Huoxue Huajian Tang: Treating Superficial Masses
Huoxue Huajian Tang (Blood-Activating Hardness-Transforming Decoction) comes from Waike Zhengzong (Orthodox External Medicine). It is composed of: Saposhnikovia (Fangfeng), red Peony (Chishao), Angelica tail (Dangguiwei), Trichosanthes root (Tianhuafen), honeysuckle (Jinyinhua), Fritillaria (Beimu), Chuanxiong, Chinese honeylocust spine (Zaojiaoci), and Platycodon (Jiegeng), each 1 qian; plus stiff silkworm (Jiangcan), Magnolia bark (Houpo), flying squirrel's droppings (Wulingzhi), tangerine peel (Chenpi), licorice (Gancao), frankincense (Ruxiang), and Angelica dahurica tip (Baizhi Shao), each 5 fen. It is decocted in two zhong of water down to eight fen; taken with a small cup of wine just before use, after meals. Waike Zhengzong records that this formula "treats all scrofula, goiter, and phlegm nodules that have just formed and not yet ulcerated or suppurated—all are effective."
The scrofula, goiter, and phlegm nodules in Waike Zhengzong roughly correspond to today's lymph node enlargement, thyroid enlargement, and similar conditions. Their causes are usually complex; TCM holds that these diseases arise from obstructed blood flow and blocked collaterals, together with binding of phlegm and qi that over time forms nodules. Treatment therefore emphasizes activating blood and resolving stasis, resolving phlegm and dispersing nodules, and regulating qi and unblocking stagnation. As its name indicates, Huoxue Huajian Tang heavily uses blood-activating, stasis-resolving and phlegm-dissipating, nodule-dispersing herbs.
In the formula, red Peony, Angelica tail, Chuanxiong, flying squirrel's droppings, and frankincense all belong to blood-activating, stasis-resolving herbs; Fritillaria, honeylocust spine, Platycodon, and stiff silkworm resolve phlegm and disperse nodules; Saposhnikovia, stiff silkworm, and Angelica dahurica expel wind and disperse nodules; honeylocust spine supports toxin eruption, reduces swelling, and drains pus; Magnolia bark and tangerine peel regulate qi and unblock stagnation; honeysuckle clears heat, resolves toxicity, reduces swelling, and stops pain. Used together, the herbs achieve blood activation and stasis resolution, phlegm dissolution and nodule dispersal, wind expulsion and collateral unblocking, qi regulation and stagnation release, and heat clearing and toxicity resolution. It is an effective formula for diseases with internal masses such as scrofula, goiter, and phlegm nodules.
Today this formula may be used for palpable superficial masses caused by various infectious diseases, lymph node tuberculosis, lymphadenitis, lymphoma, and thyroid tumors, whether painful or painless, red/swollen or not. One qian in the original formula converts to about 4g today, and five fen to about 2g.
The doses in this formula are small and safety is high; except for pregnant women, most patients may use it. But tumor patients taking Huoxue Huajian Tang must not take it with wine; instead, decoct with three slices of ginger and a little scallion white to promote the dispersal of the medicinal force in place of wine.