Chapter 9 Formulas for Regulating the Flow of Qi

This group of formulas is mainly composed of herbs for regulating the flow of qi, having the effects of promoting the circulation of qi, sending down its upward adverse flow. It can be used to treat the stagnation and the reversed flow of qi. This type of formulas is divided into two kinds: the formulas for promoting the circulation of qi and the formulas for sending down the abnormally-ascending qi. Section 1 Formulas for Promoting the Circulation of Qi Qi-promoting formula with the effects of promoting the functional activities of qi is fit for the treatment of disturbance of the visceral function.

Yueju wan ( Pill for Relieving stagnancy )

Ingredients Nutgrass flatsedge rhizome, Rhizoma Cyperi Chuanxiong rhizome, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong Atractylodes rhizome, Rhizoma Atractylodis Capejasmine fruit, Fuctus Gardenias Medicated leaven, Massa Fementata Medicinalis The dose of all the ingredients is equal in amount. Administrations Grind the above-mentioned ingredients into fine powder first, and then make pills with water. Take 6 to 9 grams each time. It can also be decocted in water for oral administration with the dosage modified proportionally according to the original formula. Functions Promoting the circulation of qi to relieve the stagnation. Indications Syndrome of six kinds of stagnation marked by oppressed sensation and feeling of stuffiness in the chest, epigastric distension and pain, gastric discomfort with acid regurgitation, indigestion, eructation, vomiting and nausea, white and greasy fur of the tongue, taut pulse. Gastrointestinal neurosis, astroduodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, infectious hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, intercostal neuralgia, dysmenorrhea and others marked by symptoms of six kinds of stagnation can be treated by the modified formula.

Modern Researches Modern studies have proved that this formula has the effects of tranquilizing the mind, alleviating pain, promoting digestion, and relieving spasm of uterine smooth muscle. Cautions This formula is indicated only for the stagnancy belong to excess syndromes. Stagnancy associated with deficiency type should not be treated only with this formula.

Banxia Houpo Tang ( Decoction of Pinellia and Magnolia Bark )

Ingredients Pinellia tuber, Rhizoma Finelliae 12g Magnolia bark, Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis 9g Poria, Poria 12g Fresh ginger, Rhizoma Zingibera Recens 9g Perilla leaf, Folium Perillae 6g Administrations All the herbs listed above are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Functions Promoting the circulation of qi to alleviate mental depression, lowering the adverse flow of qi and resolving phlegm. Indications Globus hystericus marked by a subjective sensation as if a plum pit is stuck in the throat which can neither be thrown up nor swallowed down, or accompanied by fullness and distress in the chest and hypochondrium, or cough or vomiting, white, moist or greasy fur of the tongue, and slippery or taut pulse. Pharyngoneurosis, pharyngitis, edema of plica vocalis, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, neurogenic vomiting, gastirc neurosis and vomiting of pregnancy marked by stagnancy of phlegm and qi or reversed flow of qi can be treated by the modified formula. Modern researches Modern researches have proved that the formula has the effects of expelling phlegm, arresting cough, relieving spasm of smooth muscles of bronchus and regulating the function of autonomic nerve and removing edema. Cautions The formula is mainly composed of herbs bitter and pungent in taste, warm and dry in nature, so it is

only indicated for stagnation of phlegm and qi, partially for the phlegm-dampness. It is contraindicated in patients with deficiency of yin-fluid or hyperactivity of pathogenic fire due to yin deficiency.

Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Tang(Decoction of Trichosanthes and Macrostem with Liquor)

Ingredients Trichosanthes fruit, Fructus Trichosanthis 12g Macrostem onion, Bulbus Allii Macrostemi 9g Liquor, proper amount (or 30 to 60 ml) Administrations All the above are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Functions Dispersing obstruction of chest yang, promoting the circulation of qi to expel phlegm. Indications Obstruction of qi in the chest marked by checking pain in the chest, even radiating to the back, usually accompanied by dyspnea, cough, shortness of breath, white and greasy fur of the tongue, taut and deep pulse or tense pulse.

Patients with angina pectoris of coronary heart disease, intercostal neuralgia, non-suppurative costochondritis, chronic bronchitis marked by the syndrome of obstruction of qi in the chest can be treated by the modified formula. Modern researches Modern researches have proved that the formula has the effects of dialing coronary, and relieving inflammation and pain. Cautions 1. The amount of liquor can be reduced at discretion in treating patients who are not good at drinking it. 2. When the formula is used to treat angina pectoris due to blood stasis, herbs for activating blood flow can be added to the formula, such as peach kernel, safflower, red sage root, Chinese angelica root, chuanxiong rhizome, red peony and so on.

Section 2 Formulas for Lowering the Adverse Flow of qi

This group of formulas is mainly composed of the herbs for lowering the adverse flow of the stomachqi to arrest vomiting, or the herbs for checking the upward adverse flow of the lung-qi to relieve asthma. It has the effects of relieving asthma, preventing vomiting and relieving hiccup, and is fit for treating syndrome of reversed flow of the lung-qi or stomach-qi.

Suzi Jiangqi Tang ( Decoction of Perilla for Descending qi )

Ingredient Perilla fruit, Fructus Perillae 9g Pinellia tuber, Rhizoma Pinelliae 9g Magnolia bark, Cortex Magnoliae offcinalis 6g Root of purple-flowered peucedanum, Radix Peucedani 6g Bark of Chinese cassia tree, Cortex Cinnamomi 3g Chinese angelica root, Radix Angelicae Sinensis 6g Fresh ginger, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens 3g Perilla. leaf, Folium Perillae 2g Licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae 6g Chinese-dates, Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae 3 pcs. Administrations All the herbs listed above are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Functions Lowering the abnormally ascending qi to relieve asthma and expelling phlegm to arrest cough. Indications Abundant expectoration due to excess in the upper part and deficiency in the lower part marked by cough with dyspnea, shortness of breath, fullness sensation and choking sensation in the chest and hypochondrium, chest pain, weakness of feet, fatigue of the limbs, white and smooth fur or white, greasy fur of the tongue. Cough and asthma due to chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary heart disease marked by the symptoms of abundant expectoration due to excess in the upper part and deficiency in the lower part in the body can be treated by the modified formula. Modern researches Modern researches have proved that this formula has a stronger phlegm-expelling effect as well as better cough-arresting and asthma-relieving effects. In addition, it can improve the pituitary-adrenal function, promote blood circulation and strengthen the cold-resisting ability of the body.

Cautions The formula is mainly aimed at eliminating the pathogenic factor and treating the excess in the upper and the ingredients in it tend to be warm and dry in nature, so it should not be used to treat cough and asthma due to deficiency of both the lung and kidney or phlegm-dyspnea due to lung-heat .

Dingchuan Tang ( Asthma-relieving Decoction )

Ingredients Ephedra, Herba Ephedrae 9g Gingko-nut, semen Ginkgo 9g Perilla fruit, Fructus Perillae 6g Bitter apricot kernel, Semen Armeniacae Amarum 9g Pinellia tuber, Rhizoma Finelliae 9g Coltsfoot flower, Flos Farfarae 9g Mulberry bark, Cortex Mori Radicis 9g Baikal Skullcap root, Radix Scutellariae 6g Licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae 3g Administrations All the herbs listed above are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Functions Facilitating the flow of the lung-qi and removing heat-phlegm to relieve asthma. Indications Accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung with the attack of wind cold on the body surface marked by cough, dyspnea, profuse yellowish and viscid sputa, or accompanied by aversion to cold, fever, yellowish, greasy fur of the tongue, slippery rapid pulse. Chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma marked by the above-mentioned symptoms can be treated by the modified formula. Modern researches Modern researches have proved that the formula can achieve the effects of relieving spasm of bronchial smooth muscle, expelling phlegm, and arresting cough, inducing sweet and allying fever. Cautions 1. The formula is contraindicated in patients with recent attack of wind-cold on the body surface without interior phlegm-heat marked by absence of sweating but asthma.

2. It is also contraindicated in patients with persistent asthma due to deficiency of qi marked by feeble pulse.

Xuanfu Daizhe Tang ( Decoction of Inula and Red Ochre )

Ingredients Inula flower, Flos inulae 9g (Wrapped with a piece of cloth when the decoction is being made ) Red ochre, Ochra Haematitum 15g Pinellia tuber, Rhizoma Pinelliae 9g Fresh Ginger, Rhizome Zingiberis Recens 9g Ginseng, Radix Ginseng 6g Chinese-dates, Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae 4 pcs. Preparcd licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae praeparata 6g Administrations All the herbs listed above are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Functions Lowering the adverse flow of qi and resolving phlegm, invigorating qi and regulating the function of the stomach, Indications Syndrome of the deficient stomach-qi with reversed flow of qi marked by epigastric fullness and rigidity, frequent eructation, vomiting, salivation, white smooth fur of the tongue, taut and feeble pulse. Chronic gastritis, gastroptosis, gastric dilatation, and ulcerous pylorospasm or incomplete

pylorochesis, neurogenic hiccup or vomiting, miniere's disease and other marked by the symptoms of deficient stomach-qi with reversed flow of qi can be treated by the modified formula. Modern researches Modern researches have proved that the formula can produce the effects or tranquilizing the mind, relieving cough, expelling phlegm, arresting vomiting, relieving spasm of bronchial smooth muscle, protecting gastric mucosa and promoting the reproduction of the red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Jupi Zhuru Tang (Tangerine Peel and Bamboo Shavings Decoction )

Ingredients Tangerine peel, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 9g Bamboo shavings, Caulis Bambusae in Taenis 9g Fresh ginger, Rhizoma Zingiseris Recens 9g Ginseng, Radix Ginseng 3g Licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae 6g Chinese-dates, Fructus Zizipki Jujubae 5 pcs. Administrations All the herbs prescribed above are to be decocted in water for oral administration. Functions Lowering the adverse flow of qi to relieve vomiting, invigorating qi clearing away heat. Indications Reversed flow of qi due to weak stomach with heat marked by hiccup, vomiting, anorexia, reddish tongue, and feeble and rapid pulse. Vomiting of pregnancy, incomplete pylorochesis, gastritic vomiting neurogenic vomiting, ceaseless hiccup after abdominal operation and others marked by the symptoms of reversed flow of qi due to weak stomach with heat can be treated by the modified formula. Modern Researches Modern studies have proved that the formula can produce the effects of tranquilizing the mind, relieving inflammation, preventing vomiting and relieving phrenospasm, etc. Cautions Hiccup due to heat of excess type or cold of Insufficiency type should not be treated with the formula.