Chong Sui Dan for Nourishing Yin and Stopping Sweating

"Chong Sui Dan" (Marrow-Filling Pill) comes from Bianzheng Lu (Records of Pattern Differentiation) by Chen Shiduo of the Qing Dynasty. Its composition is: Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shudihuang) 2 liang (60 g), Fructus Corni (Shanzhuyu) 1 liang (30 g), Dendrobium (Jinchai Shihu) 5 qian (15 g), Cortex Lycii Radicis (Digupi) 3 qian (9 g), Radix Glehniae/Adenophorae (Shashen) 5 qian (15 g), Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Niuxi) 3 qian (9 g), Fructus Schisandrae (Wuweizi) 1 qian (3 g), Poria (Fuling) 3 qian (9 g). The above is one dose; decoct in water, remove the dregs, and take warm twice daily.

This formula supplements and engenders true yin, and clears fever and steaming bone. It is mainly used for damage to true yin: soreness and weakness of the legs and feet after standing for a long time, which over time leads to a sallow complexion and emaciation, foul breath, heat in the limbs, night sweats and steaming bone fever.

The composition of Chong Sui Dan is somewhat similar to Liuwei Dihuang Wan; the prepared Rehmannia, Cornus and Poria used are even three of the herbs in Liuwei Dihuang Wan. The large doses of prepared Rehmannia and Cornus are because these two have a strong yin-nourishing power. Dendrobium clears stomach heat; Cortex Lycii clears fever and steaming bone; Glehniae/Adenophorae nourishes yin and clears heat; Schisandra astringes yin and engenders fluids; Achyranthes supplements the liver and kidney, carries the herbs downward, and guides fire back to its origin.

Thus this is a representative formula for nourishing kidney yin. When kidney yin is deficient, deficient fire flares upward; when deficient fire flares upward, there is steaming bone and night sweats, sallow complexion and emaciation, weakness of the limbs, stomach fire with foul breath, and heat in the five centers. After nourishing yin, the deficient fire descends; assisted by heat-clearing and steaming-bone-dispersing herbs, the corresponding symptoms are all relieved.

This formula has some palliative effect on night sweats and fatigue due to vacuity heat in patients with infectious diseases and chronic diseases such as tumors. Those who need to use it long-term can prepare it into pills according to the doses in this formula.