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Source: Jīn Guì Yào Lüè 金匮要略

Ingredients:

• Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) 3–9g
• Wú zhū yú (吴茱萸 Evodiae Fructus, evodia [fruit]) 3–6g
• Chuān xiōng (川芎 Chuanxiong Rhizoma, chuanxiong [rhizome]) 3–9g
• Dāng guī (当归 Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chinese angelica) 6–12g
• Sháo yào (芍药 Paeoniae Radix, peony [root]) 6–12g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 2–4 slices
• Dān pí (丹皮 Moutan Cortex, moutan [bark]) 6–9g
• Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]) 9–12g
• Bàn xià (半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma, pinellia [rhizome]) 6–9g
• Rén shēn (人参 Ginseng Radix, ginseng) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 9–12g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3–6g
• ē jiāo (阿胶 Asini Corii Colla, ass hide glue) 6–12g

Action: Warms the channels (menses) and disperses cold; nourishes the blood and dispels stasis.

Indication: Vacuity cold in the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels with static blood obstruction, menstrual irregularities, cold pain in the lower abdomen, and infertility, and sometimes late afternoon tidal heat effusion, vexing heat in the palms, and dry mouth and lips.

Category: Blood-rectifying formulas / Blood-quickening stasis-transforming formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Dāng guī warms the channels and disperses cold, as well as quickening the blood and regulating the menses. Wú zhū yú moves qì and relieves pain, while Guì zhī warms and frees the blood vessels. These agents together combat congealing cold and static blood very effectively. ē jiāo, Bái sháo, and Mài dōng nourish the blood and boost yīn, thereby enriching the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels. Rén shēn —or Dǎng shēn—, Gān cǎo, Shēng jiāng and Bàn xià boost qì and harmonize the stomach, so as to enhance the engenderment of qì and blood. Chuān xiōng and Mǔ dān pí quicken the blood and dispel stasis. Guì zhī warms the lower burner, treating the lower abdominal pain, while Mǔ dān pí clears floating heat, treating the heat effusion.

Variations:

• Cold pain in lesser abdomen: Omit Mǔ dān pí (牡丹皮 Moutan Cortex, moutan [bark]) and Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]), and add Xiǎo huí xiāng (小茴香 Foeniculi Fructus, fennel [fruit]) and stir-fried ài yè (艾叶 Artemisiae Argyi Folium, mugwort [leaf]).
• Qì stagnation abdominal pain: Add Xiāng fù (香附 Cyperi Rhizoma, cyperus [rhizome]) and Wū yào (乌药 Linderae Radix, lindera [root]).
• Persistent scant flooding and spotting with pale flow: Omit Mǔ dān pí (牡丹皮 Moutan Cortex, moutan [bark]) and add Pào jiāng (炮姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Praeparatum, blast-fried ginger), stir-fried ài yè (艾叶 Artemisiae Argyi Folium, mugwort [leaf]), and Shú dì huáng (熟地黄 Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, cooked rehmannia [root]).
• Pronounced qì vacuity: Add Huáng qí (黄芪 Astragali Radix, astragalus [root]) and Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) and omit Mǔ dān pí (牡丹皮 Moutan Cortex, moutan [bark]).
• Heat effusion in the early evening (tidal heat): Add Yín chái hú (银柴胡 Stellariae Radix, stellaria) and Dì gǔ pí (地骨皮 Lycii Cortex, lycium bark).

Notes: In the formula name, jīng 经, channel(s) is taken to mean the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels, which the formula warms. The fact that jīng also means menses adds a further connotation to the formula name.

Similar: Sì wù tāng (四物汤 Four Agents Decoction)

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