White Tiger Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Bai Hu Tang
English Translation: White Tiger Decoction
Formula Type: Clear Qi Level Heat
Actions: Clears qi-level heat, drains Stomach fire, generates fluids and alleviates thirst.
Indications: The "Four Bigs" - high fever, excessive sweating, severe thirst, big pulse (flooding, forceful or slippery, rapid). Red face. May also include headache, toothache, or bleeding of the gums and nose. This corresponds to the "yang-ming" channel-stage of the Shang Hun Lun six-stages of disease or the "Qi Level" stage in the four levels of disease.
Contraindications: *Fever due to Spleen and Stomach deficiency with spontaneous sweating, extreme fatigue, aversion to wind, and deficient, floating pulse. *True cold and false-heat characterized by fever with a desire for warmth, thirst with no desire to drink, agitated movement of the limbs in an otherwised subdued patient, and a flooding but weak pulse. *Close monitoring and careful follow-up required. Immediately stop this formula if signs of headache, stiffness of the neck, icy-cold limbs, cold sensations, or impairment of mental faculties occur.
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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. |
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Zhi Mu / Anemarrhena Rhizome |
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Fire |
Dosage6-12g |
Actions1. Clears heat & drains fire: for high fever, irritability, thirst, & a rapid, flooding pulse in patterns of exessive heat in the Lungs & Stomach. Also for cough due to heat in the Lungs with expectoration of thick, yellow sputum.
2. Enriches yin & moistens dry conditions: for exhaustion or deficiency of Lung & Kidney yin wih heat signs such as night sweats, steaming bone disorder, irritability, afternoon or low-grade fevers, warmth in the five centers, & bleeding gums. Also for such Kidney heat signs as spermatorrrhea, nocturnal emissions, & abnormally elevated sexual drive.
3. Generates fluids & clears heat: for oral ulcers & in flammation due to yin deficiency as well as wasting & thirsting disorder. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency. |
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Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked |
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • 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. |
Dosage information not currently available