Evodia Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Wu Zhu Yu Tang
English Translation: Evodia Decoction
Formula Type: Warm the Middle and Dispel Cold
Actions: Warms the middle burner, disperses cold, & transforms dampness.
Indications: Treats cold qi generating turbidity, which in turn leads to distention. Treats both the root & the branch, so it is indicated where cold leads to visible symptoms of stagnation.
Contraindications: Contraindicated for acid reflux or vomiting due to heat.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
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view: Wu Zhu Yu |
Evodia | 60g |
view: Rou Gui |
Cinnamon Bark | 60g |
view: Hou Po |
Magnolia Officinales Bark (prepared in ginger juice) | 60g |
view: Pao Jiang (Hei Jiang) |
Fire Blasted (Charred) Ginger Root | 60g |
view: Chuan Jiao |
Sichuan Pepper Fruit Peel | (prepared) - 15g |
view: Chen Pi |
Tangerine / Citrus Peel | 15g |
view: Bai Zhu |
White Atractylodes | 15g |
Wu Zhu Yu / Evodia Fruit | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Warms the middle, disperses cold, relieves constraint in the Liver channel, & alleviates pain: for both Liver & Stomach channel disorders from cold or phlegm manifesting as headaches, epigastric pain with nausea, drooling, reduced taste sensation, pale tongue, & a very wiry or weak pulse. Also for cold hernial disorders in the area traversed by the Liver channel.2. Redirects rebellious qi downward & stops vomiting: for flank pain, regurgitation of sour fluid, a wiry, rapid pulse, & a red tongue due to Liver &/or Stomach disharmony. 3. Warms the Spleen, stops diarrhea, & expels damp-cold: for diarrhea due to cold from deficiency of the Spleen & Kidneys, & damp-cold leg qi. 4. Leads fire downward: for sores of the mouth & tongue. For this purpose the herb is ground into a powder, mixed with vinegar, & placed on the center of the soles of the feet. |
MeridiansKidney, Liver, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsSlighlty toxic. This herb is very drying & can injure the qi. It should not be used long-term or in cases with yin deficiency & heat signs. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes dan shen & counteracts zi shi ying. Overdose may cause the throat to become extremely dry. Toxicity: Large doses of whu zhu yu have shown a stimulatory effect on the central nervous system & can lead to visual disturbances & hallucinations. |
Rou Gui / Cinnamon, (inner bark) | |||
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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. |
Hou Po / Magnolia Bark | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Qi Regulating / Moving; Transform Damp - Aromatic • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Regulates qi & reduces stagnation of the middle jiao: Key herb for treatment of qi stagnation of the Spleen & Stomach that is causing epigastric & abdominal fullness & distention, loss of appetite, & poor digestion. Indispensable herb when treating bloating, distention, & other related signs of qi stagnation.2. Regulates qi circulation & dries dampness. Clinically qi stagnation with accumulation of dampness in the middle jiao is characterized by epigastric & abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, decreased intake of food, & a greasy tongue coat. 3. Descends qi, dissolves phlegm, relieves wheezing: treats cough & wheezing when phlegm blacks the normal circulation of qi in the Lung. Best for tightness in the chest, dyspnea, & cough & wheezing accompanied by profuse phlegm. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution during pregnancy or in cases of qi deficiency. Hou po has a mild anticoagulant effect, & should be used with caution in patients who take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Unprocessed hou po is sometimes irritating to the throat & may cause nausea. Processing it with sheng jiang reduces bitterness & the stimulatory effect, & is less likely to cause nausea & stomach discomfort. |
Pao Jiang (Hei Jiang) / Ginger Rhizome, quick-fried (black) | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Astringent • Temperature: Warm • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: Stop Bleeding | |||
Dosage3-12g |
ActionsSee gan jiang. Pao jiang is less potent than gan jiang for warming the interior, but is effective in stopping the bleeding associated with cold from deficiency. Some sources suggest that it is more effective than gan jiang in treating lower abdominal disorders. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
Cautions |
Chuan Jiao / Szechuan Pepper Fruit Peel | |||
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Taste: • Temperature: • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage |
Actions |
Meridians |
Cautions |
Chen Pi / Citrus (Tangerine) Peel - Aged, Matured | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Regulates the qi, improves the transportive funaction of the Spleen, adjusts the middle, & relieves the diaphragm: for Spleen or Stomach, stagnant qi patterns with such symptoms as epigastic or abdominal distention, fullness, bloating, belching, & nausea & vomiting. This herb promotes the movement of qi in general while specifically directing it downward. Its is therefore commonly used in treating many different types of nausea & vomiting.2. Dries dampness & transforms phlegm: an important herb for phlegm-damp coughs with a stifling sensation in the chest & /or diaphragm, & copious, viscous sputum. Also used for damp turbidity obstructing the middle with a stifling sensation in the chest, abdominal distention, loss of appetite, fatigue, loose stool, & a thick, greasy tongue coating. An important qi-level herb of both the Spleen & Lung channels, it is especially appropriate for disorders involving both channels. 3. Helps prevent stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to prevent their cloying nature from causing stagnation. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of dry cough due to yin or qi deficiency. Use with caution when the tongue is red, & in cases with hot phlegm or dry heat coughs, or spittting of blood. |
Bai Zhu / Atractylodes (White) Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen or Stomach deficiency with such symptoms as diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, & vomiting.2. Strengthens the Spleen & dries dampness: for digestive disorders due to Spleen yang failing to rise, with loss of its ability to transform & subsequent accumulation of dampness. Also for edema & reduced urination associated with Spleen deficiency. Used as an auxiliary herb for damp painful obstruction. 3. Stabilizes the exterior & stops sweating: for spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency. 4. Strengthens the Spleen & calms the fetus: for restless fetus disorder, especially when due to Spleen deficiency. Also for other types of this disorder when combined with appropriate herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or injured fluids. |