Back to previous page Search again ↑

Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Ingredients:

• Bàn xià (半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma, pinellia [rhizome]) (washed) 10g
• Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger) 10g
• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 10g
• Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) 10g
• Rén shēn (人参 Ginseng Radix, ginseng) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 2–3g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3g
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 3g

Action: Downbears counterflow and eliminates glomus; warms the center and harmonizes the stomach.

Indication: Impaired gastrointestinal function with heat vexation in the chest, glomus and oppression, qì counterflow with desire to vomit, abdominal pain, sometimes with rumbling intestines and diarrhea. Tongue fur: Glossy and white. Pulse: Stringlike. Such patterns sometimes include heat effusion and aversion to cold. For severe abdominal pain due to interior cold, cinnamon twig may be replaced by cinnamon bark (ròu guì) to increase the interior-warming, cold-dispelling, and pain-relieving action.

Category: Harmonization formulas / Gastrointestinal harmonization formula

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Huáng lián clears heat from the chest and diaphragm. Gān jiāng warms and disperses gastrointestinal cold. These two agents are opposite in nature but since they treat different parts of the body they do not clash. Warm acrid Bàn xià combined with Huáng lián disperses binds, loosens the center, and disperses glomus. Combined with Gān jiāng it harmonizes the stomach and rectifies the spleen, downbears counterflow and checks retching. Warm, sweet, and acrid Guì zhī perfuses yáng qì in the upper and lower body. Combined with Gān jiāng it warms the center and disperses cold, and combined with Bàn xià it helps to rectify qì and downbear counter. Rén shēn, Zhì gān cǎo, and Dà zǎo harmonize the stomach and quiet the center.

Variations: Pronounced abdominal pain: Use Ròu guì (肉桂 Cinnamomi Cortex, cinnamon bark) instead of Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig), and add Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]).

Notes: This is a variant of Bàn xià xiè xīn tāng (半夏泻心汤 Pinellia Heart-Draining Decoction).

Similar: Bàn xià xiè xīn tāng (半夏泻心汤 Pinellia Heart-Draining Decoction)

Back to previous page Search again