Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer
Chinese Prescription: Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
English Translation: Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction to Release the Muscle Layer
Formula Type: Release Exterior Wind-Heat
Actions: Releases pathogenic influences from the muscle layer & clears interior heat.
Indications: An exterior wind-cold presentation characterized by increasing fever & decreasing chills accompanied by headache, stiffness of the extremities, orbital & eye pain, dry nasal passages, irritability, insomnia, a thin yellow tongue coating, & a floating, slightly flooding pulse.
Contraindications: Inappropriate for simple exterior wind-heat disorders.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Chai Hu |
Bupleurum | 3-9g |
view: Ge Gen |
Kudzu Root | 6-12g |
view: Qiang Huo |
Notopterygium | 3-6g |
view: Bai Zhi |
Angelica Dahurica | 3-6g |
view: Huang Qin |
Scutellaria Baicalensis | 6-9g |
view: Shi Gao |
Gypsum | 4.5-15g |
view: Jie Geng |
Platycodon | 3-6g |
view: Bai Shao Yao |
White Peony | 6-9g |
view: Gan Cao |
Licorice | 3-6g |
view: Sheng Jiang |
Fresh Ginger | 3-6g |
view: Da Zao (Hong / Hei) |
Red or Black Date | 2-3 pieces |
Chai Hu / Bupleurum Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Resolves lesser yang disorders & reduces fever: for alternating chills & fever accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth, flank pain, irritability, vomiting, & a stifling sensation in the chest associated with the lesser yang stage of externally contracted disorders.2. Spreads Liver qi & relieves constraint: for constrained Liver qi with such symptoms as dizziness, vertigo, chest & flank pain, emotional instability, or menstrual problems. Also used for disharmonies between the Liver & the Spleen with such symptoms as epigastric & flank pain, a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal bloating, nausea, & indigestion. 3. Raises the yang qi in patterns of Spleen or Stomach deficiency: for hemorrhoids, anal or uterine prolapse, & diarrhea due to collapse of the Spleen qi. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Liver, Pericardium, Triple Burner |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency cough or Liver fire ascending to the head. May occasionally cause nausea or vomiting; should this occur, use only a very small dose. |
Ge Gen / Kudzu Root, Pueraria (sliced) | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage6-12g |
Actions1. Releases the muscles & clears heat: for exterior disorders lodged in the muscles manifesting as fever, headache, & stiff or tight upper back & neck.2. Nourishes the fluids & alleviates thirst: for thirst due to Stomach heat. Especially appropriate in cases of externally contracted heat. 3. Vents measles: to hasten recovery from measles with incomplete expression of the rash. 4. Alleviates diarrhea: for diarrhea or dysenterial disorders due to heat. Can also be used for diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency when combined with other appropriate herbs. 5. Treats symptoms of hypertension: this herb has recently been used to treat the headache, dizziness, tinnitus, or paresthesias that can accompany hypertension. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsNone. |
Qiang Huo / Notopterygium Rhizome | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns with such symptoms as chills, fever, headache, & body aches & pains. Most commonly used when accompanied by dampness with joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness, or when there is pain in the occipital region.2. Unblocks painful obstruction & alleviates pain: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially in the upper limbs & back. 3. Guides qi to the greater yang channel & governing vessel: to direct other herbs in a prescription to the areas served by these two channels. |
MeridiansBladder, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of blood deficiency, yin deficiency, & exterior deficiency. Overdosage may cause nausea & vomiting. |
Bai Zhi / Angelica Root (Dahurica) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Expels wind & alleviates pain: for patterns of externally contracted wind-cold, especially those with headache. Also for supraorbital pain, nasal congestion & toothaches. While primarily a warming herb, it can be used for any problem due to wind invading the yang brightness channels of the head.2. Reduces swelling & expels pus: for early stages of surface sores & carbuncles. If the sore, ulcer, or carbuncle has not yet suppurated, this herb will help reduce the swelling. If pus has already formed or the sore has ulcerates, the herb can be used to help discourage the pus. 3. Expels dampness & alleviates discharge: usually for vaginal discharge due to damp-cold in the lower burner, but with the appropriate herbs can also be used to treat vaginal discharge from damp-heat. 4. Opens up the nasal passages: for sinus congestion. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of blood or yin deficiency because it is very drying. Use with caution if pus drains smoothly from sores. Some traditional sources say that this herb antagonizes xuan fu hua. |
Huang Qin / Scute or Baical Skullcap Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Clears heat & drains fire, especially from the upper burner: for heat patterns with high fever, irritability, thirst, cough, & expectoration of thick, yellow sputum, or hot sores & swellings. In treating the latter it can be applied topically or taken internally.2. Clears heat & dries dampness: a major herb for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines, which manifests as diarrhea or dyenteric disorder; damp warm-febrile disease, which presents with fever, stifling senstaion in the chest, & thirst but inability to drink; or for damp-heat in the lower burner with painful urinary dysfunction. Used as a an auxiliary herb for damp-heat jaundice. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat from deficiency in the Lungs, cold diarrhea o any other condition with cold in the middle burner, & restless fetus due to cold in the blood. May counteract mu dan pi & li lu. |
Shi Gao / Gypsum | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid • Temperature: Very Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Fire | |||
Dosage9-30g, up to 90g for high fevers. Brake up & cook for 20-30 minutes before adding other herbs. |
Actions1. Clears heat & drains fire: for high fever without chills, irritability, intense thirst, profuse sweating, a flooding & big pulse, & a red tongue with yellow coating. This condition is identified as one of excess in the qi level of the four levels of disease, or the yang brightness channel stage of the six stages of disease.2. Clears excessive heat from the Lungs: for cough & wheezing with fever & thick, viscous sputum. 3. Clears blazing Stomach fire: for headache, toothache, or swollen & painful gums due to Stomach fire. 4. For eczema, burns, & ulcerated sores: usually applied topically in powdered form after being calcined & mixed with other herbs. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated for patients with weak stomachs, or when the pulse is minute, or in cases of yang deficiency or heat from yin deficiency. |
Jie Geng / Platycodon Root, balloon flower root | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. 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. |
MeridiansLung |
CautionsContraindicated for hemoptysis. May counteract long dan cao & long yan rou. |
Bai Shao Yao / Peony (White) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sour • Temperature: Cool • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage6-15g, very large doses up to 30 g |
Actions1. 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. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse 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) | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral (raw root) • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. 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. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated 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. |
Sheng Jiang / Ginger (market fresh) Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns.2. Warms the middle burner & alleviates vomiting: for cold in the Stomach, especially where there is vomiting. 3. Disperses cold & stops coughing: for coughing due to both acute wind-cold cough patterns & chronic Lung disorders with phlegm. 4. Reduces the toxicty of other herbs: for detoxifying or treating overdoses from other herbs such as fu zi or ban xia. 5. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi: for patients suffering from exterior deficiency who sweat without an improvement in their condition. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Lung heat, or Stomach heat with vomiting. |
Da Zao (Hong / Hei) / Red or Black Jujube Date | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage3-12 pieces (10-30 grams) |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for weakness, shortness of breath, lassitude, reduced appetite, & loose stools due to Spleen & Stomach deficiency.2. Nourishes the blood & calms the spirit: for wan appearance, irritability, & severe emotional lability due to restless organ disorder. 3. Moderates & harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsSince hong zao aids dampness, generates heat, & may readily induce fullness in the middle burner, it is contraindicated in cases of excess dampness, food stagnation, intestinal parasites, or damp-phlegm disorders with such symptoms as epigastric distention & bloating. |