Bupleurum Decoction Plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell

Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Ingredients

Actions: Harmonizes the lesser yáng (shào yáng); settles fright and quiets the spirit.

Indications: Inappropriate precipitation before the evil passes to the yáng brightness in cold damage, causing fullness in the chest, vexation and fright, delirious speech, generalized heaviness preventing the patient from turning, and, in some cases, inhibited urination. Tongue: Red with slimy fur. Pulse: Stringlike and rapid.

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: This is Xiǎo chái hú tāng (小柴胡汤 Minor Bupleurum Decoction) minus Gān cǎo and plus Guì zhī, Dà huáng, Fú líng, Qiān dān, Lóng gǔ, and Mǔ lì. Chái hú and Guì zhī are acrid dispersing agents that outthrust the inward fallen evil. Chái hú also works with Huáng qín to clear midst age heat. Cold bitter Dà huáng clears the heat that has fallen into the inner body. Bàn xià, Shēng jiāng, and Qiān dān transform phlegm and disperse binds. Lóng gǔ and Mǔ lì are heavy settling spirit-quieting agents. Rén shēn, Dà zǎo, and Fú líng fortify the spleen and boost qì, thereby supporting right qì to outthrust the evil. The formula is thus a combination of cold and warm agents that simultaneously attacks and supplements.

Notes: This is a variant of Xiǎo chái hú tāng (小柴胡汤 Minor Bupleurum Decoction).