Rhubarb and Moutan Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Da Huang Mu Dan Tang
English Translation: Rhubarb and Moutan Decoction
Formula Type: Purge Heat Accumulation
Actions: Drains heat, breaks up blood stasis, disperses clumping, & reduces swelling.
Indications: Lower abdominal distention & pain (usually on the right) that increases on pressure with rebound tenderness, guarding of the abdominal musculature, a thin, yellow, & greasy tongue coating, & a slippery, rapid pulse. There may also be pain in the groin (resembling painful urinary dysfunction without urinary difficutly) that is relieved by flexing the hip & knee (usually on the right) & increases when extending the hip. In addition, there may be a mass in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen & irregular, intermittent fever followed by chills & sweating.
Contraindications: Unsuitable for necrotic appendicitis, appendicitis with peritonitis, appendicitis in infants, appendicitis during pregnancy, or appendicitis due to parasites. It shoud be used with extreme caution in the weak & elderly.
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Da Huang / Rhubarb Rhizome |
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Purgative |
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Drains heat & purges accumulations: for high fever, profuse sweating, thirst, constipation, abdominal pain & distention, delirium, yellow tongue coating, & a full pulse. This presentation is referred to either as Intestinal heat excess or the yang brightness organ-stage of the six stages of disease.
2. Drains damp-heat via the stool, especially in cases of damp-heat jaundice or acute, hot dysentric disorders. Also for painful urinary dysfunction.
3. Drains heat from the blood: for blood in the stool either from bleeding hemorrhoids or heat accumulating in the Intestines. Also for reckless movement of hot blood that overflows, manifested in vomiting blood or nosebleed accompanied by constipation.
4. Invigorates the blood & dispels blood stasis: for amenorrhea, immobile abdominal masses, or fixed pain due to blood stasis. Also for blood stasis due to traumatic injury or Intestinal abscess. This is an important herb for treating both recent & long-terms blood stasis.
5. Clears heat obstructing the blood level: for fever, hot, swollen & painful eyes, or fire toxin sores due to heat excess obstructing the blood level.
6. Clears heat & reduces fire toxicity: used either topically or internally for burns or hot skin lesions. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of exterior disorders, qi or blood deficiency, cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Stomach. Use with exteme caution during pregnancy, menstruation, or post partum. Contraindicated for nursing mothers because the active ingredients enter the milk. |
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Mang Xiao / Mirabilite, Glauber's Salt |
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter, Salty • Temperature: Very Cold • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Purgative |
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Purges accumulation & guides out stagnation: for heat in the Stomach & intestines with constipation, this substance moistens dryness & softens hardness.
2. Clears heat & reduces swelling: for red, swollen, painful eys; painful, swollen, ulcerated mouth or throat; & red, swollen skin lesions including breast problems. |
MeridiansStomach, Large Intestine |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat excess, Spleen deficiency, in the elderly, during pregancy, post partum, & during menstruation. |
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Mu Dan Pi / Moutan root bark - tree peony root bark |
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Cool • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood |
Dosage6-12g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: for heat entering the blood level during a warm-febrile disease with such symptoms as nosebleed, blood in the sputum or vomit, or subcutaneous bleeding. Also for frequent & profuse menstruation due to heat in the blood.
2. Clears fire from deficiency: for yin deficiency patterns such as steaming-bone disorder, particularly in the aftermath of a warm-febrile disease. Most suitable in the absence of sweating.
3. Invigorates the blood & dispels blood stasis: for Liver blood stasis patterns with amenorrhea, abdominal masses, lumps, or bruises due to traumatic injury.
4. Clears ascending Liver fire: for such symptoms as headaches, eye pain, flank pain, flushing, & dysmenorrhea.
5. Drains pus & reduces swelling: used topically for firm non-draining sores or internally for Intestinal abscess. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated for cold disorders, during pregnancy or excessive menstruation, & for yin deficiency with excessive sweating. May counteract the effects of tu si zi, bei mu, & da huang, & should be avoided when using garlic. |
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Tao Ren / Peach Kernel (Seed) |
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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 |
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Dong Gua Ren / Wintermelon Seed |
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Cold • Category: Drain Damp • Sub Category: |
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Clears heat, expels phlegm, & promotes the discharge of pus: for heat that has collected in the Lungs or Intestines, as in Lung heat with expectoration of thick, yellow sputum. Also for damp-heat with phlegm obstruction in the upper or lower burner, as in Lung or Intestinal abscess. 2 Clears heat & drains dampness: especially useful in the treatment of damp-heat vaginal discharge.
Also known as Dong Gua Zi |
MeridiansLung, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of damp-cold or loose stools. |