Lead Special Pill
Chinese Prescription: Hei Xi Dan
English Translation: Lead Special Pill
Formula Type: Rescue Devastated Yang
Actions: Warms & strengthens the lower source, & forces the floating Yang downward.
Indications: For two distinct presentation. True Yang deficiency where the Kidney Qi is unable to grasp the Lung Qi will present with wheezing & grasping for breath, cold extremities & cold sweats. The tongue is pale with a white, slippery coating. The pulse is submerged & faint. The second condition, Ben Tun is associated with the Kidneys & presents with a sensation of qi rapidly ascending from the lower abdomen to the chest. There is also fullness, pain, & distention in the chest, epigastrium & hypochondria.
Contraindications: Contraindicated for patients with externally-contracted pathogenic influences or yin deficiency. Also contraindicated during pregnancy. To avoid lead poisoning, it should not be prescribed for more than two weeks. In general it is not used for more than two to three days.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Hei Xi |
Lead | toxic *avoid usage* |
view: Liu Huang |
Sulphur | 60g |
view: Fu Zi |
Aconite | 30g |
view: Rou Gui |
Cinnamon Bark | 60g |
view: Yang Qi Shi |
Actinolite | 30g |
view: Bu Gu Zhi |
Psoralea Fruit | 30g |
view: Hu Lu Ba |
Fenugreek Seed | 30g |
view: Xiao Hui Xiang |
Fennel Fruit | 30g |
view: Mu Xiang |
Costus Root | 30g |
view: Rou Dou Kou |
Nutmeg Seed | 30g |
view: Chen Xiang |
Aloeswood | 30g |
view: Chuan Lian Zi |
Toosendan Fruit | 30g |
Dosage information not currently available
Liu Huang / Sulphur | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sour • Temperature: Hot • Category: External Application • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-6g internal as pill or powder, topical as pwdr or paste |
Actions1. Relieves toxicity, kills parasites, stops itching: applied topically for scabies, ringworm, & yin furuncles, as well as for damp festering sores, ulcers, & carbuncles. Also alleviates the itching associated with these types of disorders.2. Tonifies fire in the gate of vitality & strengthens the yang: taken internally to strengthen the yang fire & reduce yin cold. Used for many types of interior cold yin patterns such as cold & painful lower back & knees or impotence due to Kidney yang deficiency, asthma due to cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Kidneys, or constipation in the elderly caused by cold, where this substance help the yang pass the stool. |
MeridiansKidney, Large Intestine, Pericardium |
CautionsContraindicated during pregnancy, & in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs. Prescribe with caution for internal use. Toxic. |
Fu Zi / Aconite Root (Treated) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-15g, boil 30-60 min before adding other ingredients to reduce toxic properties |
Actions1. Restores devastated yang: for devastated yang disorders where the yang qi is extremely weak & the cold yin is abundant. Symptoms include diarrhea containing undigested food particles, chills, cold extremities, & a faint or imperceptible pulse. This condition often occurs after severe vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating. This herb is critical in these situations since it both assists the Heart yang to unblock the vessesls & improve circulation, & tonifies the Kidney yang to augment the fire & avoid loss of the basal yang.2. Warms the fire & assists the yang: for any problem associated with weakness or deficiency of the Heart, Spleen, or Kidney yang. It is a widely used herb, especially when the pattern involves interior cold due to yang deficiency. 3. Disperses cold, warms the channels, & alleviates pain: for wind-damp-cold painful obstruction, especially when cold is predominant. Also for cold blocking the Organs, channels, sinews, bones, or blood vessels. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with illusionary cold & true heat, & during pregnancy. Traditionally this herb was not to be used together with bei mu, gua lou, bai ji, ban xia, or bai wei. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes wu gong & counteracts xi jiao & lu dou. Note that the latter two substances are used to reduce the toxicity of this herb. Toxicity: Fu zi is a very toxic herb. Toxicity waivers widely depending on the source of the herb, when it was harvested, how it was prepared, & how long it was decocted. Preparation usually removes much of the toxicity. A toxic dose is usually far above normal level, on the order of 15-60g. Clinically, atropine has been very effective in treating overdosage of this herb. When gan cao & gan jiang are combined with this herb in decoctions, its toxicity is substantially diminished. Xi jiao, jin yin hua & lu dou also reduce its toxicity. Signs of toxic overdose include drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lightheadedness, blurred vision, & numbness in the mouth & extremities. In advanced cases there may be premature atrial contractions, dyspnea, tremors, incontinence, stupor, & reduced temperature & blood pressure. |
Rou Gui / Cinnamon, (inner bark) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-4.5g, crush into small pieces before using, usually taken as powder, pill or tincture to avoid loss of volatile oils |
Actions1. Warms the Kidneys & fortifies the yang: for a wide variety of problems due to insufficiency of Kidney yang & waning of the gate of vitality. Common manifestations include aversion to cold, cold limbs, weak back, impotence, frequent urination. Also for waning of the Spleen & Kidney yang with abdominal pain & cold, reduced appetite, & diarrhea. Also important for wheezing due to the failure of the Kidneys to grasp the qi.2. Leads the fire back to its source: the principal herb for treating the upward-floating of the deficient yang. Manifestations include flushed face, wheezing, severe sweating (when the sweat pours out like oil), weak & cold lower extremities, & a deficient & rootless pulse. This patterns is called illusionary heat & true cold, or heat above/cold below. Also used for other conditions where the upper part of the body is hot (e.g., dry mouth, sore throat, or toothache that become worse at night) & the lower part is cold (e.g., lower back pain, cold lower extremities, diarrhea, weakness in the proximal position of the pulse). 3. Disperses deep cold, warms the channels, unblocks the channels & vessels, & alleviates pain: for deep cold causing qi stagnation or blood stasis. Associated problems include cold in the blood causing amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea, damp-cold painful obstruction, yin type boils (chronic sores that are usually concave & ooze a clear fluid), & abcesses or sores that do not heal. 4. Encourages the generation of qi & blood: with qi & blood tonics as an auxiliary herb for chronic deficiency of qi & blood. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, interior excess heat, & the reckless movement of hot blood. Use with caution during pregnancy. |
Yang Qi Shi / Actinolite | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Salty • Temperature: Slighlty Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yang | |||
Dosage3-4.5g pill & powder |
Actions1. Warms the Kidneys & lower burner & fortifies the yang: for deficient Kidney yang & cold patterns with such symptoms as impotence, spermatorrhea, & premature ejaculation often accompained by soreness & weakness in the lower back & knees.2. Warms the womb: also used for infertility & uterine bleeding from cold womb. |
MeridiansKidney |
CautionsContraindicated in deficient yin patterns with heat signs. May antagonize ze xie, lei wan, & chan tui. May counteract tu si zi. |
Bu Gu Zhi / Psoralea Fruit | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Very Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yang | |||
Dosage3-9g, crush before using |
Actions1. Tonifies the Kidneys & fortifies the yang: for Kidney yang deficiency patterns with such symptoms as impotence, premature ejaculation, cold & painful lower back, or weak lower back & extremities.2. Stabilizes the essence & reserves urine: for enuresis, incontinence of urine, frequent urination, & spermatorrhea. 3. Tonifies & warms the Spleen yang: for cold deficient Spleen diarrhea, borborygmus, & abdominal pain. Most appropriate those cases with both Spleen & Kidney deficiency. 4. Aids the Kidneys to grasp the qi: for wheezing when the Kidneys do not grasp the Lung qi. 5. Recently used topically for alopecia, psoriasis, & vitiligo. |
MeridiansKidney, Spleen |
CautionsContraindicated in deficient yin patterns with heat signs or constipation. Even though this herb can be hard on the stomach, it is sometimes used cautiously for cold deficiency of the Stomach. May antagonize gan cao. Toxiticity: extemely large doses have had some teratogenic effect on animals. |
Hu Lu Ba / Fenugreek Seeds | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Yang | |||
Dosage3-9g |
ActionsWarms the Kidneys, disperses dampness & cold & alleviates pain: for deficient Kidney yang patterns accompanied by accumulation of cold or stagnant qi. Manifestations include abdominal or flank distention & pain or hernial disorders. Also used for damp-cold leg qi. |
MeridiansKidney, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated for patients with either damp-heat or heat from yin deficiency. |
Xiao Hui Xiang / Fennel Fruit (Seed) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g, can use locally as compress (dry-fry until hot, then wrap in cloth) |
Actions1. Spreads the Liver qi, warms the Kidneys, expels cold, & alleviates pain: used to warm & encourage movement in the Liver channel or the lower burner as in cold hernial disorders, or any kind of lower abdominal pain due to cold.2. Regualtes the qi & harmonizes the Stomach: for Stomach cold with such symptoms as abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite, & vomiting. |
MeridiansLiver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Mu Xiang / Saussurrea or Aucklandia Root | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviates pain: for Speen or Stomach stagnant qi with such symptoms as lack of appetite, epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea, & vomiting. Also used for stagnant Liver or Gallbladder qi with such symptoms as flank pain, distention, or soreness.2. Adjusts & regulates stagnant qi in the Intestines: for diarrhea & dysentric disrders, or for abdominal pain & tenesmus. Because of its slightly astringent property, this is a common herb for treatnig tenesmus. 3. Strengthens the Spleen & prevents stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to ameliorate their side effects. Especially useful when the transformative & transportive functions of the Spleen are weak. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency or depleted fluids. |
Rou Dou Kou / Nutmeg Seeds | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Stabilize & Bind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Binds up the Intstines & stops diarrhea: for chronic intractable diarrhea or daybeak diarrhea due to cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Kidneys.2. Warms the middle burner, moves the qi, & alleviates pain: for pain & distention in the epigastrium & abdomen, poor appetite, & vomiting due to cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Stomach. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of hot diarrhea or hot dysenteric disorders. Toxicity: Doses of 1.9/kg are often fatal in cats (with liver damage found in autopsy). In humans, ingestions of 7.5g of the powdered herb can lead to dizziness or stupor. Deaths from large overdoses have been reported. The primary toxic ingredient is myristicin, which is also a hallucinogen. |
Chen Xiang / Aquilaria Resin, Aloeswood (High) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage1.5-3g |
Actions1. Promotes the movement of qi & alleviates pain: for stagnant qi patterns with such symptoms as distention, pain, or a feeling of pressure in the epigastric or abdominal region. Especially useful for problems due to cold from deficiency or blood stasis.2. Directs rebellious qi downward & regulates the middle: for rebellious qi wheezing of either the excessive or deficient type, or vomiting, belching, or hiccoughs due to cold from deficiency of the Stomach or Spleen. 3. Aids the Kidneys in grasping the qi: for asthma & wheezing due to Kidney deficiency. |
MeridiansKidney, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of prolapse due to qi deficiency, & in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs. |
Chuan Lian Zi / Melia or Szechuan Pagoda Tree Fruit | |||
---|---|---|---|
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. |