Biantan Fuwan: A Patent Medicine for Hemiplegia After Stroke Sequelae
Biantan Fuwan is a Chinese patent medicine produced by several manufacturers and included in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. Its composition includes: Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Chishao (Paeoniae Rubra Radix), Shudihuang (Rehmanniae Praeparata Radix), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Chao Jiangchan (fried Bombyx Batryticatus), Quanxie (Scorpio), Gouteng (Uncariae Ramulus), Baifuzi (Typhonii Rhizoma, alum-processed), Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Dilong (Pheretima), Tiesi Weilingxian (Clematidis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Duzhongtan (charred Eucommiae Cortex), Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus, salt-processed), Gusuibu (Drynariae Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma, vinegar-processed), Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Doukouren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Fuling (Poria), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, fried), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus, fried), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Fa Banxia (processed Pinelliae Rhizoma), Anxixiang (Benzoinum), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), and Bingpian (Borneolum).
Biantan Fuwan has a complex composition, a typical large compound formula. It may be seen as a modified combination of formulas such as Siwu Tang and Wuling San. It supplements qi and activates blood, expels wind and resolves phlegm. It is indicated for wind-stroke paralysis due to qi deficiency and blood stasis with wind-phlegm obstructing the collaterals, presenting as hemiplegia, facial deviation, excessive phlegm with qi deficiency, slurred speech, foot and knee edema, difficulty walking, sinew-bone pain, and limb contracture. Take with warm water or yellow rice wine, one pill twice daily. Today it is often used for symptoms caused by ischemic stroke and cerebral infarction.
In this formula, Huangqi, Renshen, Danggui, Chuanxiong, Chishao, Shudihuang, Danshen, and Sanqi enrich and activate blood. Danggui, Chuanxiong, Chishao, and Shudihuang are the four herbs of Siwu Tang, TCM's premier blood-enriching formula; Danshen "works like Siwu" and both enriches and activates blood. Renshen and Huangqi greatly supplement qi and blood; Sanqi is also a precious blood-activating and blood-enriching herb.
Rougui, Fuling, Zexie, Guizhi, and Baizhu make up most of Wuling San (Wuling San is composed of Rougui or Guizhi plus Fuling, Zhuling, Baizhu, and Zexie). Wuling San is a famous formula that warms yang, transforms qi, and promotes urination, its main action being to drain dampness and reduce swelling.
These two formulas form a large framework, showing that the focus of this formula is enriching and activating blood while draining dampness and reducing swelling.
Tianma, Quanxie, Gouteng, Baifuzi, Qinjiao, Chao Jiangchan, Dilong, and Weilingxian are all wind-expelling, spasm-relieving herbs. Tianma, Gouteng, Dilong, and Qinjiao lower blood pressure; Tianma, Baifuzi, Chao Jiangchan, and Dilong have some repair action on the nervous system. Duzhong, Buguzhi, Gusuibu, and Niuxi supplement the liver and kidney and are commonly used for paralysis. Xiangfu, Chenxiang, Anxixiang, and Bingpian move qi and open the orifices, common in neurology. The remaining Doukouren, Zhiqiao, Banxia, and Gancao move qi and strengthen the spleen, regulating the patient's qi dynamic.
This is a large, comprehensive compound formula. It is not only effective for wind-stroke paralysis but also has some adjunctive effect on other stroke sequelae. It may also be tried for corresponding symptoms caused by other neurological diseases and brain tumors.