Class 12: Formulas That Treat Dryness

Xianhui Li

Formulas That Treat Dryness

• Formulas that Gently Disperse and Moisten Dryness– Sang Xing Tang (Mulberry leaf and Apricot kernel Decoction)– Xing Su San (Apricot kernel and Perilla leaf powder)– Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Eliminate Dryness and Rescue Lungs

Decoction)

• Formulas that Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness – Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal)– Mai Men Dong Tang (Ophiopogonis Decoction)– Zeng Ye Tang (Increase Fluids Decoction)

Sang Xing Tang (Mulberry leaf and Apricot kernel Decoction)

Ingredients: Sang ye, zhi zi, dan dou chi, xing ren, zhe bei mu, sha

shen, li pi

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Clear and disperse warm-dryness.

• Indications– Moderate fever, headache, thirst, a dry

hacking cough or cough with scanty, thick and sticky sputum. a red tongue with a thin, dry and white coating, floating and rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula

• Monarch: Sang ye, xing ren– Sang ye: clear dryness from the upper burner.– Xing ren: descend lung qi.

• Depute: Zhi zi, Zhe bei mu– Zhi zi, Dan dou chi: release the constrained

heat.– Zhe bei mu: cool and transform phlegm.

• Assistant: Sha shen, li pi– Sha shen, Li pi: nourish yin and clear heat.

• Attention: – Not for yin deficiency.

Xing Su San (Apricot kernel and Perilla leaf powder)

Ingredients: Zi su ye, Qian hu, Xing ren, Jie geng, Zhi ke, Chen pi, Fu ling, Ban xia, Sheng jiang, Da zao, Gan cao

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Disperse cool-dryness, disseminate lung qi

and transform congested fluids.

• Indications– Slight headache, chills without sweating,

cough with watery sputum, stuffy nose, dry throat, a dry white tongue coating, wiry pulse.

Analysis of Formula

• Monarch: Xing ren, zi su ye– Xing ren: disseminate lung qi and stop coughing.– Zi su ye: release exterior cold.

• Depute: Qian hu, jie geng, zhi ke– Qian hu, Jie geng, Zhi ke: regulate lung qi, stop

coughing• Assistant: Chen pi, Fu ling, Ban xia

– Chen pi, Fu ling, Ban xia: regulate middle jiao and expel phlegm

• Envoy: Sheng jiang, Da zao, Gan cao– Sheng jiang, Da zao, Gan cao: regulate ying qi and

wei qi. Harmonize the action of other herbs.

Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Eliminate Dryness and Rescue Lungs

Decoction)

Ingredients: Sang ye, Shi gao, Mai men dong, E jiao, Hei zhi ma, Xing ren,

Pi ba ye, Ren shen Gan cao

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Clear dryness and moisten the lungs.

• Indications– Fever, headache, thirst, a dry hacking cough

and parched throat, dry nasal passages, a sensation of fullness in the chest, hypochondriac pain, irritability, thirst, a dry tongue without coating, a deficient, big and rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula

• Monarch: Sang ye, shi gao– Sang ye: clear and disperse dryness from the lungs.– Shi gao: clear heat from lung and stomach, relieve

thirst. .

• Depute: Mai men dong, E jiao, Hei zhi ma, Xing ren, Pi ba ye– Mai men dong, E jiao, Hei zhi ma: moisten lung and

nourish lung yin.– Xing ren, Pi ba ye: descend lung qi and moisten lung.

• Assistant and envoy: Ren shen, Gan cao– Ren shen Gan cao: augment qi and harmonize.

• Attention: – Not for patients with spleen and stomach

deficiency. Only suitable for attacking of warm dryness.

Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal)

Ingredients: Bai he, Sheng di huang, Shu di huang, Mai men dong, Xuan

shen, Chuan bei mu, Jie geng, Dang gui, Bai shao, Gan cao

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Nourish yin, moisten lungs, transform phlegm

and stop coughing.

• Indications– Coughing with blood-streaked sputum,

wheezing, a dry and sore throat, hot palms and soles, night sweats, a red tongue with little coating, a thin and rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula• Monarch: Bai he, sheng di huang, shu di huang

– Bai he: moisten and nourish dryness in the lungs and clear heat. – Sheng di huang: enrich yin, cool blood to stop bleeding. – Shu di huang: tonify liver and kidney yin.

• Depute: Mai men dong, xuan shen– Mai men dong: tonify yin in upper jiao.– Xuan shen: clear empty heat and help kidney water to ascend to the

lungs. • Assistant: chuan bei mu, jie geng, dang gui

– Chuan bei mu: moisten the lungs, transform phlegm, and stop coughing.– Jie geng: regulate lung qi and stop coughing.– Dang gui, Bai shao: nourish blood and support yin.

• Envoy: Gan cao– Gan cao---augment qi and harmonize.

• Attention: – Not for patients with spleen and stomach

deficiency. Not suitable for exterior pattern.

Mai Men Dong Tang (Ophiopogonis Decoction)

Ingredients: Mai men dong, Ren shen, Geng mi, Da zao, Gan cao,

Ban xia

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Benefit stomach, generate fluids, and direct

rebellious qi downward.

• Indications– coughing and spitting of saliva, wheezing,

shortness of breath, a dry mouth, dry red tongue with little coating, and a deficient rapid pulse.

Analysis of Formula

• Monarch: Mai men dong– Mai men dong: clear heat and generate fluids from

stomach and lungs. .

• Depute: Ren shen– Ren shen---augment qi and generate fluids.

• Assistant and envoy: Da zao, gan cao, geng mi, ban xia– Da zao, Gan cao: assist stomach qi and nourish blood– Geng mi: harmonize the stomach– Ban xia:descend stomach qi .

• Attention: – Not for exterior pattern, cold pattern or

dampness.

Zeng Ye Tang (Increase Fluids Decoction)

Ingredients: Xuan shen, Mai dong, Sheng di huang

Actions and indications of the formula

• Actions– Generate fluids, moisten dryness, and

unblock bowels.

• Indications– Constipation, thirst, a dry red tongue and a

thin and slightly rapid, or a weak pulse.

Analysis of Formula

• Monarch: Xuan shen– Xuan shen: nourish yin, generate fluids,

moisten dryness and clear heat.

• Depute: Mai men dong– Mai men dong: nourish yin.

• Assistant and envoy: Sheng di huang– Sheng di huang: nourish yin and clear heat