"Qianjin Xiaodu San" for Clearing Heat, Purging Fire, Detoxifying and Reducing Swelling
The formula "Qianjin Xiaodu San" (Thousand-Golden Detoxifying Powder) comes from Wan Bing Hui Chun (Recovery of All Diseases) by the Ming-dynasty physician Gong Tingxian. It is composed of 3 g (1 qian) each of Lianqiao (Forsythia Fruit), Huanglian (Coptis Rhizoma), and Chishao (Red Peony Root); 30 g (1 liang) each of Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle Flower) and Dangguiwei (Angelica Tail); and 9 g (3 qian) each of Zaojiaoci (Gleditsia Thorn), Muli (Oyster Shell), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes Root), Dahuang (Rhubarb), and Mangxiao (Mirabilite).
The above dosage is for one adult daily dose. Add water and wine in equal portions, decoct, strain the dregs, and divide into two warm doses. This formula clears heat and purges fire, resolves toxicity and reduces swelling. It chiefly treats all malignant sores, nameless toxic swellings, back carbuncles and deep-rooted boils, and freshly onset anal genital sores, with a pulse that is surging, rapid, wiry and forceful, and marked swelling about to suppurate.
This formula combines the TCM purgative method, the clearing method, and the method of activating blood and resolving stasis.
Dahuang and Mangxiao are used for their purgative effect. Hence patients suited to this formula commonly show constipation or burning sensation in the anus during bowel movements. Lianqiao, Huanglian, Jinyinhua, and Tianhuafen in the formula both clear heat and resolve toxicity and reduce swelling and dissipate nodules, employing the TCM dissipating method. Chishao and Dangguiwei activate blood and resolve stasis and reduce swelling and dissipate nodules, employing the blood-activating stasis-resolving method. Zaojiaoci reduces swelling, supports toxicity outward, and expels pus, and is a symptom-targeted herb. However, Zaojiaoci has a hemolytic side effect and should be used cautiously in the clinic.
Overall, this prescription embodies three TCM treatment methods, which are also the three methods most commonly used today to treat tumor diseases such as cancer; the combined effect of the three surpasses any single one. Pregnant women should not use this formula.
The malignant sores, nameless toxic swellings, back carbuncles and boils, and fresh anal genital sores in this formula are mostly caused by infectious diseases. But this formula also has a certain effect on cancer patients presenting with excess heat patterns. If a cancer patient shows high fever with thirst, bound-up stools, and scanty dark urine, this formula may also be used. It has a certain fever-reducing effect and can help cancer-fever patients with excess heat patterns.