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HARMONIZING FORMULAE
(HE JIE JI)
DEFINITION:
Harmonising formulae are characterised by eliminating the evils in semi-exterior and interior,
regulating dysfunction of the liver and spleen and treating the mixed cold and heat syndromes.
CLASSIFICATIONS:
1 Harmonising Shaoyang
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Hao Qin Qing Dang Tang
2 Regulating the liver and spleen
Si Ni San
Xiao Yao San
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Tong Xie Yao Fang
3 Regulating the stomach and intestines
Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang
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FORMULAE AND HARMONISE
SHAO YANG
**XIAO CHAI HU TANG(
)
(Decoction of Chai Hu for Regulating Shaoyang)
COMPOSITION RANK ANALYSIS
Chai Hu 24g Chief Vent Shaoyang disorders
spreads Lr Qi
Huang Qin 8g Adjuvant Vent Shaoyang and release
PF
Ban Xia 8g Assistants Harmonise MJ, redirects
Sheng Jiang 9g rebellious Qi downwards.
Ren Shen 9g Support Zhong Qi prevent PF -
> interior.
Da Zao 4 pieces Guide Harmonise other herbs
Zhi Gan Cao 6g
ADMINISTRATION:
Today usually prepared as a decoction in the usual manner.
Two-to-three times the dosage of Dang Shen is commonly
substituted for Ren Shen.
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ACTIONS:
Harmonises and releases Shaoyang Disorders
INDICATIONS:
Alternating fever and chills
full sensation in chest and hypochondrium
poor appetite
bitter taste in mouth
dry throat
dizziness
thin white tongue fur, string-like pulse.
EXPLANATIONS
This is a major prescription for harmonizing Shaoyang disorders.
Shaoyang is located between the exterior (Taiyang) and the interior
(yangming).
When EPF attached Shaoyang, a conflict occurs between the pathogens
and the APQ -> alternating chills and fever.
The Shaoyang meridian passes through the chest and hypochondrium.
If pathogens are present in Shaoyang, the meridian qi is blocked -> a full
sensation over the chest and hypochondrium.
Gallbladder heat affects the St -> St qi fails to descend -> poor appetite,
voming
Gallbladder heat affecting the upper part of the body -> bitter taste, dry
throat, dizziness
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With the appropriate presentation, Xiao Chai Hu Tang may be
used in treating such biomedically-defined infectious diseases as
Acute viral hepatitis
Intercostal Neuralgia
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HAO QIN QING DAN TANG
(Hao Qin Clear Gallbladder Decoction)
ACTIONS INDICATIONS COMPOSITION RANK ANALYSIS
Clear heat in Alternating chills Qing Hao 6g Chief Clear heat in
the and fever, fever is Shaoyang
gallbladder, predominant, Clear heat in
Harmonise bitter taste in the gallbladder
the stomach mouth, stuffy
and chest, sour Huang Qin 6g Adjuvant Eliminate heat-
eliminate regurgitation or phlegm
dampness vomiting yellow Zhu Ru 6g Soothe the chest
and phlegm fluids, or dry Ban Xia 5g and abdomen,
heaves and Chen Pi 5g harmonise the
hiccup, distending Zhi Qiao 5g stomach and
pain in the chest redirect the Qi
and hypochondria, down
red tongue with
white coating, Chi Fu Ling 9g Assistant and Clear heat and
rapid, Bi Yu San 9g Guide promote diuresis
slippery and
string-taut pulse
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FORMULAE THAT REGULATE AND HARMONISE
THE LIVER AND SPLEEN
*SI NI SAN
(Frigid Extremities Powder)
COMPOSITION RANK ANALYSIS
Chai Hu 6g Chief Vent the evil, raise Yang Qi
and soothe the liver
Zhi Shi 6g Adjuvant Redirect the Qi and
dissipate the stagnation
Bai Shao 9g Assistant Replenish Yin and blood,
relieve pain
Zhi Gan Cao 6g Guide Tonify the spleen and
harmonise other herbs
ADMINISTRATION:
Source text book: grind equal amounts of the herbs into
powder. Take in 6-9g doses.
Today: decoction
ACTIONS:
Vent pathogenic factors
Soothe the Liver and Regulate the Spleen
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INDICATIONS:
Cold fingers and toes (although the body is warm)
It may complicated by cough, or palpitations, or dysuria, or
abdominal pain or diarrhoea
EXPLANATIONS:
Spleen governs the four limbs, if PF enters -> constrains the
yang qi -> inhibits the spreading of yang qi the extremities ->
cold finger and toes.
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**XIAO YAO SAN
(Rambling Powder)
COMPOSITION RANK ANALYSIS
Chai Hu 9g Chief Relieves Liver stagnation
Dang Gui 9g Adjutants Nourish blood and soften
Bai Shao 9g Liver
Bai Zhu 9g Assistants Strengthens Sps T/T
Fu Ling 9g function
Zhi Gan Cao 4.5g
Wei Jiang Guide Harmonises St redirects
(Charred Ginger) rebellious Qi
1 piece
Bo He 3g Guide Relieves Lr stagnation and
disperse heat due to
stagnation.
ADMINISTRATION:
Grind the ingredients into powder; take 6-9g, 2 3 times daily.
The formula can also be prepared into pills, 6 9g per dose.
Prepared into decoction, with their dosage reduced
proportionally.
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ACTIONS:
Dispensing stagnant Lr Qi.
Strengthens the Spleen and
Nourishes the blood
INDICATIONS: Stagnant Lr Qi with blood deficiency.
Hypochondriac pain,
alternating fever and chills,
headache,
dizziness,
dry mouth and throat,
fatigue,
reduced appetite.
Irregular menstruation,
breast distension,
string-like, weak pulse
EXPLANATION:
The relationship between the liver and spleen is very close. Liver
qi stagnation -> over control the Sp -> Sp def. -> blood def.
Liver qi stag-> hypochondriac pain, distended breasts
If its related channel, the gallbladder is affected -> Shaoyang
signs-> fever and chills, a bitter taste in the mouth
Blood def -> headache, dizziness, a dry mouth and throat
Spleen qi def -> fatigue, reduced appetite
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With the appropriate presentation, Xiao Yao San may be used in
treating such biomedically-defined infectious diseases as
Hepatitis
Functional uterine bleeding
Menopausal syndrome
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Fibrocystic breasts
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Associated Formula
**JIA WEI XIAO YAO SAN
(Augmented Rambling Powder)
COMPOSITION: Xiao Yao San + Dan Pi 3g, Zhi Zi 3g
ACTIONS: spread the liver qi, strengthen the sp, nourish the
blood, and regulate menses
INDICATIONS: Liver qi stagnation that transforms into heat with
spleen deficiency.
irritability,
a short temper,
spontaneous sweating or night sweats,
headache,
dry eyes, dry mouth,
red face,
irregular menstruation,
lower abdominal pain,
difficult painful urination.
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TONG XIE YAO FANG
(Powder for Painful Diarrhoea)
COMPOSITION RANK ANALYSIS
Bai Zhu (Fried) 6g Chief Strengthen SP, dries
dampness
Bai Shao (Fried) 6g Adjuvant Softens overactive Lr
and alleviates pain
Chen Pi (Fried) 4.5g Assistant Harmonises MJ,
transform dampness
Fang Feng 3g Assistant Enters SP & Lr
and Guide meridian,
Disperse the
stagnated Lr Qi, and
eliminate dampness
ADMINISTRATION:
Grind the ingredients into powder and take in powder or pill
form.
May also be prepared as a decoction with the dosage of the
ingredients reduced proportionally.
ACTIONS:
Tonifies Sp and softens Lr, stops diarrhoea
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INDICATIONS:
Recurrent problems of borborygmus, abdominal pain,
diarrhoea with pain (starts with urge to defecate and subsides
after completion), thin white tongue coating, taut moderate
pulse
EXPLANATIONS:
This is a painful diarrhea due to spleen def. with an over
controlling liver.
Unless properly treated, this close relationship also makes it easy
for the conditions to become recurrent.
Diarrhea: a collapse of the spleen qi caused by the spleens
inability to raise yang qi -> turbidity descends.
Pain: liver qi over acting on spleen
Borborygmus: Liver qi stag + turbidity
With the appropriate presentation, Tong Xie Yao Fang may be used
in treating such biomedically-defined infectious diseases as
Acute gastroenteritis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Colitis
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BAN XIA XIE XIN TANG
(Decoction of Pinellia for Purging Stomach Fire)
ACTIONS INDICATIONS COMPOSITION RANK ANALYSIS
Harmonises Epigastric fullness Ban Xia 9g Chief Enters St meridian,
St, directs without pain, disperse chumps,
rebellious Qi vomiting / stops vomiting and
downwards, retching, focal distension
disperse borborygmus with
chumping diarrhoea, thin Gan Jiang 9g Adjuvants Expels cold, and
and yellow greasy Huang Qin 9g drains heat
eliminates tongue coating, Huang Lian 3g
focal wiry rapid
distension Ren Shen Assistants Benefit Zhong Qi,
Dao Zao prevents dispersion
of Chief and
Adjuvants from
injuring Zheng Qi,
stops vomiting.
Zhi Gan Cao Guide Assist tonify Zhong
Qi
INDICATIONS: Epigastric fullness without pain, vomiting / retching,
borborygmus with diarrhoea, thin yellow greasy tongue coating, taut rapid
EXPLANATIONS:
This condition is most commonly due to improper purging of half-
exterior, half-interior syndrome in a patient with underlying St def.
Purging aggravates the St def and causes the PF to sink into the
interior
The cold-heat complex in the MJ is a condition of simultaneous
excess and deficiency.
Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang is a variation of Xiao Chai Hu Tang (omit
Chai Hu, Sheng Jiang, add Huang Lian, Gan Jiang), this formula is
recommended for vomiting, borborygmus, and distention of the
epigastrium.
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Later physicians have used it in treating patients with Sp and St
def. that develop cold-heat complex due to an externally-
contracted PF.
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