Herbs & Formulas
-
Out With the Old, In With the New: The Properties of Da Huang and Mang Xiao
In the Shennong Bencao Jing, the foundational ancient Chinese materia medica, three herbs are credited with the profound function of “removing the old to bring about the new” (推陳致新). While the logic behind this function is seemingly simple, its implications, both physiological and emotional, are often overlooked. When there is accumulation or obstruction, movement cannot…
-
Li Zhong Wan – Strength for Rising after a Bad Fall
Rehabilitation can be a complicated and often lengthy journey. It involves addressing not only the physical challenges—such as tissue damage, compromised physiological functions, lingering effects of injury, trauma, surgery, or debilitating illness—but also the emotional components that accompany these experiences. These emotional aspects are crucial to the healing process and can significantly influence outcomes. The…
-
Overcoming life’s challenges with a little help from chai hu
Chai Hu is a commonly used herb, associated with febrile diseases as well as with mental and physical manifestations of liver qi stagnation. Its classical description and uses reveal insights into its broad scope of its actions, offering guidance for the proper ways to use it. According to the Shen Nong Bencao Jing: Chai Hu…
-
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang: The Mind-Body Connection
We often speak of blood stagnation in terms of physical obstructions, circulatory problems and damaged tissue. We often speak of the tai yang conformation in terms of external pathogens that need to be expelled from the body using sweating as the main treatment strategy. So why are formulas that treat blood stagnation mentioned in relation…
-
The Force of Harmony – Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi Tang is the first formula described in the Shanghan Lun, and the most diverse. It is repeatedly mentioned in the text in relation to different clinical applications. It is often associated with the tai yang classification of disease, linking it to diseases of external pathogenic wind manifesting in fever, chills, body aches and…
-
Important Perspectives on Heat through the Analysis of Zhi Zi Chi Tang
The formula zhi zi chi tang is a small formula that treats a broad spectrum of conditions. It is indicated for “formless heat” which is lodged in the chest, constricting the movement of blood and qi in the upper burner. Indications Conditions it can treat can be categorized into three main groups: 1. Inflammatory Diseases…
-
The many pathways of water – a guide to Wu Ling San and the Ling-Gui formulas
The combination of the 2 herbs fu ling and gui zhi appears in several formulas in the Shanghan Lun and in the Jingui Yaolue. This combination functions to stimulate fluid circulation and urination in case of fluid retention. Gui zhi is an important herb of the Tai Yang conformation, with the action of stimulating movement…
-
Wu Mei Wan – A Formula Analysis and Clinical Evaluation
In this text, it is my aim to highlight my own experiences with the classical Shang Han Lun formula Wu Mei Wan in clinical practice. The idea came up during an e-mail conversation between Hila Yaffe and myself, where we were discussing the usage and modifications of this formula in detail. After some mailing back…
-
The Character of Stagnation in the Shanghan Lun – Si Ni San
The formula Si Ni San is a popular and widely used formula for treating pathologies of liver qi stagnation and liver invading the spleen. The list of possible clinical manifestations is long and varied, including: Digestive problems with abdominal distention and pain, irregular bowel movements. Gynecological problems with irregular periods, emotional and physical symptoms of…
-
The layers of Xiao Chai Hu Tang
The formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang is the main formula in the treatment of Shao Yang disorders. It is widely used for a large range of disorders, but to properly utilize this formula and witness it’s incredible effects, it is essential to fully understand it’s underlying mechanism. First of all, in order to realize this…