Library

Tongqi Fangfeng Decoction (Ventilation and Wind-Expelling Decoction)
1. Treats shoulder and back pain caused by the Taiyang channel (Taiyang channel disease). The formula consists of Qianghuo, Duhuo, Gaoben, Gancao, Manjingzi, Fangfeng, and Chuanxiong. If accompanied by Qi stagnation (Qi Stagnation), add Muxiang, Chenpi, and Xiangfu. If accompanied by Qi deficiency (Qi Deficiency), add Shengma, Chaihu, Renshen, and Huangqi together. If accompanied by Blood deficiency (Blood Deficiency), add Danggui and Baishao. If accompanied by Blood stasis (Blood Stasis), add Jianghuang, Wulingzhi, and Honghua. If Wind pathogen is prevalent, add Weilingxian. If Dampness pathogen is prevalent, add Cangzhu and Baizhu. If caused by Phlegm coagulation (Phlegm Coagulation), use this decoction to grind powder and administer Qingzhou Baiwanzi (Qingzhou White Pill) to treat Phlegm coagulation.

[Note] Li Gao's Qianghuo Shengshi Tang (Notopterygium Decoction to Overcome Dampness), also known as Tongqi Fangfeng Tang, treats shoulder and back pain due to Wind-Dampness invading the Taiyang channel. Its ingredients are Qianghuo, Duhuo, Gaoben, Gancao, Manjingzi, Fangfeng, and Chuanxiong. If accompanied by Qi stagnation causing pain, the pain occurs frequently; add Muxiang, Chenpi, and Xiangfu. If caused by Qi deficiency leading to stagnation and pain, the pain stops and starts intermittently; add Shengma, Chaihu, Renshen, and Huangqi. If caused by Blood deficiency leading to stagnation and pain, the pain is worse at night and intermittent; add Danggui and Baishao. If caused by Blood stasis leading to stagnation and pain, the pain does not stop at night; add Jianghuang, Wulingzhi, and Honghua. If Wind Qi is severely stagnant, pain is accompanied by stiffness in the neck and shoulders; add Weilingxian. If Dampness is severely stagnant, pain is accompanied by heaviness in the shoulders and back; add Cangzhu and Baizhu. If Phlegm and Wind are coagulated and stagnant, pain is accompanied by vomiting and dizziness; use this decoction ground into powder to administer Qingzhou Baiwanzi.

Xintong (Heart Pain) refers to pain in the depression between the cartilaginous processes of the sternum. It may spread horizontally across the chest and lower epigastrium, connect to the umbilicus and spleen/abdomen extending to the waist and kidneys, or involve the lower abdomen, large and small intestines, and hypochondrium (associated with the Liver). Worm pain presents as intermittent pain with vomiting of clear fluid; Zhu pain (infectious/miasma pain) involves evil qi attacking externally and internally with cold palpitations; Palpitation pain is divided into fluid retention and excessive thinking; Food pain is due to food stagnation and internal cold; Fluid retention, Phlegm-fluid, and Stomach fire all cause pain; Qi pain is due to Qi stagnation, and Blood pain is due to Blood stasis. Treatment should be categorized according to symptoms and corresponding formulas consulted. Zhenxintong (True Heart Pain) presents with black complexion and cold limbs extending to the joints, which is a fatal condition.

[Note] Pain in the depression between the cartilaginous processes is named Heart Pain. Pain spreading horizontally to the chest is named Lung Heart Pain. Pain extending downward to the epigastrium is named Stomach Heart Pain. Pain connecting to the umbilicus is named Spleen Heart Pain. Pain connecting to the waist is named Kidney Heart Pain. Pain connecting to the lower abdomen is named Large Intestine and Small Intestine Pain. Pain connecting to the hypochondrium is named Liver Heart Pain. Intermittent pain with vomiting of clear fluid is named Worm Heart Pain. Abdominal pain from miasma attack is named Zhu Pain. Pain from external Cold pathogen invasion is named Cold Attack Pain. Palpitation accompanied by pain is named Palpitation Heart Pain. Fluid retention below the heart belongs to Fluid Retention syndrome. Excessive thinking damaging the Heart belongs to Injury syndrome. Pain from food stagnation, water retention, phlegm retention, Stomach fire, Qi stagnation, and Blood stasis are all non-fatal conditions. They should be treated by categorization. Only True Heart Pain, characterized by black complexion and cold limbs extending to the joints, is a fatal condition.

Huazhi Wan (Stagnation-Resolving Pill) Qingzhong Tang (Clear the Middle Decoction)
2. To attack dampness accumulation and heat, seek Huazhi Wan; to attack cold and accumulated water, prepare Bijidan (Emergency Preparation Pill); for Fire pain, use Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) with Zhizi, Lian, and Doukou; for worm pain, use Wumei Yin (Mume Decoction) to control Phlegm-fluid.

[Note] Huazhi Wan is an existing formula. Qingzhong Tang consists of Chenpi, Banxia, Fuling, Gancao, Jiangchao Zhizi (Gardenia fried with ginger), Huanglian, and Caodoukou.

Muxiang Liuqi Yin (Aucklandia Flowing-Qi Decoction)
3. For Seven Emotions stagnation, use Liuqi Yin; for palpitation pain due to excessive thinking, use Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction); for Internal Cold, use Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) combined with Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder); for Zhu pain, use Bijidan or Didang Tang (Defend Against Blood-Stasis Decoction).

Xiao Jianzhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction)
4. When Wood overacts on Earth causing abdominal urgent pain, soothe the Liver and harmonize the Spleen using Xiao Jianzhong Tang; for Blood deficiency with Cold pain, treat with Yangrou Tang (Mutton Decoction); for Qi deficiency, add Chenpi and Qingpi to Lizhong Tang.

[Note] Yangrou refers to Yangrou Tang (Mutton Decoction).

Wutou Zhizi Tang (Aconite and Gardenia Decoction)
5. To forcibly resolve various stagnation pains, use Wutou Zhizi Tang; if pain recurs after resolution, add Yuanmingfen; if purging or sweating has already occurred or the deficiency is chronic, and acute pain is unbearable, seek Yawu (Opium).

[Note] "Various stagnations" refers to pains caused by Cold or Heat stagnation. If Cold predominates, processed Chuanwu (Aconitum carmichaelii) is the main herb; if Heat predominates, Jiangchao Zhizi (Gardenia fried with ginger) is the main herb. Yuanming refers to Yuanmingfen (Mirabilite). Yawu refers to pure Opium powder, possibly with a small amount of Shexiang (Musk), made into pills the size of tung tree seeds using rice paste. Each dose is three to five pills, taken with a specific guiding agent. In Materia Medica, it is named: Yili Jindan (One-Pill Golden Pill).