1 Tranquilizing the mind with heavy and compressing (2)
*Zhu Sha An Shen Wan
Pills to Soothe the Mind with Cinnabar Combination
朱砂安神丸
Cinnabar (Zhusha) 15 g
Coptis (Huanglian) 18 g
Fresh rehmannia (Shengdihuang) 8 g
Chinese angelica (Danggui) 8 g
Licorice (Gancao) 16 g
Method Used: The herbs and substances are ground into powder, then made into pills, or boiled and made into tea.
Functions:
- To calm the heart and soothe the mind.
- To reduce fire and replenish Yin.
Indications:
deficiency of Yin blood →flaring up of fire →disturbance of the mind
Manifestations:
Insomnia
Dreamful sleep
Palpitations
Anxiety
Irritability
(Mind disturbed by flaring up of the heart fire which consumes Yin and blood)
Tendency to have nausea
(Fire affects the stomach)
Red tongue with little coating
Thready and rapid pulse
(Signs of Yin deficiency with heat in the interior)
Herbs and Actions:
Zhusha — To calm the heart and soothe the mind.
(sweet, cold, heavy) (clear the floating fire)
Huanglian — To clear heat in the heart and relieve irritability. (bitter, cold)
Shengdihuang, Danggui — — To replenish Yin and nourish blood.
Gancao — To harmonize actions of the other herbs.
Applications: Neurasthenia.
Cautions: As Cinnabar (Zhusha) in the formula is toxic, over dosages or prolonged use of the pills is not suggested.
Note:
1)Zhusha 0.3-1g, take with water, HgS, 96% in ore, fire – Hg, extremely toxic
2) Huanglian —- excess fire —- damage yin
so it must combine with yin nourishing herbs: Shengdihuang, Danggui
Characteristic of this formula:
1) Heavy, cold, bitter, sweet
2) Reducing, replenishing
Ci Zhu Wan
磁朱丸
Cishi 6, Zhusha 3, Shenqu 12
Disharmony between KI and HT
palpitation, insomnia, tinnitus, deafness, blurred vision.
Cishi —- KI, nourish yin, suppress yang, tranquilize mind
Zhusha —- HT, tranquilize mind
Shenqu —- SP, strengthen SP, prevent SP from damage by the two minerals
2 Tranquilizing the mind with nourishing (4)
* Suan Zao Ren Tang
酸枣仁汤
Decoction of Wild Jujube Seed Combination
Wild jujube seed (Suanzaoren) 15-18 g
Ligusticum (Chuanxiong) 3-5 g
Poria (Fuling) 10 g
Anemarrhena (Zhimu) 8-10 g
Licorice (Gancao) 3 g
Method Used: Wild jujube seed (Suanzaoren) are well boiled, then other herbs are added.
Functions:
- To nourish the blood and soothe the mind.
- To clear heat and relieve irritability
Indications:
Disturbance of the mind by hyperfunction of the liver due to deficiency of blood.
Manifestations:
Irritability
Insomnia
Palpitations
(Failure of blood to nourish the mind blood deficiency)
Night sweating
(Blood deficiency and heat in the interior)
Dizziness
Vertigo or distention and pain in the head
Blurred vision
(Head and eyes attacked by hyperfunction of Yang of the liver due to blood deficiency)
Dry mouth and throat
Thready, wiry pulse
(Signs of Yin deficiency with heat in the interior)
Herbs and Actions:
Suanzaoren –To nourish LV blood, calm HT mind; To astringe sweating and promote the production of body fluids. (sweet, mild)
Fuling (fu shen) — To calm the heart and soothe the mind
Zhimu –To replenish Yin, clear heat and relieve irritability (bitter, sweet, cold)
Chuanxiong — To invigorate blood circulation, promote Qi, ease the liver and remove stagnation. (pungent, warm)
Gancao — To harmonize actions of the other herbs
Applications: Neurasthenia, paroxysmal tachycardia and climacteric syndrome.
Modifications:
- Severe Yin deficiency and internal heat. Add: White peony (Baishao) and Fresh rehmannia (Shengdihuang).
- Severe night sweating. Add: Schisandra fruit (Wuweizi).
- Severe palpitation and anxiety. Add: Dragon’s bone (Longgu) and Oyster shell (Shengmuli).
Note: Chuanxiong, warm, pungent, damage yin, but:
small amount, moving, good for LV qi, good for headache
especially lift yin to bring down yang
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
天王补心丹
The Heavenly King’s Tonic Pills
Fresh rehmannia (Shengdihuang) 12 g
Scrophularia (Xuanshen) 15 g
Asparagus root (Tianmendong) 60 g
Ophiopogon root (Maimendong) 60 g
Ginseng (Renshen) 15 g
Poria (Fuling) 15 g
Red sage root (Danshen) 15 g
Chinese angelica (Danggui) 60 g
Schisandra fruit (Wuweizi) 15 g
Wild jujube seed (Suanzaoren) 60 g
Biota seed (Baiziren) 60 g
Polygala root (Yuanzhi) 15 g
Platycodon (Jiegeng) 15 g
Method Used: The powders of the herbs are mixed with honey and made into pills coated with 5-15 grams of Cinnabar (Zhusha). Or decoction.
Functions:
- To replenish Yin and nourish blood.
- To tonify the heart and soothe the mind.
Indications: Disturbance of the mind by Yin and blood deficiency of the heart and kidneys.
Manifestations:
Palpitations
Anxiety
Irritability
Insomnia
Fatigue
Forgetfulness
(Disturbance of the mind by attack of fire due to Yin and blood deficiency in the heart and kidneys.)
Night sweating
(Yin deficiency with heat in the interior)
Nocturnal emissions
(The chamber of sperm attacked by extravasation of the Minister Fire (in kidneys) and the mind disturbed by the flaring up of fire in the interior)
Constipation
(Blood deficiency and dryness in the intestines)
Ulceration of the mouth and tongue
(Flaring up of fire due to Yin and blood deficiency)
Red tongue with little coating
Thready and rapid pulse
(Signs of Yin deficiency with heat in the interior)
Herbs and Actions:
Shengdihuang, Tianmendong, Maimendong, Xuanshen — To replenish Yin and clear heat
Danshen,Danggui — To nourish blood
Renshen, Fuling — To calm the heart and soothe the mind
Wuweizi, Suanzaoren — To nourish the heart and soothe the mind
Baiziren, Yuanzhi, Zhusha — To calm the heart and soothe the mind
Jiegeng — Guide herbs moving upward
Note: for deficiency of yin, blood, qi, KI, HT
replenish, invigorate, astringe
Applications: Neurasthenia and paroxysmal tachycardia.
Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan
柏子养心丸
Baiziren 12, Gouqizi 9, Maimendong 3, Shudihuang 6
Danggui 3, Shichangpu 3, Xuanshen 6, Fushen 3
Gancao 1.5
Function: Nourishing the heart and sooth the mind, replenishing the kidney yin
Indication: Blood deficiency, disharmony between HT and KI
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang
甘麦大枣汤
Gancao 9, Xiaomai 9-15, Dazao 5-7pieces
Function:
Nourishing HT and sooth the mind, regulating the middle jao;
tonify SP qi
Indication: “Zang organ dryness” (zang zao) [HT def + LV Stg]
Abnormal mental activities —- depression, crying, insomnia, strange speech or behave, etc.
Red tongue with scanty coating
Gan cao — sweet, nourish HT
Xiao mai — mild cold, nourish HT and calm the mind
Da zao — strengthen SP, benefit LV
Application: hysteria
Summary
Heavy:
Zhu Sha An Shen Wan 朱砂安神丸: HT fire →yin/blood def
Ci Zhu Wan 磁朱丸: KI yin def → HT floating yang
Nourishing:
Suan Zao Ren Tang 酸枣仁汤: LV blood def → yin def → yany hyper
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan 天王补心丹: yin def + blood def
Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan 柏子养心丸: blood def + disharmony of HT and KI
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang 甘麦大枣汤: HT def + LV stg