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True Warrior Decoction
真武汤 〔真武湯〕 zhēn wǔ tāng
Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论
Alternate Chinese names: Wēn yáng lì shuǐ tāng (温阳利水汤 Yáng-Warming Water-Disinhibiting Decoction)
Ingredients
- Fù zǐ (附子 Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, aconite [accessory root]) 9g
- Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria) 12g
- Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) 12g
- Xiān máo (仙茅 Curculiginis Rhizoma, curculigo [root]) 9g
- Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 3–5 slices
Actions: Warms yáng and disinhibits water.
Indications: Debilitation of kidney yáng with water qì collecting internally, characterized by inhibited urination, water swelling, pain and heaviness in the limbs, aversion to cold, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Tongue fur: White and glossy. Also treats heart palpitation, dizziness, and general shaking due to damage to yáng through profuse sweating and cold-water stirring internally.
Category: Dampness-dispelling formulas / Water-damp warming and transforming formulas
Method: Decoct with water.
Rationale: Fù zǐ warms and supplements kidney yáng, promoting qì transformation and moving water. Fú líng and Bái zhú fortify the spleen and percolate dampness. Bái sháo helps the Fú líng to disinhibit urine. Ginger is acrid and pervasive, being able to disperse water qì and help the Fù zǐ warm yáng and promote qì transformation. This formula treats water mainly by treating the spleen and kidney rather than by using large amounts of water-disinhibiting agents.
Variations:
- Severe
water swelling : Combine withwulingsan . Cough : Add Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger), Xì xīn (细辛 Asari Rhizoma et Radix, asarum), and Wǔ wèi zǐ (五味子 Schisandrae Fructus, schisandra [berry]).- Cold rheum affecting the stomach with vomiting: Omit the Fù zǐ (附子 Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, aconite [accessory root]), and increase the quantity of Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger).
Spleen yáng vacuity withdiarrhea : Omit the Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]) and add Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger).