Heavenly Emperor's Special Pill to Tonify the Heart
Chinese Prescription: Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
English Translation: Heavenly Emperor's Special Pill to Tonify the Heart
Formula Type: Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit (Shen)
Actions: Enriches the yin, nourishes the blood, clears heat, & calms the spirit.
Indications: Irritability, palpitations with anxiety, fatigue, insomnia with very restless sleep, inability to think or concentrate for even short periods of time, nocturnal emissions, forgetfulness, dry stools, a red tongue with little coating, & a thin, rapid pulse. There may also be sores of the mouth & tongue, low-grade fever, & night sweats. This is yin & blood deficiency leading to a restless state of mind.
Contraindications: Because the ingredients in this formula are cold & rich, it should be used with caution in those with a weak & deficient Spleen & Stomach. Zhu Sha is not offered for usage due to the toxicity.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Sheng Di Huang |
Unprepared Rehmannia | (12-15g)120g |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | (9-12g)15g |
view: Tian Men Dong |
Asparagus Root | (9-15g)30g |
view: Mai Men Dong |
Ophiopogon | (9-15g)30g |
view: Xuan Shen |
Scrophularia | (9-12g)15g |
view: Dan Shen |
Red Salvia | (9-12g)15g |
view: Fu Ling |
Poria | (9-12g)15g |
view: Yuan Zhi |
Polygala | (9-12g)15g |
view: Dang Gui |
Angelica Sinensis | (9-15g)30g |
view: Wu Wei Zi |
Schisandra | (6-15g)30g |
view: Bai Zi Ren |
Biota Seed | (9-15g)30g |
view: Suan Zao Ren (Chao) |
Dry-fried Jujube-Zizyphus Seeds | (9-15g)30g |
view: Jie Geng |
Platycodon | (9-12g)15g |
view: Zhu Sha |
Cinnabar | *not available* toxic |
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. |
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. |
Tian Men Dong / Asparagus Tuber | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Very Cold • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yin | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Nourishes the Kidney yin & clears Lung heat: for yin deficiency with heat signs in the upper burner, typically dryness of the mouth. Also for dry Lung patterns with such signs as dry mouth & thick or blood-streaked sputum that is difficult to expectorate.2. Moistens the Lungs, nourishes the Kidneys, & generates fluids: for lung & Kidney yin deficiency, especially wasting & thirsting disorder & consumption with low-grade afternoon fever. Also for constipation due to dry Intestines. |
MeridiansKidney, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Stomach with loss of appetite & diarrhea. Also contraindicated for wind-cold cough. |
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. |
Xuan Shen / Scrophularia Root | |||
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Taste: Salty, Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: used when heat has entered the blood level of warm-febrile diseases, causing bleeding, fever, dry mouth, & a purplish tongue.2. Nourishes the yin: especially for the sequelae of warm-febrile diseases with such symptoms as constipation & irritability. 3. Drains fire & relieves toxicity: for swollen or red eyes, & especially in extreme cases of sore throat. 4. Softens hardness & dissipates nodules: for neck lumps due to phlegm-fire as well as severe throat pain & swelling. |
MeridiansKidney, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of Spleen or Stomach dampness, or diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes huang qi, gan jiang, da zao, & shan zhu yu. It is also considered to be incompatible with li lu. |
Dan Shen / Chinese Red Sage Root (Salvia) | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Regulate Blood • Sub Category: Invigorate Blood | |||
Dosage6-15g, up to 60g if used alone or to treat vasculitis |
Actions1. Invigorates the blood & breaks up blood stasis: for blood stasis disorders in the lower abdomen such as dymenorrhea, amenorrhea, palpable masses, lochioschesis, & pain due to blood stasis. It is also used for blood stasis obstructing the chest with chest or epigastric pain, as well as soreness in the ribs or hypochondria due to constrained Liver qi with blood stasis.2. Clears heat & soothes irritability: especially useful for restlessness, irritability, palpitations, & insomnia due to heat entering the nutritive level. it can also be used in patterms of Heart & Kidney yin deficiency. |
MeridiansHeart, Pericardium, Liver |
CautionsUse with caution in cases without blood stasis. May be imcompatible with li lu. |
Fu Ling / Poria, Hoelen, Tuckahoe | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Bland • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Drain Damp • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage9-15g, up to 60g |
Actions1. Promotes urination & leaches out dampness: for urinary difficulty, diarrhea, or edema due to stagnation of fluids or dampness. Also used in cases of scanty urine due to damp-heat (more often in its red form).2. Strengthens the Spleen & harmonizes the middle burner: for Spleen deficiency compounded by dampness with such symptoms as loss of appetite, diarrhea, & epigastric distention. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & transforms phlegm: for Spleen deficiency with congested fluids in which phlegm moves upward with such symptoms as palpitations, headache, dizziness, & a thick, greasy tongue coating. 4. Quites the Heart & calms the spirit: for palpiations, insomnia, or forgetfulness. |
MeridiansHeart, Spleen, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of frequent, copious urine due to cold from deficiency. May counteract di yu, qin jiao & bie jia. Taking this herb in large doses or long-term is discouraged. |
Yuan Zhi / Polygala Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Slighty warm • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Nourish Heart | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Calms the spirit & quiets the Heart: for insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness, & disorientation. Most effective in cases related to excessive brooding or constrained, pent-up emotions.2. Expels phlegm & clears the orifices: used when phlegm envelopes the orifices of the Heart with such manifestations as emotional & mental disorientation or seizures. 3. Expels phlegm from the Lungs: for coughs with copious sputum, especially when difficult to expectorate. 4. Reduces abscesses & dissipates swellings: for boils, abscesses, sores, & swolllen & painful breasts. Used in powdered form & applied topically or taken with wine. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. Use with caution in cases with ulcers or gastritis. May counteract with zhen zhu & li lu. |
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. |
Wu Wei Zi / Schisandra Fruit - "5 flavored seed" | |||
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Taste: Sour • Temperature: Warm • Category: Stabilize & Bind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g, 1.5-3g (chronic cough), 6-9g (tonic) |
Actions1. Contains the leakage of Lung qi & stops coughing: for chronic cough & wheezing due to Lung deficiency or patterns of Lung & Kidney deficiency. This herb inhibits the leakage of Lung qi above, enriching the Kidney yin below, & also stops coughing. As such it is an important & effective herb for chronic cough.2. Tonifies the Kidneys, binds up essence, & stops diarrhea: for nocturnal emission, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, & urinary frequency due to Kidney deficiency. Also used for daybreak diarrhea due to Spleen & Kidey deficiency. 3. Inhibits sweating & generates fluids: for excessive sweating, especially when accompanied by thirst or dry throat. Depending on the other ingredients in the formula, it can be used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, or even wasting & thirsting disorders. 4. Quiets the spirit & calms the heart: for irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep, nsomnia due to injury to the blood & yin of the Heart & Kidneys. 5. Recently used for allergic skin disorders & to improve liver function in patients with hepatitis. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated when an exterior condition is not cleared, when there is heat from excess in the interior, or in the early stages of coughs or rashes. This herb may occasionally cause heartburn. Toxicity: Symptoms of overdose include restlessness, insomnia, or dyspnea. |
Bai Zi Ren / Biota Seed (Abor-vitae Seed) | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Blood Tonic; Nourish Heart | |||
Dosage6-18g |
Actions1. Nourishes the Heart & calms the spirit: for irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness, & palpitations with anxiety due to Heart blood deficiency.2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: for constipation in the elderly, debilitated, & post partum women due to blood or yin deficiency. 3. Also used for night sweats due to yin deficiency. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Large Intestine, Spleen |
CautionsNot to be used in cases with loose stools or phlegm disorders. May antagonize ju hua. |
Suan Zao Ren (Chao) / Jujube (Sour) Seed, prepared | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Sour, Bitter • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Nourish Heart | |||
Dosage9-18g decoction, 1.5-3g powder |
Actions1. Nourishes the Heart yin, augments the Liver blood, & quites the spirit: for irritability, insomnia, & blood palpitations with anxiety due to either blood deficiency (inability to nourish the heart) or yin deficiency (with upward-rising fire).2. Prevents abnormal sweating: for both spontaneous sweating & night sweats. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Heart, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of severe diarrhea or heat excess. |
Jie Geng / Platycodon Root, balloon flower root | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Opens up & disseminates the Lung qi & expels phlegm: for cough. When combined with other appropriate herbs, it can be used for both wind-cold & wind-heat coughs.2. Promotes the discharge of pus: for expelling pus associated with Lung abscess or throat abscess. 3. Benefits the throat: used in manyy cases of sore throat or loss of voice, especially in those caused by external heat, but also when the condition is due to other factors such as phlegm-heat or yin deficiency with heat signs. 4. Directs the effect of other herbs to the upper regions of the body. |
MeridiansLung |
CautionsContraindicated for hemoptysis. May counteract long dan cao & long yan rou. |