maduixa salvatge – learning traditional Chinese medicine

1. Gently Disperse and Moisten Dryness:

• Xing Su San “Apricot Kernel and Perilla Leaf Powder”

Ingredients: Xing Ren, Zi Su Ye, Jie Geng, Zhi Ke, Qian Hu, Ban Xia, Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Gan Zao.

For exterior cold-dryness and interior phlegm. Also for mild conditions of wind-cold. This formula gently disperses cold-dryness, regulates Lung-Qi, and transforms phlegm. It is used for treating exogenous pathogenic cold-dryness that invades the superficial region of the body and the Lung. It disturbs dispersing and descending of the Lung-Qi and fluid, leading to phlegm fluid accumulation. The manifestations are slight headache, chills, aversion to wind and cold, cough with thin sputum, nasal obstruction and dry nasal cavities (but no heat signs). The tongue coating is white and slightly dry, and the pulse is superficial and wiry. It includes the ingredients of a basic formula to treat phlegm: Er Chen Tang “Two-Cured Decoction” (Chen Pi, Fu Ling, Ban Xia, Zhi Gan Cao).

• Sang Xing Tang “Mulberry leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction”

Ingredients: Sang Ye, Xing Ren, Dan Dou Chi, Zhi Zi, Bei Mu, Sha Shen, Li Pi.

This is a representative formula to treat mild warm-dryness. It gently disperses dryness and clears and moistens the Lung. When exogenous pathogenic warm-dryness injures the Lung-Qi and fluid, symptoms such as dry throat and thirst, and dry cough without phlegm or with a small amount of scanty, thick phlegm arise. When the superficial region is blocked by dryness, fever and headache may occur. A red tongue indicates the existence of heat; a thin, dry and white coating indicates the existence of dryness; a floating pulse on the Lung position suggests that the Lung is disturbed. The ingredients Zhi Zi and Dan Dou Chi together are the formula Zhi Zi Dou Chi Tang “Gardenia and Prepared Soybean Decoction” (clear heat, alleviate restlessness and irritability).

• Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang “Eliminate Dryness and rescue the Lungs Decoction”

Ingredients: Sang Ye, Shi Gao, Mai Men Dong, E Jiao, Hei Zhi Ma, Xing Ren, Mi Zhi Pi Pa Ye, Re Shen, Gan Cao.

This formula clears dryness and moistens the Lungs. It treats severe case of warm-dryness, with injury to the Lung-Yin and Lung- Qi. The symptoms are headache, fever, hacking cough, wheezing, a dry and parched throat, dry nasal passages, a sensation of fullness in the chest, hypochondriac pain, irritability, thirst, a dry tongue without coating, and a deficient, big and rapid pulse.

Sang Ye, chief, clears and disperses dryness from the Lungs. Shi Gao, deputy, strong cold nature, clears heat from the Lung and Stomach channels and relieves thirst. The deputies Mai Men Dong, E Jiao and Hei Zhi Ma, moisten the Lungs and nourish the Lung-Yin. Xing Ren and Mi Zhi Pi Pa Ye, two of the assistants, descend Lung-Qi and moisten the Lungs. Ren Shen and Gan Cao, the other two assistants, augment the Qi and harmonize the middle Jiao, supplementing the mother (Spleen) to benefit the child (Lungs). Gan Cao, also an envoy, harmonizes the actions of the other herbs in the formula.

2. Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness:

• Mai Men Dong Tang “Ophiopogonis Decoction”

Benefits the Stomach, generates fluids and directs rebellious qi downward. For coughing and spitting of saliva, wheezing, shortness of breath, a dry and uncomfortable sensation in the throat, a dry mouth, a dry, red tongue with little coating, and a deficient, rapid pulse. All the symptoms indicate yin deficiency, where heat consumes fluids and causes dryness. The root of the problem is Stomach deficiency, which raises in rebellion and affects the nourishment of the Lung, causing Lung yin deficiency and Lung dryness.

Ingredients: Mai Men Dong, Ren Shen, Geng Mi, Da Zao, Gan Cao, Ban Xia.

• Mai Men Dong, chief, clears deficiency heat from Stomach, and generates fluids in the Stomach and Lungs.
• Ren Shen, deputy, augments qi, generates fluids, revives qi and yin.
• Da Zao and Gan Cao work together with the chief and deputy herbs to assist the Stomach qi and generate fluids. Gan Cao also improves the condition of the throat.
• Ban Xia facilitates the flow of Stomach qi and directs the qi downwards.

Comparison with Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang “Lophatherus and Gypsum Decoction”: Mai Men Dong Tang may be regarded as a modification of Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang. In Mai Men Dong Tang, the ingredients Dan Zhu Ye and Shi Gao are omitted, and the dosage of Mai Men Dong is increased. Nevertheless, the use of these formulas is quite different: Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang treats heat that is retained in the qi level, and clears heat from the Lungs and Stomach. Mai men Dong Tang focuses on generating fluids and nourishing the Stomach yin.

• Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang “Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction”

This formula nourishes the Lung yin, clears Lung heat, and relieves toxicity. It treats “white throat” syndrome, which is caused by deficiency of Lung yin and kidney yin, and infected by epidemic heat-toxin such as diphteria). The manifestations are fever, dry nasal cavities, a dry mouth, irritability, hoarse breathing, swollen and sore throat, and the development of a white, curd-like membrane in the throat that is difficult to scrape off. This syndrome shows a red tongue with a dry, yellow coating and a thready and rapid pulse.

Ingredients: Sheng Di Huang, Xuan Shen, Mai Men Dong, Chao Bai Shao Yao, Mu Dan Pi, Chuan Bei Mu, Bo He, Gan Cao.

• Sheng Di Huang and Xuan Shen are used as chief to nourish the yin, clear heat from deficiency, cool the blood, and relieve toxicity.
• Mai Men Dong and Bai Shao, two of the deputies, assist the chief herbs in nourishing the yin. Mai Men Dong acts on the Lungs. Bai Shao preserves and protects the yin.
• Mu Dan Pi, the other deputy, cools the blood, reduces swelling, and supports the action of the chief herbs.
• Chuan Bei Mu, assistant, moisten the Lung, stop cough, and remove and dissipate phlegm.
• Bo He helps disperse the pathogenic influence and aid the throat.
• Gan Cao relieves toxicity, improves the condition of the throat, and harmonizes the herbs.
• Bo He, Xuan Shen and Shen (raw) Gan Cao together clear toxicity from the throat.

The ingredients Sheng Di Huang, Xuan Shen and Mai Men Dong constitute the formula Zeng Ye Tang “Increase the Fluid Decoction”. Bai Shao and Gan Cao constitute the formula Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang “Peony and Licorice Decoction”.

• Yu Ye Tang “Jade Fluid Decoction”

This formula tonifies Qi, generates body fluids, moisten dryness and relieve thirst. It treats “thirst and wasting” syndrome (diabetes). It is caused by yin deficiency of the Kidney, Stomach and Lung.

Ingredients: Shan Yao, Huang Qi, Zhi Mu, Tian Hua Fen, Ge Gen, Wu Wei Zi, Ji Nei Jin.

• Shan Yao and Huang Qi are the chiefs. Shan Yao tonifies the Spleen, stabilizes the Kidneys to stop frequent urination, and moisten the Lungs and generates fluids to reduce thirst. Huang Qi reduces thirst by raising Spleen qi, and supports the Spleen function of dispersing the fluids throughout the body.
• Zhi Mu and Tian Hua Fen, deputies, treat thirst by enriching the yin and moistening dryness.
• Ji Nei Jin supports the transforming and transporting functions of the Spleen to encourage the production of fluids from food. Ge Gen raises the clear yang of the Spleen and helps to convey the fluids to the organs. Wu Wei Zi acts to preserve the yin, generate fluids, and stabilize the essence of the kidneys, helping reduce the flow of urine and preventing further injury to the Kidneys.

• Zeng Ye Tang “Increase the Fluids Decoction”

This formula generates fluids, moistens dryness, and unblocks the bowels. For constipation after fever dries out fluids, with thirst, dry red tongue, thin and slightly rapid, or weak, forceless pulse. This is dry Intestines due to injury to the fluids, usually from a warm-febrile disease.

Ingredients: Xuan Shen, Mai Men Dong, Sheng Di Huang.