Linking Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Yi Guan Jian
English Translation: Linking Decoction
Formula Type: Nourish and Tonify the Yin
Actions: Enriches the yin & spreads the Liver qi.
Indications: Hypochondriac, epigastric, & chest pain, a dry & parched mouth & throat, acid reflux, a red & dry tongue, & a thin, frail or deficient, wiry pulse.
Contraindications: This formula should never be used for pain & distention from dampness or phlegm, as this will severly aggravate the condition.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Sheng Di Huang |
Unprepared Rehmannia | 18-45g |
view: Gou Qi Zi |
Lycii-Wolfberry Fruit | 9-18g |
view: Sha Shen |
Glehnia/Adenophora | 9g |
view: Mai Men Dong |
Ophiopogon | 9g |
view: Dang Gui |
Angelica Sinensis | 9g |
view: Chuan Lian Zi |
Melia Fruit | 4.5g |
Sheng Di Huang / Rehmannia Root, Unprepared | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: for all warm-febrile diseases where heat enters the nutritive level causing very high fever, thirst, & a scarlet tongue. Also indicated in cases of hemorrhage due to heat entering the blood level.2. Nourishes the yin & generates fluids: for yin deficiency with heat signs, as well as injury to the body's fluids. Manifestations include dry mouth, continuous low-grade fever, & constipation. Also for throat pain associated with yin deficiency. 3. Cools the upward-blazing of Heart fire: for mouth & tongue sores, & for irritability, insomnia, afternoon or low-grade fevers, & malar flush. 4. Wasting & thirsting disorder. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with dampness, yang deficiency, & in pregnant women with blood deficiency or Spleen or Stomach deficiency. |
Gou Qi Zi / Lycii-Wolfberry Fruit | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood/Yin | |||
Dosage6-18g |
Actions1. Nourishes & tonifies the Liver & Kidneys: for such patterns of yin & blood deficiency with such symptoms as sore back & legs, low-grade abdominal pain, impotence, nocturnal emission, wasting & thirsting disorder, & consumpion. Since this herb is neither hot nor cold, it is commonly used in treating Liver & Kidney deficiency.2. Benefits the essence & brightens the eyes: for Liver & Kidney deficiency patterns where the essence & blood are unable to nourish the eyes. Manifestations include dizziness, blurred vision, & diminished visual acuity. 3, Enriches the yin & moistens the Lungs: for consumptive cough. |
MeridiansLiver, Lung, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases with externally contracted excess heat patterns, & cases of Spleen deficiency with dampness & loose stools. |
Sha Shen / Glehnia Root, Northern | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bland • Temperature: Cool • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yin | |||
Dosage9-15g |
Actions1. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughs: for dry, nonproductive cough due to lung yin deficiency. Also for consumptive cough with blood in the sputum or hoarseness due to chronic cough.2. Nourishes the Stomach, generates fluids, & clears heat: used in the aftermath of a febrile disease or when yin deficiency causes dryness of the mouth or throat. Also for accompanying constipation. 3. Moistens the exterior: for dry, itchy skin, especially when aggravated by cold, dry weather. Glehnia Root - Northern is better for nourishing yin. Glehinia/Adenophora Root - Southern Sand Root is better for cough. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases with cough due to wind-cold, or Spleen cold from deficiency. May antagonize fang ji & may be incompatible with li lu. |
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. |
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. |
Chuan Lian Zi / Melia or Szechuan Pagoda Tree Fruit | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & stops pain: for flank, rib, & abdominal pain due to constrained Liver qi or Liver-Stomach disharmony. Also used for hernial disorders. Especially useful in cases with heat signs.2. Clears heat, dries dampness, regulates the qi, & alleviates pain: for epigastric, abdominal, flank, or hernial pain associated with damp-heat stagnant qi. 3. Kills parasites & stops pain: for roundworms & tapeworms. Although this herb is not particularly effective in expelling parasite, it is able to alleviate pain & is threfore used for abdominal pain due to accumulation of parasites. Also used topically in powder form for tinea of the scalp. |
MeridiansBladder, Liver, Small Intestine |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Stomach. |