Insights and Updates

"Da Qinjiao Decoction" comes from Suwen Bingqi Yi Baoming Ji (Life-Preserving Records on Disease Mechanism According to Suwen); in Jiaozhu Furen Liangfang (Annotated Good Prescriptions for Women) it is also called "Qinjiao Decoction." Its composition is: Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), 3 liang (90 g); Shigao…

Several years ago I wanted to step out of practice for a few years of study, but it was always hard to realize because I was serving far too many patients. Recently I have finally gradually moved onto the track of full-time study. Strictly speaking,…

"Danpi Decoction" comes from Waike Dacheng (Compendium of External Medicine). Its composition is: Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), 1 qian (3 g); Gualouren (Trichosanthis Semen), 1 qian (3 g); Taoren Ni (peach kernels pounded into a paste, Persicae Semen), 2 qian (6 g); Pu Xiao (Mirabilitum), 2…

The Chinese patent medicine "Lingyang Qingfei Wan" (Antelope Lung-Clearing Pills) is made according to the recipe in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (Part I, 2005 edition). The recipe is: Zhebeimu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus) 40 g; Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex, honey-fried) 25 g; Tianmendong…

Dear readers and fellow patients, Beginning September 1, 2024, I will formally step out of practice to return to campus for a period of full-time study. This period is initially set at six years, ending in July 2030. As for which school I have been…

Tuo ju ("sloughing gangrene") is a TCM disease name. In its early stage the affected limb is cold and numb, with intermittent claudication and rest pain; in the later stage the toe joints necrose and slough off, turning black, decaying, and ulcerating, with wounds that…

"Shangxia Liangji Dan" (Upper-and-Lower Mutual-Support Pellets) comes from Bianzheng Lu (Records of Pattern Differentiation) by the Qing physician Chen Shiduo. Its composition is: Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), 5 qian (15 g); Shudihuang (processed Rehmanniae Radix), 1 liang (30 g); Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), 5…

The Qing-dynasty physician Zhao Xuemin recorded in Chuanya Neiwaibian (Collections from a Wanderer, Inner and Outer Sections) a formula called "Jiedan Fang" (Mania-Cutting Formula). It consists of equal parts of Baifan (Alumen, alum) and Yujin (Curcumae Radix); the two are ground together into powder and…

Huanglian Wendan Decoction comes from Liuyin Tiaobian (Systematic Identification According to the Six Causes) by the Qing physician Lu Zixian. Its composition is: Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), 2 qian (6 g); Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam), 4 qian (12 g); Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), 2 qian…

"Shenjie San" comes from Wenbing Tiaobian (Systematic Identification of Warm Diseases). It is an empirical formula of Wu Jutong, the great Qing-dynasty master of warm-disease medicine. Its composition is: Bai Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus, fried in wine), 1 qian (3 g); Chantui (Cicadae Periostracum), 5 pieces;…