Zhuangyuan Wan for Nourishing the Heart and Boosting Intelligence
Zhuangyuan Wan (Top Scholar Pill) comes from "Gujin Yijian" (Ancient and Modern Medicine Mirror). Its composition: Shichangpu (Acorus rhizome, rinsed free of hairs, 3.3 cm, nine-jointed preferred), Digupi (wolfberry root bark, wood removed), Baifushen (Poria with hostwood, peel and wood removed), Yuanzhirou (Polygala root flesh, soaked in licorice water and pith removed), each 30 g; Renshen (ginseng) and Baji tian (Morinda root), each 15 g. Preparation: grind the above into powder; separately take 60 g of Baifuling (white Poria, peeled) and 60 g of glutinous rice, grind together; take another 9 g of Shichangpu, break and decoct into a thick soup, strain out the dregs, and use the liquid to boil a paste and form into Wu-tse-sized pills. Take 35 pills each time, after meals, at noon, and before bed, three times daily. This formula nourishes the heart and boosts intelligence, and is indicated for forgetfulness, insomnia, and depression.
Zhuangyuan Wan has some effect on improving cerebral circulation and enhancing intelligence. In this formula, Shichangpu, Yuanzhi, and Baji tian all repair cranial nerves; Baji tian also treats depression. Modern pharmacological experiments confirm that Baji tian raises human serotonin and dopamine levels and improves clinical symptoms in depression patients. Fuling and Fushen both strengthen the spleen and calm the spirit; Renshen greatly supplements original qi. Combined, these drugs improve cerebral circulation, enhance memory, and regulate mood.
Thus this formula suits patients with physical weakness, forgetfulness, insomnia, and mental depression caused by cranial-nerve damage. Such patients often present with gloominess, mental cloudiness, poor concentration, shortness of breath, lassitude, dejection, anxiety, and restless sleep.
Renshen is a strongly tonifying herb in TCM. If the patient is robust, using ginseng may instead cause ginseng-abuse syndrome (restlessness, dry mouth, constipation, flushing, etc.). Therefore, if the patient is robust, do not abuse this herb in pursuit of heart-nourishing, intelligence-boosting effects.