Professor Liu Bingfan's Pinggan Xifeng Decoction for Headache from Brain Tumors
Professor Liu Bingfan (1910–2000) was a native of Miluo, Hunan. For over fifty years he practiced Chinese medicine; he was a member of the National Schistosomiasis Research Committee, a council member of the All-China Association of Chinese Medicine, deputy director of the Theoretical Research Office of the Hunan Provincial Institute of Chinese Medicine and Materia Medica, and head of the graduate class.
Professor Liu had an experienced formula for brain tumors, Pinggan Xifeng Decoction (Liver-Suppressing Wind-Extinguishing Decoction). Its indications are severe headache caused by compression from a brain tumor, nausea and vomiting (not clearly related to eating), double vision when looking to one side, restlessness, dry bound stools, a dry mouth with a liking for fluids, a red tongue with a dry yellow-white coating, and a wiry, forceful, thin, rapid pulse—which Chinese medicine regards as the syndrome of liver wind upsurge with liver evil attacking the stomach.
Professor Liu’s Pinggan Xifeng Decoction is composed of: Sheng Zheshi (Haematitum) 30 g, decocted first; Zhenzhumu (Concha Margaritiferae) 20 g, decocted first; Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) 15 g; Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae) 15 g; Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) 15 g; Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 15 g; Nüzhenzi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi) 15 g; Mohanlian (Herba Ecliptae) 12 g; Zhuru (Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam) 10 g; Tiankuizi (Radix Semiaquilegiae) 10 g; Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) 10 g; Zicao (Radix Arnebiae) 10 g; Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 5 g; Shtui (Serpentis Periostracum), dry-fried, 3 g; Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) 3 g; Wugong (Scolopendra) 1 whole.
After taking the above formula, if the headache and vomiting ease and the stools have become moist, remove Sheng Zheshi, Zhuru, and Huanglian, add Guiban (Carapax Testudinis), Biejia (Carapax Trionycis), Chongweizi (Semen Leonuri), and Shijueming (Haliotidis Concha), and continue taking it.
This formula can also treat migraine and general headache caused by neurasthenia, as well as vertigo.