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Source: Yī Xué Fā Míng 医学发明

Ingredients:

• Zhū shā (朱砂 Cinnabaris , cinnabar) (water–ground) 15g
• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) (stir–fried with wine) 12g
• Dāng guī (当归 Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chinese angelica) 10g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) (mix–fried with honey) 10g
• Shēng dì huáng (生地黄 Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens, dried/fresh rehmannia [root]) 10g

Action: Settles the heart and quiets the spirit; drains fire and nourishes yīn.

Indication: Intense heart fire and damage to yīn-blood. Signs: heat vexation in the chest, fright palpitation, and insomnia or profuse dreaming. Tongue: Red. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

Category: Spirit-quieting formulas / Heavy settling spirit-quieting formulas

Method: Grind to a fine powder, mix with water to form pills, and coat with cinnabar.

Dosage: 3–6g taken with water before bed.

Rationale: Zhū shā is heavy in substance and slightly cold in nature. It both clears heart fire and quiets the heart spirit. Cold bitter Huáng lián enters the heart; it helps the Zhū shā to clear the heart and eliminate vexation. These two agents treat the disease factor (heart fire flaming upward), and therefore are the sovereign agents. Shēng dì huáng is sweet, cold, and juicy; it enriches yīn and clears heat. Dāng guī nourishes the blood, its dryness being compensated by the moistness of the Shēng dì huáng. Gān cǎo helps the Zhū shā to drain heart fire, and at the same time resolves its toxicity. Although the formula quiets the spirit as its name suggests, the emphasis is actually on clearing the heart.

Variations:

• Heat vexation in the chest with phlegm: Add Guā lóu zǐ (瓜蒌子 Trichosanthis Semen, trichosanthes seed), Zhú rú (竹茹 Bambusae Caulis in Taenia, bamboo shavings), and Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]).
• Severe heart palpitation: Add Lóng chǐ (龙齿 Mastodi Dentis Fossilia, dragon tooth) and Cí shí (磁石 Magnetitum , loadstone).
• Insomnia: Add Lián zǐ xīn (莲子心 Nelumbinis Plumula, lotus plumule) and Suān zǎo rén (酸枣仁 Ziziphi Spinosi Semen, spiny jujube [kernel]).
• Dry mouth and pharynx: Add Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]) and Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]).
• Dizziness and forgetfulness attributable to blood vacuity: Add Gǒu qǐ zǐ (枸杞子 Lycii Fructus, lycium [berry]), Sāng shèn (桑椹 Mori Fructus, mulberry), and Lóng yǎn ròu (龙眼肉 Longan Arillus, longan flesh).

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