Mume Pill
Chinese Prescription: Wu Mei Wan
English Translation: Mume Pill
Formula Type: Expel Parasites
Actions: Warms the organs, drains heat, calms roundworms, drain the Liver, & calms the Stomach.
Indications: This formula is used to treat three interrelated patterns. 1. Inversion from roundworms, which is characterized by intermittent attacks of abdominal pain, a stifling sensation, irritability, & warmth in the chest & epigastrium accompanied by vomiting after eating, & cold hands & feet. There may also be vomiting of roundworms. 2. The core pattern associated with terminal yin-warp disorders. This is characterized by unquenchable thirst, qi rushing upward toward the Heart, pain & heat in the Stomach, hunger with no desire to eat or vomiting immediately after eating, & cold extremities. This second pattern may or may not be present together with the first. 3. Chronic diarrhea or dysentery characterized by incessant diarrhea, the discharge of small amounts of pus, & abdominal pain that responds favorably to pressure & the application of heat, borborygmus, & a red tongue with a white coating.
Contraindications: This formula is contraindicated for explosive diarrhea or damp-heat dysenteric disorders.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Wu Mei |
Purple (Sour) Plum | 300 pieces [480g] (24-30g) |
view: Chuan Jiao |
Sichuan Pepper Fruit Peel | 12g [120g] (1.5-3g) |
view: Xi Xin |
Wild Ginger | 18g [180g] (1.5-3g) |
view: Huang Lian |
Coptis / Goldthread | 48g [480g] (9-12g) |
view: Huang Bai |
Phellodendron Bark | 18g [180g] (6-9g) |
view: Gan Jiang |
Dried Ginger | 30g [300g] (6-9g) |
view: Fu Zi |
Aconite | 18g [180g] (3-6g) |
view: Gui Zhi |
Cinnamon Twig | 18g [180g] (3-6g) |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 18g [180g] (6-9g) |
view: Dang Gui |
Angelica Sinensis | 12g [120g] (3-9g) |
Wu Mei / Mume Fruit, Lit. "Dark Plum" | |||
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Taste: Sour • Temperature: Warm • Category: Stabilize & Bind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Inhibits the leakage of Lung qi & stops coughs: for chronic Lung deficiency cough.2. Binds up the Intestines & stops diarrhea: for unremitting chronic diarrhea or dysenteric disorders. Also used for blood in the stool. 3. Generates fluids & alleviates thirst: for thirst due to heat from deficiency of qi & yin deficiency. Often used for wasting & thirsting disorders due to heat from deficiency. 4. Expels roundworms & alleviates pain: for roundworm induced vomiting & abdominal pain. Also occassionally used for abdominal pain & vomiting without parasites. 5. Stops bleeding: for blood in the stool & excessive uterine bleeding where there are accompanying symptoms of blood deficiency including dryness & thirst, with a parched mouth. 6. Used topically as a plaster to treat corns & warts. After softening in hot water, the growth is removed & the plaster applied to the area & bound with gauze. This is changed every 24 hours. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of internal heat excess & stagnation, or unresolved exterior disorders. |
Chuan Jiao / Szechuan Pepper Fruit Peel | |||
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Taste: • Temperature: • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage |
Actions |
Meridians |
Cautions |
Xi Xin / Ginger, Chinese Wild | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1-3g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for any exterior cold patterns, especially with the addition of dampness & underlying yang deficiency. This herb is oftern used for externally contracted wind-cold when the dominant symptoms & head & body aches.2. Warms the Lungs & transforms phlegm: for patterns of externally contracted wind-cold with congested fluids, manifested in coughing & copious, watery sputum. 3. Disperse cold & alleviates pain: for pain in various parts of the body, most commonly headache, toothache, or painful obstruction, due to wind &/or cold. 4. Disperses & unblocks the qi of the nasal orifices: for various types of nasal congestion. |
MeridiansLung, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of qi deficiency with profuse sweating, headache due to blood deficiency, or cough due to yin deficiency. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes shan zhu yu & huang qi, & counteracts hua shi. Use with caution in patients with renal problems as it can be nephrotoxic. |
Huang Lian / Coptis Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Drains fire & relieves toxicity for heat with blazing fire with such symptoms as high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, red tongue, & a rapid full pulse. Also for exessive heat with toxicity with such symptoms as painful, red eyes & sore throat & for boils, carbuncles, & abscesses.2. Clears heat & drains dampness: for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines that presents with diarrhea or dysenteric disorder. Also for vomiting &/or acid regurgitation due to Stomach heat. 3. Clears Heart fire: for irritability & insomnia due to lack of communication between the Heart & Kidneys. 4. Clears heat & stops bleeding: for nosebleed, or blood in the urine, stool, or vomit due to reckless moevement of the blood. 5. Drains Stomach fire: for digestive dysfunction with bad breath & belching with a putrid odor. 6. Clears heat topically: used topically for red & painful eyes & ulcerations of the tongue & mouth. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency, nausea or vomiting due to Stomach cold from deficiency, & diarrhea due to Spleen or Kidney deficiency. Long-term use is discouraged as it can injure the Spleen & Stomach. This herb may antagonize ju hua, xuan shen, bai xian pi, & jiang can, & may counteract kuan dong hua & niu xi. Some also say that it should not be taken with pork. |
Huang Bai / Phellodendron Bark | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp | |||
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Drains damp-heat, particularly from the lower-burner: for such problems as thick, yellow vaginal discharge, foul-smelling diarrhea, or dysenteric disorder. Also for damp-heat pouring downward or hot leg qi with such symptoms as red, swollen, & painful knees, legs, or feet. Also for damp-heat jaundice.2. Drains Kidney fire: for ascending Kindey fire with signs of yin deficiency such as steaming bone disorder, night sweats, afternoon fevers & sweating, sometimes accompanied by nocturnal emissions & spermatorrhea. 3. Drains fire & relieves toxicity: for fire toxin generated sores & damp lesions of the skin. |
MeridiansKidney, Bladder |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with or without diarrhea. Toxicity: There has been one case reported of a patient who developed a rash after ingestion of huang bai. When the patient was later skin-tested, there was a very strong local reaction. |
Gan Jiang / Ginger Root, dried | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Warms the middle & expels cold: for warming the Spleen & Stomach both in conditions of excess due to externally contracted cold, as well as cold from deficiency due to insufficiency of the yang qi.2. Rescues devastated yang & expels interior cold: for devastated yang with such signs as a very weak pulse & cold limbs. 3. Warms the Lungs & transforms phlegm: for Lung cold with expectoration of thin, watery, or white sputum. 4. Warms the channels & stops bleeding: for cold from deficiency that may present with hemorrhage of various types, especially uterine bleeding. It is used in treating hemorrhage only if the bleeding is chronic & pale in color, & is accompanied by cold limbs, ashen white face, & a soggy, thin pulse. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or the reckless movement of hot blood. Use with caution during pregnancy. |
Fu Zi / Aconite Root (Treated) | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-15g, boil 30-60 min before adding other ingredients to reduce toxic properties |
Actions1. Restores devastated yang: for devastated yang disorders where the yang qi is extremely weak & the cold yin is abundant. Symptoms include diarrhea containing undigested food particles, chills, cold extremities, & a faint or imperceptible pulse. This condition often occurs after severe vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating. This herb is critical in these situations since it both assists the Heart yang to unblock the vessesls & improve circulation, & tonifies the Kidney yang to augment the fire & avoid loss of the basal yang.2. Warms the fire & assists the yang: for any problem associated with weakness or deficiency of the Heart, Spleen, or Kidney yang. It is a widely used herb, especially when the pattern involves interior cold due to yang deficiency. 3. Disperses cold, warms the channels, & alleviates pain: for wind-damp-cold painful obstruction, especially when cold is predominant. Also for cold blocking the Organs, channels, sinews, bones, or blood vessels. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with illusionary cold & true heat, & during pregnancy. Traditionally this herb was not to be used together with bei mu, gua lou, bai ji, ban xia, or bai wei. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes wu gong & counteracts xi jiao & lu dou. Note that the latter two substances are used to reduce the toxicity of this herb. Toxicity: Fu zi is a very toxic herb. Toxicity waivers widely depending on the source of the herb, when it was harvested, how it was prepared, & how long it was decocted. Preparation usually removes much of the toxicity. A toxic dose is usually far above normal level, on the order of 15-60g. Clinically, atropine has been very effective in treating overdosage of this herb. When gan cao & gan jiang are combined with this herb in decoctions, its toxicity is substantially diminished. Xi jiao, jin yin hua & lu dou also reduce its toxicity. Signs of toxic overdose include drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, blurred vision, & numbness in the mouth & extremities. In advanced cases there may be premature atrial contractions, dyspnea, tremors, incontinence, stupor, & reduced temperature & blood pressure. |
Gui Zhi / Cinnamon Twig | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi levels: for exterior cold from deficiency patterns where sweating occurs without any improvement in the patient's condition.2. Warms the channels & disperses cold: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction in joints & limbs, especially the shoulders. Also for gynecological problems, such as dysmenorrhea, caused by cold obstructing the blood. 3. Unblocks the yang & transforms the qi: for edema due to accumulation of cold phlegm or weak movement of the yang qi. 4. Warms & facilitates the flow of yang qi in the chest: for palpitations due to obstruction to the flow of yang qi in the chest. This can be due to either stagnation or deficiency. 5. Warms & facilitates the flow in the blood vessels: for dysmennorrhea with or without abdominal masses. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Bladder |
CautionsContraindcated for warm-febrile diseases, yin deficiency with heat signs, & heat in the blood with vomiting. Use with caution during pregnancy or excessive menstruation. |
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. |
Dang Gui / Angelica (Chinese) Root | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood | |||
Dosage3-15g |
Actions1. 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. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of diarrhea or abdominal distention due to damp obstruction. Contraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. |