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Evodia Decoction
吴茱萸汤 〔吳茱萸湯〕wú zhū yú tāng
Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论
Ingredients:
- Wú zhū yú (吴茱萸 Evodiae Fructus, evodia [fruit]) 9g
- Rén shēn (人参 Ginseng Radix, ginseng) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 9g
- Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 3g
- Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 4–6 pieces
Action: Warms the liver and stomach; downbears counterflow and checks vomiting.
Indication: Liver-stomach vacuity cold with turbid yīn ascending counterflow manifesting as pain in the stomach duct and abdomen, desire to vomit after eating, acid swallowing, and clamoring stomach. Other possible signs include vertex headache, or dry retching with foamy drool. Tongue: Pale with glossy white fur. Pulse: Stringlike and slow.
Category: Interior-warming formulas / Center-warming cold-dispersing formula
Method: Decoct with water.
Rationale: Wú zhū yú warms the liver and stomach, and downbears turbid yīn. A heavy dose of Shēng jiāng works with it to warm the stomach and stop vomiting. Rén shēn and Dà zǎo supplement the vacuity and quiet the center. The Dà zǎo prevents the Wú zhū yú from irritating the throat, while Wú zhū yú prevents the Dà zǎo from causing stagnation of stomach qì. These two agents are therefore mutually complementary.
Variations:
Vertex headache : Add Màn jīng zǐ (蔓荆子 Viticis Fructus, vitex [fruit]) and Jí lí (蒺藜 Tribuli Fructus, tribulus [fruit]).- Cold-damp in the stomach with severe vomiting glossy, slimy,
white tongue fur : Omit Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) and add Jiāng bàn xià (姜半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma cum Zingibere Praeparatum, ginger[-processed] pinellia [rhizome]), Chén pí (陈皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, tangerine peel), and Shā rén (砂仁 Amomi Fructus, amomum [fruit]).