Lophatherum and Gypsum Deocoction
Chinese Prescription: Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang
English Translation: Lophatherum and Gypsum Deocoction
Formula Type: Clear Qi Level Heat
Actions: Clears heat, generates fluids, auments the qi, & harmonizes the Stomach.
Indications: Lingering fever (from a febrile disease) accompanied by vomiting, irritability, thirst, parched mouth, lips, & throat, choking cough, stifling sensation in the chest, red tongue with little coating, & a deficient, rapid pulse. Some patients experience restlessness & insomnia.
Contraindications: This formula is not appropriate for febrile diseases where both the normal & pathogenic qi are abundant, when the fever remains high, or when the qi & yin have not yet been injured.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Dan Zhu Ye |
Lophatherum | 6-12g |
view: Shi Gao |
Gypsum | 30g |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 6g |
view: Mai Men Dong |
Ophiopogon | 9-18g |
view: Ban Xia |
Pinellia | 9g |
view: Zhi Gan Cao |
Honey-fried Licorice | 3-6g |
view: Jing Mi |
Non-glutinous Rice | 12-15g |
Dan Zhu Ye / Lophatherum Stem and Leaves | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bland • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Fire | |||
Dosage6-9g |
Actions1. Clears heat & eliminates irritability: for heat patterns with irritability & thirst. Also used for mouth sores & swollen, painful gums due to heat in the Heart or Stomach channels.2. Promotes urination & clears damp-heat: for rough, scanty, painful urination. Especially useful for heat in the Small Intestine channel with the above symptoms plus irritability & a dark red tip on the tongue. |
MeridiansHeart, Small Intestine, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy. |
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. |
Ren Shen / Panax Ginseng | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage1-9g, up to 30 grams (hemorrhagic shock) |
ActionsRen Shen / Panax Ginseng is used in treating patterns of qi, yang & yin deficiency.1. Strongly tonifies the basal qi: for extreme collapse of the qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow respiration, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, & a minute or weak pulse. The herb is used alone for this condition after severe loss of blood. 2. Tonifies the Lungs & augments the qi: for wheezing, shortness of breath, & labored breathing with exertion caused by Lung qi deficiency. There is usually also a concurrent failure of the Kidneys to grasp the qi. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & tonifies the Stomach: for lethargy, lack of appetite, chest & abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea, & in severe cases, prolapse of the stomach, uterus, or rectum. 4. Generates fluids & stops thirst: for wasting & thirsting disorders, as well as in cases when the qi & fluids have been injured by high fever & profuse sweating. 5. Benefits the Heart qi & calms the spirit: for palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, & restlessness due to qi & blood deficiency. Notes: Red Ginseng is more warming than White Ginseng. American Ginseng is considered cool and is better suited for those patients having a tendency towards heat signs. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, heat excess, or in the absence of significant qi deficiency. Contraindicated for hypertensive patient with ascendant Liver yang, & in cases of very high blood pressure (systolic over 180mmHg). Overdose can lead to headache, insomnia, palpitations, & a rise in blood pressure. The traditional antidote is mung bean soup. This herb may antagonize wu ling zhi & may be incompatible with li lu. Patients taking this herb are advised to abstain from drinking tea & eating tunips, as this may reduce the effect of the herb. |
Mai Men Dong / Ophiopogon | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Slightly Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yin | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. 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. |
MeridiansHeart , Lung , Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated 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. |
Ban Xia / Pinellia (Prepared) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Transform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold | |||
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, & causes rebellious qi to descend: for cough with copious sputum, as in conditions of phlegm-cold in the Lungs. Especially effective in transforming phlegm due to dampness of the Spleen.2. Harmonizes the Stomach & stops vomiting: for lingering phlegm-dampness in the Stomach that rebels upward, causing nausea & vomiting. 3. Dissipates nodules & reduces distention: for nodules, pressure, distention, or pain due to phlegm lingering in the chest, phlegm nodules in the neck (such as those of goiter & scrofula), or obstructions caused by phlegm anywhere in the body. Also for focal distention in the chest & epigastrium. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in all cases of bleeding, cough due to yin deficiency, or depleted fluids. Use with caution in all cases with heat. May be incompatible with wu tou. Toxic: overdosage symptoms include feeling of burning & numbness in the throat, lips, queasy stomach & nausea, & a feeling of pressure in the chest. For recovery, administer raw ginger orally. |
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. |