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Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Alternate Chinese names: Rén shēn tāng¹ (人参汤¹ Ginseng Decoction¹); Lǐ zhōng tāng¹ (理中汤¹ Center-Rectifying Decoction¹)

Ingredients

• Sān qī (三七 Notoginseng Radix, notoginseng [root]) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 6–12g
• Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) 6–12g
• Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger) 3–6g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) (mix–fried) 3–6g

Actions: Warms the center and disperses cold; boosts qì and fortifies the spleen.

Indications: (a) Spleen-stomach vacuity cold with abdominal pain and diarrhea, vomiting and retching and reduced eating, absence of thirst, a pale tongue with thin white fur (or slimy white fur), and moderate to slow or fine sunken pulse; (b) yáng vacuity blood loss; (c) chronic child fright wind; (d) spitting of drool after illness; (e) chest impediment (xiōng bì).

Category: Interior-warming formulas / Center-warming cold-dispersing formulas

Method: Grind to a powder, blend with honey, and form into 9g pills. It can also be made as a decoction.

Dosage: 1 pill three times daily.

Warnings: Contraindicated in heat patterns with rapid pulse and dry yellow tongue fur.

Rationale: Gān jiāng is a hot acrid agent that warms the center and restores yáng qì, thus addressing the cold. Rén shēn, which can be substituted with Dǎng shēn, is a warm sweet agent that invigorates that the spleen and stomach, thus addressing the vacuity. These are the sovereign agents in the formula. Warm bitter Bái zhú dries dampness and fortifies the spleen, addressing cold damp arising in the center burner as a result of the spleen-stomach vacuity cold. Zhì gān cǎo with ginger forms a sweet, acrid yáng-forming combining that stimulates spleen yáng.

Variations:

• Severe cold: Make ginger the chief agent, and add Wú zhū yú (吴茱萸 Evodiae Fructus, evodia [fruit]), Dīng xiāng (丁香 Caryophylli Flos, clove), and Gāo liáng jiāng (高良姜 Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma, lesser galangal [root]). If vacuity is severe, make Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root]) the chief, and add Huáng qí (黄芪 Astragali Radix, astragalus [root]), Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria).
• Severe diarrhea: Use earth-fried Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) and add Wū méi (乌梅 Mume Fructus, mume [fruit]) and Hē zǐ (诃子 Chebulae Fructus, chebule).
• Abdominal pain: Add Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]), Mù xiāng (木香 Aucklandiae Radix, costusroot), and Yán hú suǒ (延胡索 Corydalis Rhizoma, corydalis [rhizome]).
• Vomiting: Add Bàn xià (半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma, pinellia [rhizome]), Ròu dòu kòu (肉豆蔻 Myristicae Semen, nutmeg), Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger), and Huò xiāng (藿香 Pogostemonis Herba, patchouli).
• Abdominal distension with reduced eating: Add Hòu pò (厚朴 Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, officinal magnolia bark) and Shén qū (神曲 Massa Medicata Fermentata , medicated leaven).
• Dysentery due to spleen-stomach vacuity cold: Add xianglianwan.
• Chest impediment (xōng bì): Add Xiè bái (薤白 Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus, long-stamen onion [bulb]), Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig), and Zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange).

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