【Source】

《Medical Discoveries》Volume 3

 【Composition】

Bupleurum Root, Trichosanthes Root, Dong Quai Tail, Safflower, Licorice Root, Pangolin Scales (Shan Jia Zhu), Rhubarb, Peach Kernel
(8)

 【Ingredient Categories】

<Blood Tonifying>: Dong Quai Tail

<Spleen & Middle Jiao Tonifying>: Licorice Root

<Acrid-Cool Exterior Releasing>: Bupleurum Root

<Purging>: Rhubarb

<Blood Activating & Stasis Dispelling>: Pangolin Scales, Peach Kernel, Safflower

<Heat Clearing & Fire Purging>: Trichosanthes Root

【Therapeutic Rationale】

From 《Cheng Fang Bian Du》: For trauma from falls or blows, the pain is often located in the lower back and flanks, which is a clear indication. Therefore, this formula uses Bupleurum Root, which specifically enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, to circulate Qi and resolve stagnation; and uses Rhubarb soaked in wine so that its nature does not descend directly, but follows Bupleurum Root to penetrate both the exterior and interior, achieving the effect of searching out and dispelling stasis; Dong Quai can circulate Qi within the blood, ensuring blood returns to its proper meridians; Pangolin Scales can expel stasis from the collaterals, allowing blood to disperse. Where there is blood stasis, there must be excessive Yang, hence Trichosanthes Root is used to clear it; when pain is severe, Qi and blood flow are urgent, so Licorice Root is used to soothe it; Peach Kernel breaks blood stasis, and Safflower activates blood. What needs to be removed is removed, what needs to be generated is generated, pain naturally subsides, and vitality is restored.

 【Functions】

Activates blood and dispels stasis, soothes the liver and unblocks collaterals.

 【Therapeutic Effects】

(1) Trauma from falls or blows, with blood stasis accumulating in the hypochondriac region, causing unbearable pain. (2) Diseases caused by blood stasis blocking the collaterals, blazing heat-toxin, and stagnant Liver Qi. (3) Chronic fatigue with accumulated blood stasis, cough with excessive phlegm, epigastric fullness and discomfort, and initial pain from anal furuncle. (4) Inability to sleep at night, blood stasis accumulation, fever, and constipation.

 【Indications】

(1) Pain from contusions, fractures, various traumatic injuries, and accumulated stasis pain caused by sprains and contusions of soft tissues. (2) Abscesses caused by blood stasis, toxins, dampness, and heat; hypochondriac pain due to liver blood stasis; non-suppurative costochondritis; chronic nephritis; renal insufficiency.

 【Contraindications】

Contraindicated for women during menstruation.

 【Mnemonic】

<Blood Tonifying & Activating> Red Peach Returns to Mountain, <…> Yellow Powder Sweet Bupleurum → Dusk is like burning dry firewood, a red peach-colored sunset descends upon the mountain.

 【Modifications】

(1) If the pain is sharp and severe like a needle prick, add San Qi powder for oral administration, or appropriately add Frankincense and Myrrh to enhance the effects of dispelling stasis and relieving pain. (2) If Qi stagnation is severe, appropriately add Turmeric, Cyperus Rotundus, Green Tangerine Peel, Fructus Aurantii Immaturus, Radix Aucklandiae, etc., to promote Qi circulation, thus promoting blood circulation and enhancing the blood-activating effect. (3) If the injury is in the upper limbs, add Cinnamon Twig and Turmeric Rhizome to guide the effect to the upper limbs. (4) If the injury is in the lower limbs, add Achyranthes Root and Chinese Quince to guide the effect to the lower limbs.

 【Pharmacology】

The individual ingredients in this formula possess pharmacological actions such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antispasmodic, and increasing coronary artery blood flow.