Tonify the Yang to Restore the Five Organs Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang
English Translation: Tonify the Yang to Restore the Five Organs Decoction
Formula Type: Invigorate the Yang and Dispel Blood Stasis
Actions: Tonifies the qi, invigorates the blood, & unblocks the channels.
Indications: Sequelae of wind-stroke including hemiplegia, paralysis, & atrophy of the lower limbs, facial paralysis, slurred speech, drooling, dry stols, urinary frequency or incontinence, a white tongue coating, & a moderate pulse. The source text also prescribes the formula for atrophy disorders with the same underlying mechanism. This is qi deficiency leading to blood stasis obstructing the channels.
Contraindications: Because this formula breaks up & eliminates blood stasis, it is contraindicated immediately after a stroke when the cause is cerebral hemorrhage. Until the etiology is established & cerebral hemorrhage has been ruled out, one should refrain from using this formula. Physician Zhang Xi-Chun argues that it should only be used if pulse is empty & forceless. It is therefore contraindicated in wind-stroke patients who have a big & forceful or firm, wiry, & forceful pulse, or in cases of yin deficiency & hot blood, or during pregnancy. Before using this formula, make sure that the patient has regained clear consciousness, the body temperature is normal, there is no hemorrhage, & the pulse is moderate. Herbal therapy may be required long-term, as its effects are generally slow & incremental.
|
Huang Qi / Astragalus |
|
Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi |
Dosage9-30g, 30-60g exceptional cases |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen deficiency presenting with lack of appetite, fatigue, & diarrhea.
2. Raises the yang qi of the Spleen & Stomach: for prolapse disorders such as prolapsed uterus, stomach, or rectum; also for uterine bleeding.
3. Augments the protective qi & stabilizes the exterior: for deficiency with spontaneous sweating, as the herb stabilizes the protective qi. It also tonifies the Lungs & is used for frequent colds or shortness of breath. Depending on the combination of herbs, it may be used for excessive sweating associated with qi, yang, or yin deficiency. Its action in stabilizing the exterior may be used to produce a therapeutic sweat when diaphoretics do not work.
4. Tonifies the qi & blood: for post partum fever due to qi & blood deficiency. Also used in the recovery stage from severe loss of blood.
5. Promotes urination & reduces edema: for edema from deficiency.
6. Promotes the discharge of pus & generates flesh: for chronic ulceration & sores due to deficiency that have formed pus but have not drained or healed well.
7. In appropriate circumstances, for wasting & thirsting disorder, numbness of the limbs, paralysis, & painful obstruction. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsSince this herb raises the yang, tonifies the qi, & stabilizes the exterior, it should no be used in cases of exterior excess, qi stagnation, damp obstruction, food stagnation, yin deficiency with heat signs, or skin lesions neither in their early stages nor where there is heat toxin. |
|
Dang Gui / Angelica (Chinese) Root |
|
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. |
|
Chuan Xiong / Lovage Root (Ligusticum) |
|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood |
Dosage3-6g, up to 9g for irregular menstruation |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & promotes the movement of qi: for any blood stasis pattern. This is an important herb in gynecology & is used for such problems as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, difficult labor, or lochioschesis. It is also indicated for patterns of stagnant qi & blood stasis with pain & soreness in the chest, flanks, & hypochondria.
2. Expels wind & alleviates pain: a leading herb for any externally contracted wind disorder characterized by headache, dizziness, or painful obsstruction. Also used for a variety of skin problems caused by wind.
3. Headaches: moves the qi upward & alleviates pain. Depending with which other herbs it is combined, it can be used for headaches due to wind, heat, cold, or blood deficiency. |
MeridiansLiver, Gallbladder, Pericardium |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, headaches due to ascendant Liver yang, qi deficiency, or excessive menstrual bleeding. Vomiting & dizziness may occur from overdosage. May antagonize shan zhu yu & huang qi, may counteract hua shi & huang lian, & may be incompatible with li lu. |
|
Chi Shao / Peony (Red) Root |
|
Taste: Sour, Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood |
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Invigorate the blood & dispels blood stasis: for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, abdominal pain & immobile abdominal masses. Also for the swelling & pain associated with traumatic injury, & the early stages of abscesses & boils.
2. Clears heat & cools the blood: for heat entering the blood level with fever, purple tongue, skin blotches, & bleeding due to the reckless movement of hot blood. Also for gynecological problems associated with hot blood.
3. Clears Liver fire: for red, swollen, painful eyes. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of blood deficiency. |
|
Tao Ren / Peach Kernel (Seed) |
|
Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood |
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Breaks up blood stasis: an important herb used in resolving many kinds of problems associated with blood stasis, including menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, traumatic inury, flank pain, Lung abscess, & Intestinal abscess with immobile abdominal mass.
2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: for constipation due to dry Intestines.
2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: for constipation due to dry Intestines. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Lung |
Cautions |
|
Hong Hua / Safflower Flower (Carthamus) |
|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood |
Dosage3-9g, 0.9-1.5g when harmonizing blood |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & unblocks menstruation: for blood stasis patterns with amenorrhea, abominal pain, post partum dizziness, lochioschesis, & abdominal masses.
2. Dispels blood stasis & alleviates pain: for blood stasis wounds & pain, nonsuppurative sores, carbuncles, & dark purplish erythema. Also for incomplete expression of the rash of measles or painful obstruction of the chest due to blood stasis. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated during pregnancy. |
|
Di Long / Earthworm |
|
Taste: Salty • Temperature: Cold • Category: Extinguish Wind • Sub Category: |
Dosage4.5-12g, effects enhanced by washing in wine |
Actions1. Drains heat & stops spasms & convulsions: for high, strong fevers with convulsions & seizures. Can be used alone. Recently also used for schizophrenia of the hot manic type.
2. Calms wheezing: for wheezing, especially due to Lung heat.
3. Clears heat & unblocks & promotes movement in the channels & collaterals: for swollen & painful joints with reduced range of motion. Most commonly used for hot painful obstruction, but with other appropriate substances can also be used for cold painful obstruction. Also used for hemiplegia due to lack of flow in the channels, such as sequelae of wind-stroke.
4. Clears heat & promotes urination: for hot painful urinary dysfunction, & in severe cases, edema. Especially useful for problems due to heat clumping in the Bladder with urinary difficulty or inability to urinate.
5. Also used recently for hypertension associated with ascendant Live yang patterns. |
MeridiansBladder, Liver, Lung, Spleen |
CautionsNone. |