Library

[Anshen Wan]

Herbs: Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, remove the white pith), Gan Cao (Licorice Root, honey-fried), Qing Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride, remove the white pith), Chen Xiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum).

Preparation and Administration: Grind the above herbs into a fine powder. Take 3-4 qianbi (an ancient measuring spoon) per dose. Add one volume of water and two slices of fresh ginger. Decoct together until approximately 70-80% of the liquid remains. Take at any time without restriction. If qi pain occurs, add 1-2 bean-sized amounts of Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) powder to each dose.

Case Record: A woman titled "Yiren" (a respectful term for the wife of an official), who served under Chen Shiyu, once ate a citrus fruit while in a state of displeasure. From then on, she suffered from severe heart and abdominal pain. Over time, a mass formed in her abdomen. Whenever the pain flared up, she would often faint and become unconscious, recovering only after some time, usually at night. At that time, her husband, Shiyu, held the position of Boyi (Director of the Imperial Academy), but physicians in the capital were unable to cure her. A scholar named Shi Kan from Shu, whose medical skills were renowned at the time, prescribed these formulas for her to take.

Within one or two months, the root cause of the disease was eliminated. More than twenty years later, due to worry and depression, the illness seemed poised to recur, manifesting only as mild pain. She prepared and took the medicine again, and recovered within a few days.

This formula was transmitted by Wan Yingzhi, a Secretariat Compiler from the countryside.

Regarding Postpartum Retained Placenta:
In childbirth, there are cases where the placenta is not expelled postpartum. Blood rushes in, and over time, blood surges upward to the heart, leading to untreatable conditions. There are also cases where excessive blood loss during pregnancy causes the placenta to become dry and difficult to expel. Quack doctors, lacking understanding, uniformly use blood-breaking medicines to treat this, unaware that when blood is exhausted, stasis becomes more severe, ultimately leading to death. In old records, a parturient woman with retained placenta groaned in agony, her cries unbearable. Someone taught her to drink two large bowls of water in which Ramie Root (Zhu Ma) had been soaked. After taking it, she vomited immediately, and the placenta was expelled, allowing her to survive.

[Anshen Wan Indications]

Indicated for constitutional weakness, weakness and lack of strength in bones and tendons, or occasional pain. (Transmitted by Li Liang, Garrison Commander of Xinzhou.)

Herbs: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root, processed, skin and bud removed), Jin Cha Shi Hu (Dendrobium Nobile Stem), Po Gu Zhi (Kochiae Fructus, stir-fried), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark, remove bark before weighing), Bai Ji Li (Tribuli Fructus, stir-fried, spines removed), Ba Ji Tian (Morinda Officinalis Root, remove core before weighing), Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche Deserticola Stem, soaked in wine overnight, sliced, dried), Bai Fu Ling (Poria, remove skin before weighing), Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome, lightly stir-fried), Bi Xie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma).

Preparation and Administration: Grind the above ingredients into a fine powder. Mix with refined honey to form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take 30-40 pills per dose, administered with warm wine or salted water decoction. Take on an empty stomach before meals.