Plant Herbal Treasures®

Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal

Chinese Prescription: Bai He Gu Jin Tang

English Translation: Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal

Formula Type: Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness

Actions: Nourishes the yin, moistens the Lungs, transforms phlegm and stops coughing.

Indications: Coughing with blood-streaked sputum, wheezing, a dry and sore throat, 5 palm heat, night sweats. Tongue is red with scanty coating. Pulse is thin and rapid. Internal dryness of the Lungs and Kidneys due to Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency.

Contraindications: *Used with caution in patients with Spleen deficiency or food stagnation. Indigestion or diarrhea may occur. *Contraindicated in patients with exterior disorders.

Bai He / Lily Bulb
Taste: Sweet, Slighly Bitter • Temperature: Slighly Cold • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yin
Dosage 9-30g	Actions 1. Moistens the Lungs, clears heat, & stops cough: for dry Lung or Lung-heat coughs & sore throat. 2. Clears the Heart & calms the spirit: for such symptoms as intractable low-grade fever, insomnia, restlessness, & irritability in the aftermath of a febrile disease. Also for palpitations brought on by insufficency of qi yin.	Meridians Heart, Lung	Cautions Contraindicated in cases of cough due to wind-cold or phlegm, or in those with diarrhea due to Spleen or Stomach deficiency (since it is a cold, moistening herb).

Sheng Di Huang / Rehmannia Root, Unprepared
Sheng Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - Unprepared Shuu Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - Prepared Shu Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - Prepared
Taste: Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood
Dosage 9-30g	Actions 1. Clears heat & cools the blood: for all warm-febrile diseases where heat enters the nutritive level causing very high fever, thirst, & a scarlet tongue. Also indicated in cases of hemorrhage due to heat entering the blood level. 2. Nourishes the yin & generates fluids: for yin deficiency with heat signs, as well as injury to the body's fluids. Manifestations include dry mouth, continuous low-grade fever, & constipation. Also for throat pain associated with yin deficiency. 3. Cools the upward-blazing of Heart fire: for mouth & tongue sores, & for irritability, insomnia, afternoon or low-grade fevers, & malar flush. 4. Wasting & thirsting disorder.	Meridians Heart, Kidney, Liver	Cautions Contraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with dampness, yang deficiency, & in pregnant women with blood deficiency or Spleen or Stomach deficiency.

Shu Di Huang / Rehmannia Root, cooked in wine
Shu Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - Prepared Shu Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - Prepared Sheng Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - Unprepared
Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood
Dosage 9-30g	Actions 1. Tonifies the blood: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as pallid complexion, dizziness, palpitations, & insomnia. Very commonly used when blood deficiency leads to such problems as irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, & post partum bleeding. 2. Nourishes the yin: for Kidney yin deficiency with such symptoms as night sweats, nocturnal emissions, steaming bone disorder, & wasting & thirsting disorder. 3. Nourishes the blood & tonifies the essence: for low back pain, weakness of the lower extremitites, lightheadedness & dizziness, tinnitus, diminished aural acuity, & premature graying of hair due to exhaused blood & essence.	Meridians Heart, Kidney, Liver	Cautions Use with caution in cases of Spleen &/or Stomach deficiency, & in cases of stagnant qi or phlegm. Overuse can lead to abdominal distention & loose stools. Toxicity: Side effects from using shu di huang are mild & include diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, lack of energy, & palpitations. These symptoms usually disappear with continued administration of the herb.

Mai Men Dong / Ophiopogon
Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yin
Dosage 6-15g	Actions 1. Moistens the Lungs & stops cough: used whenever the Lung yin has been injured with such signs as dry cough, thick sputum that is difficult to expectorate, & coughing up blood. 2. Augments the Stomach yin & generates fluids: for dry tongue & mouth due to insufficient Stomach yin. 3. Clears the Heart & eliminates irritability: for irritability due to yin deficiency or a warm-febrile disese at the nutitive level. In both cases, the feverishness & irritability worsen at night. 4. Moistens the Intestines: for constipation, dry mouth, & irritiability as an the aftermath of a febrile disease or any pattern of yin deficiency.	Meridians Heart , Lung , Stomach	Cautions Contraindicated in cases with diarrhea due to cold frm deficiency, & in cases of congested fluids. May antagonize kuan dong hua & counteract ku shen & bai mu er.

Xuan Shen / Scrophularia Root
Taste: Salty, Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood
Dosage 9-30g	Actions 1. Clears heat & cools the blood: used when heat has entered the blood level of warm-febrile diseases, causing bleeding, fever, dry mouth, & a purplish tongue. 2. Nourishes the yin: especially for the sequelae of warm-febrile diseases with such symptoms as constipation & irritability. 3. Drains fire & relieves toxicity: for swollen or red eyes, & especially in extreme cases of sore throat. 4. Softens hardness & dissipates nodules: for neck lumps due to phlegm-fire as well as severe throat pain & swelling.	Meridians Kidney, Lung, Stomach	Cautions Use with caution in cases of Spleen or Stomach dampness, or diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes huang qi, gan jiang, da zao, & shan zhu yu. It is also considered to be incompatible with li lu.

Chuan Bei Mu / Fritillaria Bulb, Sichuan
Chuan Bai Mu - Sichuan Fritillaria Bulb - High Grade Chuan Bei Mu - Sichuan Fritillaria Bulb - Grade C Zhe Bei Mu - Zhejiang Fritillaria Bulb
Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Cool & Transform Phlegm-Heat
Dosage 3-12g, 1-1.5g as powder	Actions 1. Clears heat & transforms phlegm: for many types of cough, chiefly chronic cough, cough with signs of fire due to yin deficiency, cough with light sputum that is difficult to expectorate, or cough with blood-streaked sputum. It is most effective in treating cough accompanied by constrained qi, manifested in a reduced appetite & a stifling sensation in the chest & upper abdomen. 2. Clears heat dissipated nodules: for disorders in which phlegm-fire collects & produces nodules, sores, scrufula, & Lung or breat abscess.	Meridians Heart, Lung	Cautions Ineffective in treating coughs from phlegm secondary to damp-cold. May be incompatible with wu tou & may counteract qin jiao.

Jie Geng / Platycodon Root, balloon flower root
Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold
Dosage 3-9g	Actions 1. Opens up & disseminates the Lung qi & expels phlegm: for cough. When combined with other appropriate herbs, it can be used for both wind-cold & wind-heat coughs. 2. Promotes the discharge of pus: for expelling pus associated with Lung abscess or throat abscess. 3. Benefits the throat: used in manyy cases of sore throat or loss of voice, especially in those caused by external heat, but also when the condition is due to other factors such as phlegm-heat or yin deficiency with heat signs. 4. Directs the effect of other herbs to the upper regions of the body.	Meridians Lung	Cautions Contraindicated for hemoptysis. May counteract long dan cao & long yan rou.

Dang Gui / Angelica (Chinese) Root
Dang Gui - Angelica Sinensis Whole Root Sliced Dang Gui Tou - Angelica Sinensis Root Head Sliced Dang Gui Tou - Angelica Sinensis Root Head Whole Dang Gui Wei - Angelica Sinensis Whole Root Tails
Taste: Sweet, Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood
Dosage 3-15g	Actions 1. Tonifies the blood & regulates the meses: for patterns of blood deficiency with such symptoms as a pallid, ashen complexion, tinnitus, blurred vision, & palpitations. Also very commonly used fro blood deficiency associated with menstrual disorders such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, etc. 2. Invigorates & harmonizes the blood & disperses cold: an important herb for stopping pain due to blood stasis. Commonly used for abdominal pain, traumatic injury, & carbuncles due to blood stasis, especially when there is also cold from deficiency. Also used in the treatment of blood deficiency with chronic wind-damp painful obstruction. 3. Moistens the Intestiones & unblocks the bowels: for dry Intestines due to blood deficiency. 4. Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, & alleviates pain: used in treating sores & abscesses where its ability to both tonify & invigorate the blood leads to improvement.	Meridians Heart, Liver, Spleen	Cautions Use with caution in cases of diarrhea or abdominal distention due to damp obstruction. Contraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs.

Bai Shao Yao / Peony (White)
Bai Shao Yao - White Peony Root Chi Shao Yao - Red Peony Root
Taste: Bitter, Sour • Temperature: Cool • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood
Dosage 6-15g, very large doses up to 30 g	Actions 1. Nourishes the blood & regulates the menses: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, & uterine bleeding. This is a very commonly used herb for treating women's disorders. 2. Calms & curbs the Liver yang & alleviates pain: for such symptoms as flank, chest, or abdominal pain from either constrained Liver qi or disharmony between the Liver & Spleen. In general, this herb is used to "soften & comfort" the Liver, stop painful spasms in the abdomen, stop cramping pain or spasms in the hands & feet, & alleviate abdominal pain associated with dysentric disorders. It is also used for headache & dizziness due to ascendant Liver yang. 3. Preserves the yin & adjusts the nutritive & protective levels: for vaginal discharge & spermatorrhea, as well as exterior wind-cold from deficiency patterns with continuous sweating that does not resolve the problem. It is also used for yin deficiency where the yang floats to the surface causing spontaneous sweating or night sweats.	Meridians Liver, Spleen	Cautions Use with caution in cases of diarrhea due to cold from deficiency, & in patients with weak yang & cold from deficiency. May antagonize shi hu & mang xiao, may counteract with bie jia & xiao ji, & may be incompatible with li lu.

Gan Cao / Licorice Root (Chinese)
Gan Cao - Licorice Root - Large Gan Cao - Licorice Root - Medium Gan Cao - Licorice Root - Small Zhi Gan Cao - Honey-baked Licorice Root
Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral (raw root) • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi
Dosage 2-12g	Actions 1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations. 2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms.	Meridians All 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach)	Cautions Contraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate.

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