Three Substance Pills for Emergencies
Chinese Prescription: San Wu Bei Ji Wan
English Translation: Three Substance Pills for Emergencies
Formula Type: Warm the Yang and Guide Out Accumulation
Actions: Harshly purges cold accumulation.
Indications: Sudden epigastric & abdominal pain & distention with pain so intense that it feels "as if an awl is piercing the abdomen," rough, uneven breathing, a cyanotic complexion, no bowel movements, a bluish-purple tongue with a white coating, & a submerged, tight pulse. In severe cases, there may also be loss of consciousness with the mouth tightly closed. This is sudden onset of severe cold accumulation, which is attributed to cold food stagnating in the Stomach & Intestines where it completely obstructs the flow of qi.
Contraindications: Ba Dou is a toxic substance that should be used with extreme caution. Contraindicated in weak & pregnant patients & in cases of acute abdominal pain due to heat or summerheat.
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Ba Dou / Croton Seed |
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Downward Draining • Sub Category: Cathartic |
Dosage0.1-0.3g pills or external |
Actions1. Warmly unblocks & vigorously purges: for severe cold accumulation in the interior leading to constipation & abdominal fullness, distention, & pain.
2. Drives out water & reduces edema: for ascites.
3. Bursts clogged phlegm & improves the condition of the throat: for phlegm clogging the throat & causing difficult breathing, wheezing, & severe fullness & distention in the chest & diaphragm. Also for phlegm veiling the sensory orifices.
4. Promotes the healing of abscesses & ulcers: used topically for abscesses that have supporated but not yet ulcerated to accelerate the ulcerating process. Also for severe ulcers such a phagedena. |
MeridiansStomach, Large Intestine, Lung |
CautionsUse with caution in weak & debilitated patients. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Antagonizes qian niu zi. When taking this herb one should avoid ingesting hot liquids, as this may severely aggravate its laxative effect. If the herb causes unremitting diarrhea, one should take cold rice congee or a tea made from huang lian & huang bai. Toxic. Ingestion of 20 drops of croton oil is lethal in humans. Ba dou is very irritating to the skin & mucous membranes. Contact can lead to contact dermatitis, skin edema, vesicles, or postules. |
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Gan Jiang / Ginger Root, dried |
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Hot • Category: Warm Interior & Expel Cold • Sub Category: |
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Warms the middle & expels cold: for warming the Spleen & Stomach both in conditions of excess due to externally contracted cold, as well as cold from deficiency due to insufficiency of the yang qi.
2. Rescues devastated yang & expels interior cold: for devastated yang with such signs as a very weak pulse & cold limbs.
3. Warms the Lungs & transforms phlegm: for Lung cold with expectoration of thin, watery, or white sputum.
4. Warms the channels & stops bleeding: for cold from deficiency that may present with hemorrhage of various types, especially uterine bleeding. It is used in treating hemorrhage only if the bleeding is chronic & pale in color, & is accompanied by cold limbs, ashen white face, & a soggy, thin pulse. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or the reckless movement of hot blood. Use with caution during pregnancy. |
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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. |