The Famous Thirst-Treating Formula: Yuquan Pill
Yuquan Pill ("Jade Spring Pill") originates from Wanbing Huichun (Resuscitation of All Diseases) by the Ming-dynasty physician Gong Tingxian. The formula consists of Huanglian (Coptis rhizome), Gegen (Pueraria root), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes root), Zhimu (Anemarrhena rhizome), Maidong (Ophiopogon tuber), Renshen (Ginseng), Wuweizi (Schisandra fruit), fresh Shengdi juice (raw Rehmannia), Lianzirou (lotus seed meat), Wumei (smoked Mume fruit), Danggui (Angelica sinensis root), and Gancao (licorice root), 5 qian (15 g) each. The herbs are ground into fine powder, then kneaded with human milk (nowadays usually omitted), cow milk, sugarcane juice, pear juice, and lotus-root juice, together with an appropriate amount of refined honey, and formed into pills the size of a bullet (weighing about 9-12 g). The same formula may also be decocted, using half the dosage above.
Yuquan Pill has the actions of boosting qi and nourishing yin, generating fluids and quenching thirst. It mainly treats the upper-type wasting-thirst (shangxiao) pattern caused by lung-heat consuming fluids and dual damage to qi and yin. The presenting symptoms include excessive thirst and polydipsia, dry mouth and parched tongue, frequent and copious urination, restless fever with profuse sweating, emaciation, a red tongue tip and edges with yellow coating, and a surging rapid pulse. Nowadays it is commonly used for diabetes, heatstroke, Sjogren's syndrome, and sequelae of radiotherapy that present with the pattern of lung-heat consuming fluids and dual deficiency of qi and yin.
This formula is built upon Shengmai Powder (composed of Renshen, Maidong, and Wuweizi) with the addition of Huanglian, Gegen, Tianhuafen, Zhimu, Shengdi, Lianzirou, Wumei, Danggui, and Gancao. Shengmai Powder is the representative TCM formula for dual damage to qi and yin; therefore the primary pattern treated here is dual damage to qi and yin.
The added herbs Gegen, Tianhuafen, Zhimu, Shengdi, Wumei, Lianzirou, and Gancao all promote fluid generation and stop thirst, while Huanglian is a common herb for clearing heat and draining fire. Danggui invigorates and nourishes blood (TCM holds that prolonged illness necessarily engenders stasis; in any chronic, refractory illness, adding blood-moving herbs such as Danggui, Danshen, and Chishao enhances efficacy). Judging from the added herbs, the formula focuses on clearing heat, draining fire, and quenching thirst; hence it addresses both the root and the manifestation of the wasting-thirst pattern due to dual deficiency of qi and yin.
Modern medical research shows that this formula not only has a certain glucose-lowering effect but can also reduce elevated levels of CRP, TNF-a, and IL-6. This suggests that, while lowering blood glucose and relieving symptoms, it also lowers pro-inflammatory cytokines and helps regulate the body's immunity.
When lung-heat is exuberant with profuse sweating, Huangqin (Scutellaria root), Digupi (Lycium bark), Sangbaipi (Morus root bark), raw Shigao (gypsum), and Fuxiaomai (light wheat) may be added. When stomach-heat is present (often accompanied by gastritis, gastric ulcer, hyperacidity, and other gastric disorders), increase the dosage of Huanglian and add Pugongying (dandelion) and raw Shigao to clear and drain stomach-fire; for acid regurgitation and reflux, add Wuzeigu (cuttlebone shell) and Baiji (Bletilla tuber). When blood-heat causes itching of the skin, add Difuzi (Kochia fruit), Mudanpi (Moutan bark), Xuanshen (Scrophularia), Fuping (Spirodela), and Chantui (cicada slough) to cool blood, disperse wind, and stop itching.
Ready-made Yuquan Pills are commercially available and can generally be bought at offline or online pharmacies. Patients in need may purchase them at a local or online pharmacy.