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Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Ingredients:

• Bái tóu wēng (白头翁 Pulsatillae Radix, pulsatilla [root]) 15–30g
• Qín pí (秦皮 Fraxini Cortex, ash [bark]) 9–15g
• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 6–9g
• Huáng bǎi (黄柏 Phellodendri Cortex, phellodendron [bark]) 9–12g

Action: Clears heat and resolves toxin; cools the blood and checks dysentery.

Indication: Heat dysentery with pus and blood in the stool, tenesmus, burning sensation in the anus, and sometimes heat effusion and bitter taste in the mouth. This formula has been clinically found to be effective for bacillary dysentery, amebic dysentery, and enteritis.

Category: Heat-clearing formulas / Bowel and visceral heat-clearing formula

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Bái tóu wēng clears heat and resolves toxin, cools the blood and treats dysentery. Huáng lián, Huáng bǎi, and ash bark combine with the Bái tóu wēng to clear heat and resolve toxin, dry dampness and check dysentery. Qín pí, unlike most heat-clearing and toxin-resolving agents, is astringent in nature. For this reason, it helps to eliminate the heat without making the diarrhea worse. It therefore treats repletion without damaging right qì and addresses both root and tip of the condition. //

Variations:

• Heat effusion with aversion to cold: Add Gé gēn (葛根 Puerariae Radix, pueraria [root]), Jīng jiè (荆芥 Schizonepetae Herba, schizonepeta), Jīn yín huā (金银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]), and Lián qiào (连翘 Forsythiae Fructus, forsythia [fruit]).
• Pronounced abdominal pain and tenesmus: Add Mù xiāng (木香 Aucklandiae Radix, costusroot), Bīng láng (槟榔 Arecae Semen, areca [nut]), Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]), Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]), and zhike.
• Red dysentery: Add Chì sháo (赤芍 Paeoniae Radix Rubra, red peony [root]), Mǔ dān pí (牡丹皮 Moutan Cortex, moutan [bark]), and Dì yú (地榆 Sanguisorbae Radix, sanguisorba [root]).
• Dysentery after abatement of heat leaving the patient with a crimson tongue and no desire for food and drink: Omit the Huáng bǎi (黄柏 Phellodendri Cortex, phellodendron [bark]), and carefully add Tài zǐ shēn (太子参 Pseudostellariae Radix, pseudostellaria [root]), Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]), Shí hú (石斛 Dendrobii Herba, dendrobium), Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]), Shí chāng pú (石菖蒲 Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, acorus [root]), and Wū méi (乌梅 Mume Fructus, mume [fruit]).

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