Empirical Formula ⁽¹⁶⁶⁾

Guizhi Jia Fuzi Tang (Cinnamon Twig plus Aconite Decoction) comes from the Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage). The original formula is: Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramus) 3 liang, Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) 3 liang, Zhi Gancao (honey-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix) 3 liang, Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, sliced) 3…

Because many of the cancer patients I serve suffer from intractable insomnia, I once designed a TCM formula for treating insomnia and published it in my social media feed. The daughter of a lung cancer patient saw it, gave the formula to her insomnia-stricken husband,…

Erdong Tang originates from Medical Mind Awakening (Yi Xue Xin Wu) by the Qing dynasty physician Cheng Guopeng (Zhongling). Because the formula uses two herbs — Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) and Tiandong (Asparagi Radix) — it is named Erdong Tang, the "Two-Winter Decoction." The composition of…

"Wuzhi Anzhong Yin" originates from Experienced Prescriptions. It has the actions of nourishing the stomach and generating fluids, harmonizing the middle and lowering counterflow. It can be used for dysphagia (ye ge) belonging to the fluid-deficiency and heat-accumulation pattern. Symptoms include choking and pain upon…

Menopausal women often experience dizziness and headache, lightheadedness and vertigo, fatigue and weakness, sore lower back and weak legs, paroxysmal hot flashes (sometimes even with burning heat and sweating), occasional coldness, sometimes vexation and spontaneous sweating, a pale tongue, and a deep fine pulse. Dizziness…

Chunze Tang comes from Shiyi Dexiao Fang (Effective Formulas to Benefit Physicians), and is an empirical formula for treating vexed thirst with a desire to drink together with difficult urination. The original text mainly uses it for summer-heat damage with vexed thirst and uncontrolled drinking,…

Winter colds are mostly of wind-cold nature. But if a cold drags on, or if the patient is affected by other diseases, the cold may give rise to a respiratory tract infection. At this point it can no longer be treated as wind-cold; it should…

The disease caused by excessive contact of the gastroesophageal lumen with (or exposure to) gastric juice, producing clinical gastroesophageal reflux and injury to the esophageal mucosa, is called gastroesophageal reflux; ancient TCM called this disease "ye ge" (dysphagia) or "ge shi" (dysphagia due to obstruction).

In *Shifang Ge Kuo (Collection of Formulas as Songs)*, compiled by the renowned Qing-dynasty physician Chen Xiuyuan, there is a classic formula called "Danshen Yin" (Salvia Drink), which is a representative TCM formula for treating heart and stomach pain. The composition of Danshen Yin is…

The veteran physician Zhu Yongxian has an empirical formula for treating vertigo caused by vertebral artery sclerosis and insufficient blood supply. The herbs are Danggui, Chuanxiong, Taoren, Honghua, Sanqi powder, Danshen, Heshouwu, Sheng Shanyao, Juemingzi (Cassiae Semen), and Zexie. For patients with severe symptoms and…