Ginseng Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Influences
Chinese Prescription: Ren Shen Bai Du San
English Translation: Ginseng Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Influences
Formula Type: Release Exterior Disorders with Interior Deficiency
Actions: Releases the exterior, dispels wind & dampness, & augmenets the qi.
Indications: High fever accompanied by severe chills & shivring, absence of sweating, pain & stiffness of the head & neck, soreness & pain of the extremities, focal distention & fullness of the chest, nasal congestion with sonorous breathing, a productive cough, a greasy, white tongue coating, & a floating, soggy pulse.
Contraindications: Because of the warm, drying properties of many of the ingredients, it is improtant to remember that this formula is indicated only for externally-contracted wind-cold-dampness & is contraindicated for cases due to heat or damp-heat.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Qiang Huo |
Notopterygium | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Du Huo |
Angelica Dahurica | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Chuan Xiong |
Sichuan Lovage Rhizome / Ligusticum Wallichi | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Chai Hu |
Bupleurum | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Jie Geng |
Platycodon | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Zhi Ke |
Bitter Orange, Ripened | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Qian Hu |
Peucedanum / Hogfennel Root | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Fu Ling |
Poria | 30g(3-9g) |
view: Gan Cao |
Licorice | 15g(3-6g) |
Qiang Huo / Notopterygium Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns with such symptoms as chills, fever, headache, & body aches & pains. Most commonly used when accompanied by dampness with joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness, or when there is pain in the occipital region.2. Unblocks painful obstruction & alleviates pain: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially in the upper limbs & back. 3. Guides qi to the greater yang channel & governing vessel: to direct other herbs in a prescription to the areas served by these two channels. |
MeridiansBladder, Kidney |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of blood deficiency, yin deficiency, & exterior deficiency. Overdosage may cause nausea & vomiting. |
Du Huo / Angelica Root (Pubescent) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Dispel Wind-Damp-Cold • Sub Category: Pain Relieving | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Dispels wind-dampness & alleviates pain: for such disorders as wind-cold-damp painful obstruction, especially in the lower back & legs. Can be used for both acute & chronic conditions.2. Disperses wind-cold-dampness & releases the exterior: for exterior wind-cold together with dampness. 3. Also used for lesser yin stage headache & toothache. |
MeridiansKidney, Bladder |
CautionsContraindicated for yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Chuan Xiong / Lovage Root (Ligusticum) | |||
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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. |
Chai Hu / Bupleurum Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Resolves lesser yang disorders & reduces fever: for alternating chills & fever accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth, flank pain, irritability, vomiting, & a stifling sensation in the chest associated with the lesser yang stage of externally contracted disorders.2. Spreads Liver qi & relieves constraint: for constrained Liver qi with such symptoms as dizziness, vertigo, chest & flank pain, emotional instability, or menstrual problems. Also used for disharmonies between the Liver & the Spleen with such symptoms as epigastric & flank pain, a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal bloating, nausea, & indigestion. 3. Raises the yang qi in patterns of Spleen or Stomach deficiency: for hemorrhoids, anal or uterine prolapse, & diarrhea due to collapse of the Spleen qi. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Liver, Pericardium, Triple Burner |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency cough or Liver fire ascending to the head. May occasionally cause nausea or vomiting; should this occur, use only a very small dose. |
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. |
Zhi Ke / Orange (Bitter), ripened fruit | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cool • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
ActionsSee zhi shi. Milder in action than zhi shi, zhi ki is used to move the qi & reduce distention & pressure. It is especially appropriate when the patient is deficient or weak. If there is constipation, zhi shi is a more approoppriate choice. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy, or in cases where the normal qi is weak or there is Stomach cold from deficiency. |
Qian Hu / Hogfennel Root, Peucedanum | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Cool & Transform Phlegm-Heat | |||
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Redirects the qi downward & expels phlegm: for coughing or wheezing with thick sputum due to heat in the lungs.2. Releases wind from the exterior: for externally contracted wind-heat or wind-cold patterns that present with coughing & copious sputum. Most often used in wind-heat patterns. |
MeridiansLung |
CautionsMay counteract li lu. |
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. |
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. |
Gan Cao / Licorice Root (Chinese) | |||
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral (raw root) • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |