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Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Ingredients:

• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 12g
• Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]) 6g
• ē jiāo (阿胶 Asini Corii Colla, ass hide glue) 9g
• Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]) 6g
• Jī zǐ huáng (鸡子黄 Galli Vitellus, egg yolk) 2

Action: Enriches yīn and downbears fire; eliminates vexation and quiets the spirit.

Indication: Scorching of true yīn by heat in the lesser yīn (shào yīn) and intense heart fire manifesting as heart vexation, sleeplessness, generalized heat effusion, dry mouth and throat, heat in the heart of the palms and soles, and short voidings of yellow urine. Tongue: Red or crimson with yellow fur. Pulse: Fine and rapid. Modern research finds that it can also be used for hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neurasthenia when due to yīn vacuity and yáng hyperactivity.

Category: Spirit-quieting formulas / Heart-kidney interaction formulas

Method: Decoct and strain, add ass hide glue. Allow to cool off before stirring in the egg yolks. Split into two doses.

Rationale: Huáng lián and Huáng qín drain heart fire, eliminating the heart vexation and insomnia by allowing the spirit to stay in its abode. Bái sháo and ē jiāo supplement the insufficiency of true yīn (kidney yīn), which in turn also helps to counteract the heart fire by restoring interaction between the heart and kidney. Egg yolk enriches yīn and clear heat. This formula is based on the principle of draining the south and supplementing the north, the south being heart-fire and north being kidney-water. Although the formula was originally used for lesser yīn disease, it can be used for a broad range of vacuity-repletion complexes.

Variations:

• Severe yīn vacuity with damage to fluids (e.g., dry throat): Add agents like Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]), Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]), Shí hú (石斛 Dendrobii Herba, dendrobium), nuzhenzi, and Mò hàn lián (墨旱莲 Ecliptae Herba, eclipta).
• Effulgent fire with vexing heat in the five hearts: Add Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]) and Dàn zhú yè (淡竹叶 Lophatheri Herba, lophatherum).
• Tendency to wake with fright: Add Zhēn zhū mǔ (珍珠母 Concha Margaritifera , mother-of-pearl) and Mǔ lì (牡蛎 Ostreae Concha, oyster shell).

Notes: Also called huanglianejiaojizitang.

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