Fushen Wan (Xuanbu Wan) for Xiaoke (Diabetes) in the Qianjin Yaofang

"Fushen Wan" comes from the Tang-dynasty physician Sun Simiao's Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold (Qianjin Yaofang); in Collected Effective Prescriptions (Jiyan Fang) it was renamed "Xuanbu Wan." Its composition is: huangqi (Astragali Radix), gualou (Trichosanthes), maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix, heart removed), fushen (Poriae Sclerotium Pararadicis), renshen (Ginseng), zhigancao (honey-fried Licorice), huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), each 3 liang (90 g); shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens) and shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), each 6 liang (180 g); tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) 3 liang (90 g); and roucongrong (Cistanches Herba) 4 liang (120 g). The herbs are ground together into a fine powder; about 600 ml of ox bile, with an appropriate amount of refined honey, is used to make pills the size of a parasol-tree seed. Twice daily, take 30–50 pills each time, washed down with a decoction of baimaogen (Imperatae Rhizoma).

This formula enriches the kidney and moistens the lung, boosts qi and clears heat. It is indicated for xiaoke (wasting-thirst), kidney deficiency of the lower burner, with excessive thirst and drinking and frequent urination. In modern practice it is commonly used for diabetes. Modern pharmacological research shows that the huangqi, renshen, fushen, zhimu, maidong, gualou, huanglian, shengdi, raw shigao and tusizi in this formula indeed all have a blood-glucose-lowering effect.

But the TCM rationale behind this formula is more comprehensive than merely lowering blood sugar. According to traditional theory, huangqi, renshen and zhigancao boost qi; maidong nourishes yin; shengdi cools the blood; baimaogen, gualou, huanglian, zhimu, shigao and ox bile are all heat-clearing herbs; tusizi and roucongrong tonify the kidney. Used together, they form a formula that supports the righteous qi and dispels pathogen—hence the ancients also named it Xuanbu Wan (Profound-Supplementing Pill). Besides diabetes, the formula may also be used for respiratory infections or chronic digestive-tract diseases presenting the above symptoms.

There is as yet no commercial patent medicine made from this formula; if you wish to use it, you must prepare it yourself. It may also be converted from a pill into a decoction; an adult decoction dose may follow: huangqi 10 g, tianhuafen 10 g, maidong 10 g, fushen 10 g, xiyangshen (American ginseng) 3–6 g, zhigancao 10 g, huanglian 6 g, zhimu 10 g, shengdi 20 g, raw shigao (crushed, decocted first) 20 g, tusizi 10 g, roucongrong 12–15 g (omit roucongrong in those with loose stools/diarrhea), baimaogen 15–30 g. Ox bile is hard to obtain and may be omitted, or replaced with gegen (Puerariae Radix) 15–30 g. One dose daily, decocted in water, taken once after each of breakfast, lunch and dinner.