Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxin
Chinese Prescription: Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
English Translation: Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxin
Formula Type: Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity
Actions: Clears heat, eliminates fire toxin, & disperses wind-heat.
Indications: Strong fever & chills, redness, swelling, & burning pain of the head & face, inability to open the eyes, dysfunction of the throat, dryness & thirst, a red tongue with a powdery-white or yelllow coating, & a floating, rapid, forceful pulse.
Contraindications: Because most of the herbs in his formula are bitter or acrid & have dispersing properties, it should be used with caution in treating those with yin deficiency.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Huang Qin |
Scutellaria Baicalensis | 15g |
view: Huang Lian |
Coptis / Goldthread | 15g |
view: Ren Shen |
Panax Ginseng | 9g |
view: Niu Bang Zi |
Burdock Seed | 3g |
view: Lian Qiao |
Forsythia Blossoms | 3g |
view: Bo He |
Field Mint [add near end] | 3g |
view: Jiang Can |
Silkworm | 2g |
view: Xuan Shen |
Scrophularia | 6g |
view: Ma Bo |
Puffball Mushroom | 3g |
view: Ban Lan Gen |
Isatis / Baphicanthis Root | 3g |
view: Jie Geng |
Platycodon | 6g |
view: Gan Cao |
Licorice | 6g |
view: Ju Hong Pi |
Tangerine / Citrus Peel, Red Part | 6g |
view: Chai Hu |
Bupleurum | 6g |
view: Sheng Ma |
Chinese Black Cohosh | 2g |
Huang Qin / Scute or Baical Skullcap Root | |||
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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. |
Huang Lian / Coptis Rhizome | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Drains fire & relieves toxicity for heat with blazing fire with such symptoms as high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, red tongue, & a rapid full pulse. Also for exessive heat with toxicity with such symptoms as painful, red eyes & sore throat & for boils, carbuncles, & abscesses.2. Clears heat & drains dampness: for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines that presents with diarrhea or dysenteric disorder. Also for vomiting &/or acid regurgitation due to Stomach heat. 3. Clears Heart fire: for irritability & insomnia due to lack of communication between the Heart & Kidneys. 4. Clears heat & stops bleeding: for nosebleed, or blood in the urine, stool, or vomit due to reckless moevement of the blood. 5. Drains Stomach fire: for digestive dysfunction with bad breath & belching with a putrid odor. 6. Clears heat topically: used topically for red & painful eyes & ulcerations of the tongue & mouth. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency, nausea or vomiting due to Stomach cold from deficiency, & diarrhea due to Spleen or Kidney deficiency. Long-term use is discouraged as it can injure the Spleen & Stomach. This herb may antagonize ju hua, xuan shen, bai xian pi, & jiang can, & may counteract kuan dong hua & niu xi. Some also say that it should not be taken with pork. |
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. |
Niu Bang Zi / Burdock (Great) Fruit | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Disperses wind-heat & benefits the throat: for externally contracted wind-heat patterns with such symptoms as fever, cough, & a sore, red, swollen throat.2. Clears heat & relieves toxicity: for red swellings, carbuncles, erythemas, mumps, & acute febrile maculopapular rashes. 3. Vent rashes: for early stages of measles when there is incomplete expression of the rash. 4. Moistens Intestines: for wind-heat constipation. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of qi deficiency & diarrhea, or open sores & carbuncles. |
Lian Qiao / Forsythia Fruit | |||
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Taste: Bitter, Slightly Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Relieve Toxicity | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Clears heat & toxin & dissipates nodules: for all hot sores, carbuncles, & neck lumps.2. Expels externally contracted wind-heat: for such symptoms as pronounced fever, slight chills, sore throat, & headache. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Gallbladder |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen & Stomach deficiency with diarrhea, carbuncles that have already ulcerated, & cold (yin) ulcers. |
Bo He / Field Mint, Mentha leaves | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Cooling • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage1.5-6g |
Actions1. Disperses wind-heat: for patterns of wind-heat with fever, headache, & cough.2. Clears the head & eyes & benefits the throat: for patterns of wind-heat with sore throat, red eyes, & headache. 3. Vents rashes: used in the early stages of rashes (such as measles) to induce the rash to come to the surface & thereby speed recovery. 4. Allows constrained Liver qi to flow freely: for constrained Liver qi with such symptoms as pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability, & gynecological problems. |
MeridiansLung, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of exterior deficiency, or yin deficiency with heat signs. Not recommended for nursing mothers as this herb may lead to insufficient lactation. |
Jiang Can / Silkworm, infected w/ Beauveria-Bassiana | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Salty • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Extinguish Wind • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g, or 0.9-1.5g as pill or powder |
Actions1. Extinguishes wind & stops spasms & convulsions: for childhood convulsions or facial paralysis. Also used for seizures from either internal movement of Liver wind or wind-phlegm-heat.2. Expels wind & stops pain: for headache, red eyes, & sore, swollen throat from either externally contracted or Liver wind. Also used for loss of voice. 3. Transforms phlegm & dissipates nodules: for phlegm-heat scrofula & other phlegm nodules. 4. Expels wind & stops itching: for itching skin lesions such as wind rash. |
MeridiansLiver, Lung |
CautionsAccording to some traditional sources, this substance antagonizes jie geng, fu ling, bei xie, & sang piao xiao. |
Xuan Shen / Scrophularia Root | |||
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Taste: Salty, Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Cool Blood | |||
Dosage9-30g |
Actions1. Clears heat & cools the blood: used when heat has entered the blood level of warm-febrile diseases, causing bleeding, fever, dry mouth, & a purplish tongue.2. Nourishes the yin: especially for the sequelae of warm-febrile diseases with such symptoms as constipation & irritability. 3. Drains fire & relieves toxicity: for swollen or red eyes, & especially in extreme cases of sore throat. 4. Softens hardness & dissipates nodules: for neck lumps due to phlegm-fire as well as severe throat pain & swelling. |
MeridiansKidney, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of Spleen or Stomach dampness, or diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency. According to some traditional sources, this herb antagonizes huang qi, gan jiang, da zao, & shan zhu yu. It is also considered to be incompatible with li lu. |
Ma Bo / Puffball, Fruiting Body | |||
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Relieve Toxicity | |||
Dosage1.5-4.5g |
Actions1. Clears the Lungs, relieves fire toxicity, & improves the condition of the throat: for fire toxin affecting the throat causing pain, swelling, & loss of voice. Also cough due to Lung heat.2. Stops bleeding: used topically to stop bleeding, most often in the oral cavity or lips; also for bleeding gums associated with frostbite. |
MeridiansLung |
CautionsCnotraindicated where loss off voice is due to wind-cold. |
Ban Lan Gen / Isatis Root, Woad Root | |||
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Relieve Toxicity | |||
Dosage15-30g |
ActionsDrains heat, relieves fire toxicity, cools the blood, & benefits the throat: for warm-febrile diseases, warm epidemic disorders, mumps, & painful swollen throat conditions. Also for damp-heat jaundice. |
MeridiansHeart, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated for patients who are weak, or in the absence of fire toxin. |
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. |
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. |
Ju Hong Pi / Tangerine Peel, red part | |||
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Taste: Acrid, Bitter • Temperature: Warm • Category: Regulate Qi • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage3-9g |
ActionsSee chen pi. More drying & aromatic than chen pi, but is less effective in harmonizing the middle & regulating the Stomach & Spleen. Ju Hong Pi is used primarily for vomiting & belching, & for treating phlegm coughs. |
MeridiansLung, 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. |
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. |
Sheng Ma / Black Cohosh Rhizome (Chinese) - True | |||
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Taste: Sweet, Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & vents measles: for headache due to exterior wind-heat or the early stages of measles.2. Clears heat & relieves toxicity: for various manifestations of fire toxin in the upper or superficial aspects of the body. It is commonly used for sore teeth, swollen or painful gums, ulcerated lips or gums, canker sores, painful & swollen throat, sores, or blotches from warm-febrile diseases. 3. Raises the yang & lifts the sunken: for middle qi deficiency leading to such symptoms as shortness of breath, fatigue, & prolapse. Also used as a messenger to guide the effects of other herbs upward. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat due to yin deficiency, & for patterns where the upper is excessive & the lower is deficient. Also contraindicated in cases of fully erupted measles, & in patients with breathing difficulty. Toxicity: Overdose in humans causes headaches, dizziness, vomiting, tremor, gastroenteritits, & pathogenic erections. |