Zhao Bingnan’s Empirical Formula “Yangxue Rongjing Pills” for Nodular and Vascular Diseases of the Lower Limbs
Yangxue Rongjing Pills (Blood-Nourishing and Sinew-Fostering Pills) is an empirical formula of the late Zhao Bingnan, a great modern master of TCM dermatology and external medicine in China. This formula was once used as an in-house preparation at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is included in Empirical Formulas of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The composition is: Ludangshen (Codonopsis Radix) 15 g, earth-fried Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 12 g, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 9 g, Shouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix) 30 g, Chuan Xuduan (Dipsaci Radix) 15 g, Sangjisheng (Taxilli Herba) 15 g, Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus) 12 g, Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 9 g, Shenjincao (Lycopodii Herba) 15 g, Weilingxian (Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma) 9 g, Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 9 g, Jixueteng (Spatholobi Caulis) 15 g, Chixiaodou (Phaseoli Semen) 15 g, Tougucao (Speranskiae Tuberculatae Herba) 15 g, Songjie (Pini Nodus Ligni) 9 g, Chishao (Paeoniae Rubra Radix) 15 g. Grind all the above herbs together into a fine powder, refine with honey into pills; take 9 pills each time, twice daily, with warm boiled water.
This formula of Zhao Bingnan has the actions of nourishing blood, fostering the sinews, and unblocking the collaterals. It is indicated for nodular and vascular diseases of the lower limbs, and can also be used as adjunctive treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis when there are symptoms of unsmooth sinew and collaterals and joint pain.
In Master Zhao’s formula, Dangshen and Baizhu supplement qi; Danggui and Shouwu nourish yin and blood, while Shouwu also has the action of detoxifying and dissipating swelling; Sangjisheng, Xuduan, and Buguzhi belong to the TCM category of sinew- and bone-strengthening herbs; Shenjincao, Weilingxian, Jixueteng, and Tougucao all have the function of activating blood and unblocking the collaterals; Songjie and Chishao activate blood and stop pain; Chixiaodou drains dampness and reduces swelling; Chenpi regulates qi and dissipates nodules. Used together, they achieve the actions of nourishing blood, fostering the sinews, and unblocking the collaterals, with a targeted effect on diseases of the lower burner.
Nodular or vascular diseases of the lower limbs are mostly caused by lower-extremity phlebitis or venous thrombosis. When such a disease lingers for a long time, it presents both excess and deficiency manifestations, so TCM treatment should combine supporting the righteous qi with expelling pathogen. Master Zhao’s formula is precisely designed on this principle.
The course of treatment for this disease is long, so a decoction is not suitable; Professor Zhao Bingnan therefore chose pills for slow, gradual treatment. After such a chronic disease is treated to the point of being asymptomatic, the dosage should be reduced and continued for another one or two months to consolidate the effect.