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Source: Yī Xué Fā Míng 医学发明

Ingredients:

• Wū yào (乌药 Linderae Radix, lindera [root]) 9g
• Mù xiāng (木香 Aucklandiae Radix, costusroot) 9g
• Xiǎo huí xiāng (小茴香 Foeniculi Fructus, fennel [fruit]) (stir–fried) 9g
• Qīng pí (青皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride, unripe tangerine peel) 9g
• Gāo liáng jiāng (高良姜 Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma, lesser galangal [root]) 9g
• Bīng láng (槟榔 Arecae Semen, areca [nut]) 9g
• Chuān liàn zǐ (川楝子 Toosendan Fructus, toosendan [fruit]) 12g
• Bā dòu (巴豆 Crotonis Fructus, croton [fruit]) (stir–fried with bran) 70 pieces

Action: Disperses cold, rectifies qì, and relieves pain.

Indication: Small intestinal mounting (xiǎo cháng shàn) due to congealing cold and stagnant qì with signs such as lesser abdominal pain with pain in the testicles. Tongue: Pale with white fur. Pulse: Stringlike and slow.

Category: Qì-rectifying formulas / Qì-moving formulas

Method: Stir-fry the croton with bran until black, remove the croton, and grind the bran with the other ingredients. Take 3g at a time with warm water. Alternatively, make as a decoction without the croton.

Rationale: Wū yào courses the liver and rectifies qì, as well as dispersing cold and relieving pain. It is an important agent in the treatment of cold mounting (hán shàn). Xiǎo huí xiāng seed, having a similar effect, is mutually accentuating with Wū yào. Qīng pí and Mù xiāng course the liver and rectify qì. Gāo liáng jiāng disperses cold and relieve pain. Bīng láng breaks hardness and disperses binds. Chuān liàn zǐ moves qì and relieves pain. It is therefore also an important agent for treating mounting pain (shàn tòng), but being bitter and cold, it has to be stir-fried with Bā dòu, which is hot in nature.

Variations:

• Mounting qì (shàn qì, inguinal hernia): Add Jú hé (橘核 Citri Reticulatae Semen, tangerine seed), and Lì zhī hé (荔枝核 Litchi Semen, lychee pit).
• Pronounced cold: Add Wú zhū yú (吴茱萸 Evodiae Fructus, evodia [fruit]) and Ròu guì (肉桂 Cinnamomi Cortex, cinnamon bark).
• Severe pain: Add Chén xiāng (沉香 Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, aquilaria [wood]) and Yán hú suǒ (延胡索 Corydalis Rhizoma, corydalis [rhizome]).

Notes: The formula name suggests that Tiāntái lindera (tiān tái wū yào), lindera from Tiāntái in Zhèjiāng province, should be used for its superior quality.

Similar: Dǎo qì tāng (导气汤 Qì-Abducting Decoction)

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