Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang
English Translation: Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
Formula Type: Sedate and Calm the Spirit (Shen)
Actions: Unblocks the three yang warmps, & sedates & calms the spirit.
Indications: Fullness in the chest, irritability with occasional attacks of fright palpitations, urinary difficulty, constipation, delirious speech, inability to rotate the trunk, a sensation of extreme heaviness throughout the body, a red tongue with a slippery coating, & a wiry, rapid pulse.
Contraindications: Although this formula contains a small number of tonifying herbs, its focus is clearly on treating excess. It must not be used for conditions of deficiency. If prescribed inappropriately, symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, irritability, or hypertension for which the formula may have been chosen will invariably get worser. In these cases, it is important to switch to a different formula immediately.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Chai Hu |
Bupleurum | 12g |
view: Huang Qin |
Scutellaria Baicalensis | 3g |
view: Ban Xia |
Pinellia | 6-9g |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 4.5g |
view: Sheng Jiang |
Fresh Ginger | 4.5g |
view: Gui Zhi |
Cinnamon Twig | 4.5g |
view: Fu Ling |
Poria | 4.5g |
view: Long Gu |
Dragon Bone | 4.5g |
view: Mu Li |
Oyster Shell | 4.5g |
view: Da Huang |
Rhubarb | [add just before end] - 6g |
view: Da Zao (Hong / Hei) |
Red or Black Date | 6 pieces |
view: Qian Dan |
Lead | (not available) *toxic* 4.5g |
Chai Hu / Bupleurum Root | |||
---|---|---|---|
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. |
Huang Qin / Scute or Baical Skullcap Root | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Clears heat & drains fire, especially from the upper burner: for heat patterns with high fever, irritability, thirst, cough, & expectoration of thick, yellow sputum, or hot sores & swellings. In treating the latter it can be applied topically or taken internally.2. Clears heat & dries dampness: a major herb for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines, which manifests as diarrhea or dyenteric disorder; damp warm-febrile disease, which presents with fever, stifling senstaion in the chest, & thirst but inability to drink; or for damp-heat in the lower burner with painful urinary dysfunction. Used as a an auxiliary herb for damp-heat jaundice. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat from deficiency in the Lungs, cold diarrhea o any other condition with cold in the middle burner, & restless fetus due to cold in the blood. May counteract mu dan pi & li lu. |
Ban Xia / Pinellia (Prepared) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Transform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold | |||
Dosage4.5-12g |
Actions1. Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, & causes rebellious qi to descend: for cough with copious sputum, as in conditions of phlegm-cold in the Lungs. Especially effective in transforming phlegm due to dampness of the Spleen.2. Harmonizes the Stomach & stops vomiting: for lingering phlegm-dampness in the Stomach that rebels upward, causing nausea & vomiting. 3. Dissipates nodules & reduces distention: for nodules, pressure, distention, or pain due to phlegm lingering in the chest, phlegm nodules in the neck (such as those of goiter & scrofula), or obstructions caused by phlegm anywhere in the body. Also for focal distention in the chest & epigastrium. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in all cases of bleeding, cough due to yin deficiency, or depleted fluids. Use with caution in all cases with heat. May be incompatible with wu tou. Toxic: overdosage symptoms include feeling of burning & numbness in the throat, lips, queasy stomach & nausea, & a feeling of pressure in the chest. For recovery, administer raw ginger orally. |
Ren Shen / Panax Ginseng | |||
---|---|---|---|
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. |
Sheng Jiang / Ginger (market fresh) Rhizome | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns.2. Warms the middle burner & alleviates vomiting: for cold in the Stomach, especially where there is vomiting. 3. Disperses cold & stops coughing: for coughing due to both acute wind-cold cough patterns & chronic Lung disorders with phlegm. 4. Reduces the toxicty of other herbs: for detoxifying or treating overdoses from other herbs such as fu zi or ban xia. 5. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi: for patients suffering from exterior deficiency who sweat without an improvement in their condition. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Lung heat, or Stomach heat with vomiting. |
Gui Zhi / Cinnamon Twig | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi levels: for exterior cold from deficiency patterns where sweating occurs without any improvement in the patient's condition.2. Warms the channels & disperses cold: for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction in joints & limbs, especially the shoulders. Also for gynecological problems, such as dysmenorrhea, caused by cold obstructing the blood. 3. Unblocks the yang & transforms the qi: for edema due to accumulation of cold phlegm or weak movement of the yang qi. 4. Warms & facilitates the flow of yang qi in the chest: for palpitations due to obstruction to the flow of yang qi in the chest. This can be due to either stagnation or deficiency. 5. Warms & facilitates the flow in the blood vessels: for dysmennorrhea with or without abdominal masses. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Bladder |
CautionsContraindcated for warm-febrile diseases, yin deficiency with heat signs, & heat in the blood with vomiting. Use with caution during pregnancy or excessive menstruation. |
Fu Ling / Poria, Hoelen, Tuckahoe | |||
---|---|---|---|
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. |
Long Gu / Dragon Bone | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sweet, Astringent • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Anchor & Settle Shen | |||
Dosage15-30g, cook 20-30 minutes before adding other herbs, use raw to settle & calm spirit, calcined as an astringent. Crush before using in decoctions. |
Actions1. Settles & calms the spirit: for emotional distress, restlessness, insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, or even seizures or mania-withdrawal due to an agitated Heart & spirit.2. Calms the Liver & anchors & preserves the floating yang: for irritability, restlessness, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, & bad temper due to Liver yin deficiency with deficient yang transgressing upward. 3. Prevents leackage of fluids: for loss of fluids due to deficiency including spermatorrhea, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emissions, vaginal discharge, & uterine bleeding. 4.Used topically (calcined & powdered) for chronic, nonhealing sores & ulcerations. |
MeridiansHeart, Kidney, Liver |
CautionsNot to be used with patterns of damp-heat or externally-contracted excessive disorders. May conteract with gypsum (shi gao) & fish. |
Mu Li / Oyster Shell | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Salty, Astringent • Temperature: Cool • Category: Calm Shen • Sub Category: Anchor & Settle Shen | |||
Dosage15-30g |
Actions1. Settles & calms the spirit: for palpitations with anxiety, restlessness, & insomnia.2. Benefits the yin & anchors the floating yang: for irritability insomnia, dizziness, headache, tinnitus, blurred vision, bad temper, or a red, flushed face due to yin deficiency with ascendant yang. 3. Prevents leakage of fluids: for continuous sweating in patients with steaming bone disorder or in the aftermath of a warm-febrile disease. Also used as an astringent for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge, & uterine bleeding due to deficiency. 4. Softens hardness & dissipated nodules: for various kinds of lumps in the neck such as scrofula & goiter. 5. Absorbs acidity & alleviated pain: used in calcined form for excessive Stomach pain with a sour taste in mouth. |
MeridiansLiver, Kidney |
CautionsNot to be used in cases of high fever due to excess with an absense of sweating. May have adverse effects when combined with ma huang, wu zhu yu & xi xin. Overdose may lead to indigestion or constipation. |
Da Huang / Rhubarb Rhizome | |||
---|---|---|---|
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. |
Da Zao (Hong / Hei) / Red or Black Jujube Date | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage3-12 pieces (10-30 grams) |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for weakness, shortness of breath, lassitude, reduced appetite, & loose stools due to Spleen & Stomach deficiency.2. Nourishes the blood & calms the spirit: for wan appearance, irritability, & severe emotional lability due to restless organ disorder. 3. Moderates & harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsSince hong zao aids dampness, generates heat, & may readily induce fullness in the middle burner, it is contraindicated in cases of excess dampness, food stagnation, intestinal parasites, or damp-phlegm disorders with such symptoms as epigastric distention & bloating. |
Qian Dan / Lead (not available) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: • Temperature: • Category: • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage |
Actions |
Meridians |
Cautions |