-quieting formulas
安神剂 〔安神劑〕 ān shén jì
Medicinal formulas that mainly use spirit-quieting agents to treat disquieted heart spirit, which manifests in heart palpitation, insomnia, vexation and agitation, fright and mania.
The heart stores the spirit, the liver stores the ethereal spirt, and the kidney stores mind; hence disquieted spirit is closely associated with the heart liver, and kidney, their interrelationships and their yīn-yáng balance. The basic pathomechanisms are external fear and fright, depressed liver transforming into fire, which disturbs the heart spirit, or insuffuciency of yīn-blood depriving the heart spirit of nourishment. However, exuberant fire damages yīn and yīn vacuity easily leads to hyperactivity of yáng, so the condition is very often a vacuity-repletion complex. Fright, mania, and irascibility with vexation and agitation indicate repletion, which, according to the principle of fright is treated by calming,
requires quieting the spirit with heavy settlers. Heart palpitation, forgetfulness, vacuity vexation, and insomnia indicate a vacuity pattern, which according to the principle of vacuity is treated by supplementing,
is addressed by nourishing the heart and calming the spirit. For this reason, spirit-quieting formulas are divided into two categories.
Fire, phlegm, and static blood are additional factors that may be at play. Hence, heat-clearing fire-draining, phlegm-dispelling, or stasis-dispelling actions may need to be incorporated.
Cautions
Heavy settling spirit-quieting formulas should not be taken for extended periods because they contain metals and minerals, which may easily damage stomach qì. Spleen-fortifying stomach-harmonizing medicinals may be added to formulas to help prevent damage.
Some spirit-quieting medicinals, notably
Subcategories
- Heavy settling heart-quieting formulas
- Nourishing spirit-quieting formulas
- Heart-kidney interaction formulas
1. Heavy Settling Heart-Quieting Formulas
Heavy setting heart-quieting formulas treat disquieted heart spirit due to hyperactivity of heart yáng and fire-heat harassing the heart, manifesting in vexation and agitation, insomnia, fright palpitation, fearful throbbing, and epilepsy.
Main agents
Zhū shā (朱砂 Cinnabaris, cinnabar) Cí shí (磁石 Magnetitum, magnetite) Zhēn zhū mǔ (珍珠母 Concha Margaritifera, mother-of-pearl) Lóng chǐ (龙齿 Mastodi Dentis Fossilia, dragon tooth)
For fire-heat harassing the heart, heat-clearing fire-draining medicinals may be added. For damage to yīn-blood, yīn-enriching blood-nourishing agents such as
Representative formulas
Zhū shā ān shén wán ( 朱砂安神丸 Cinnabar Spirit-Quieting Pill)Cí zhū wán (磁朱丸 Loadstone and Cinnabar Pill)
2. Nourishing Spirit-Quieting Formulas
Nourishing spirit-quieting formulas treat disquieted heart spirit due to insufficiency of liver-heart yīn-blood, manifesting as vacuity vexation, insomnia, heart palpitation, fearful throbbing, forgetfulness, and profuse dreaming.
Main agents
Suān zǎo rén (酸枣仁 Ziziphi Spinosi Semen, spiny jujube) Bǎi zǐ rén (柏子仁 Platycladi Semen, arborvitae seed) Fú líng (茯苓 Poria, poria) Fú xiǎo mài (浮小麦 Tritici Fructus Levis, light wheat)
Representative formulas
Tiān wáng bǔ xīn dān (天王补心丹 Celestial Emperor Heart-Supplementing Elixir) Gān mài dà zǎo tāng (甘麦大枣汤 Licorice, Wheat, and Jujube Decoction) Suān zǎo rén tāng (酸枣仁汤 Spiny Jujube Decoction)
3. Heart-Kidney Interaction Formulas
Formulas that promote heart-kidney interaction treat disquieted heart spirit due to noninteraction of the heart and kidney, where water and fire fail to help each other. The heart belongs to fire, and stores the spirt. The kindey belongs to water and stores essence. Whenever kidney yīn is insufficiency or heart fire stirs, the relationship between the heart and kidney can be upset, giving rise to heart vexation, insomnia, heart palpitation or fearful throbbing, profuse dreaming, and seminal emission, a red tongue, and a pulse that is fine and rapid.
Main agents: Medicinals that clear the heart and discharge fire such as
Representative formulas
Huáng lián ē jiāo tāng (黄连阿胶汤 Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction) Jiāo tài wán (交泰丸 Peaceful Interaction Pill)
See quieting the spirit.
Spirit-Quieting Formulas
Heavy Settling Spirit-Quieting Formulas
- Zhū shā ān shén wán (朱砂安神神丸 Cinnabar Spirit-Quieting Pill)
- Shēng tiě luò yǐn (生铁落饮 Iron Flakes Beverage)
- Cí zhū wán (磁朱丸 Loadstone and Cinnabar Pill)
- Zhēn zhū mǔ wán (珍珠母丸 Mother-of-Pearl Pill)
Nourishing Spirit-Quieting Formulas
- Tiān wáng bǔ xīn dān (天王补心丹 Celestial Emperor Heart-Supplementing Elixir)
- Bǎi zǐ yǎng xīn wán (柏子养心丸 Arborvitae Seed Heart-Nourishing Pill)
- Kǒng shèng zhěn zhōng dān (孔圣枕中丹 Sagacious Confucius' Pillow Elixir)
- Ān shén dìng zhì wán (安神定志丸 Spirit-Quieting Mind-Stabilizing Pill)
- Suān zǎo rén tāng (酸枣仁汤 Spiny Jujube Decoction)
- Gān mài dà zǎo tāng (甘麦大枣汤 Licorice, Wheat, and Jujube Decoction)
Heart-Kidney Interaction Formulas
- Jiāo tài wán (交泰丸 Peaceful Interaction Pill)
- Huáng lián ē jiāo tāng (黄连阿胶汤 Coptis and Ass Hide Glue Decoction)