Jiegan Jian (Liver-Resolving Decoction) by Zhang Jingyue for Qi Counterflow and Chest Fullness After Rage
When a person flies into a rage, symptoms of qi stagnation in the chest and diaphragm and distending pain in both hypochondria may appear. TCM holds that this is counterflow and fullness of qi caused by rage damaging the liver. In Ming-dynasty physician Zhang Jingyue's Complete Compendium in Celebration of Health (Jingyue Quanshu), there is a formula called "Jiegan Jian" (Liver-Resolving Decoction), specifically for this condition. Later, Yihua Yijing (Penlet of Medicine) renamed it "Jiehen Jian" (Resentment-Resolving Decoction).
The formula is composed as follows: Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), Pinellia (Banxia), Magnolia Bark (Houpo), and Poria (Fuling), each one and a half qian (4.5g); Perilla Leaf (Zisuye) and White Peony (Baishao), each one qian (3g); and Amomum (Sharen), seven fen (2.1g). Use one bowl of water (about 300ml), add 3-5 slices of fresh ginger, decoct, strain, and take warm twice daily. If the patient has hypochondriac distending pain, additionally add White Mustard Seed (Baijiezi) one qian (3g); if there is qi stagnation in the chest and diaphragm with distending discomfort, add 1-2 qian of liver-soothing and qi-moving herbs such as Aurantium (Zhiqiao), Cyperus (Xiangfu), and Agastache (Huoxiang).
This is a formula for treating TCM emotion-related disorders. It is built on Zhang Zhongjing's Banxia Houpo Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction, composed of Pinellia, Magnolia Bark, Poria, Perilla Leaf, and Fresh Ginger), with the addition of White Peony to soften the liver and stop pain, plus Tangerine Peel and Amomum to move qi. The main action of Banxia Houpo Tang is to move qi and dissipate nodules, downbear counterflow, and resolve phlegm; it treats plum-pit qi (meihe qi), which is in fact also an emotional disorder—i.e., a psychological or psychiatric disorder in modern medicine. Adding pain-relieving, liver-softening White Peony enables the formula to also stop pain. Adding damp-resolving and qi-moving Amomum and Tangerine Peel makes its action of moving qi and removing stagnation more pronounced.
After a rage, people feel discomfort in the chest; as the saying goes, their lungs are bursting or their chest is filled with indignation—both aptly describe the patient's sensation. TCM treats such patients based on their presenting clinical symptoms as indications for medication. Jiegan Jian can also be used to treat angina pectoris.