【Source】

《Lan Shi Mi Zang (Secret Collection from the Orchid Chamber)》

 【Composition】

Scutellaria baicalensis (Huang Qin), Phellodendron amurense (Huang Bo), Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Zhi Mu), Trichosanthes root (Gua Lou Gen), Platycodon grandiflorum (Jie Geng), Gentiana scabra (Long Dan Cao), Kelp (Kun Bu), Bupleurum (Chai Hu), Forsythia suspensa (Lian Qiao), Sparganium stoloniferum (San Leng), Curcuma zedoaria (E Zhu), Prepared Licorice (Zhi Gan Cao), Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui), White Peony Root (Bai Shao), Coptis chinensis (Huang Lian), Pueraria lobata (Ge Gen), Cimicifuga rhizoma (Sheng Ma)
(17)

 【Categories】

<Blood Tonifying>: White Peony Root (Bai Shao), Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui)

<Spleen & Middle Jiao Tonifying>: Licorice (Gan Cao)

<Pungent-Cool Exterior Releasing>: Cimicifuga (Sheng Ma), Kudzu Root (Ge Gen), Bupleurum (Chai Hu)

<Clearing Heat & Drying Dampness>: Gentiana (Long Dan Cao), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Coptis (Huang Lian), Phellodendron (Huang Bo)

<Activating Blood & Dispelling Stasis>: Curcuma zedoaria (E Zhu), Sparganium (San Leng)

<Resolving Phlegm>: Platycodon (Jie Geng)

<Clearing Heat & Draining Fire>: Trichosanthes Root (Gua Lou Gen), Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu)

<Clearing Heat & Detoxifying>: Forsythia (Lian Qiao)

<Dissolving Phlegm, Softening Hardness & Dispersing Nodules>: Kelp (Kun Bu)

【Formula Principles】

《Medical Formulas》: A medicine for Hand/Foot Shaoyang and Foot Yangming channels. (1)Chai Hu, Lian Qiao: Clear heat and disperse nodules. (2)Sheng Ma, Ge Gen: Detoxify and raise Yang. (3)Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes root), Jie Geng: Clear lung and discharge pus. (4)Gui Wei (Angelica Sinensis tail), White Peony Root (Bai Shao): Moisten lung and activate blood. (5)Gan Cao: Harmonize middle Jiao and detoxify. (6)Kun Bu: Disperse phlegm and soften indurations. (7)San Leng, E Zhu: Break blood stasis and promote Qi circulation. (8)Huang Qin, Huang Bo, Huang Lian, Long Dan Cao, Zhi Mu: Powerfully drain fire from the San Jiao (Triple Burner). (9)Jie Geng: Also guides other herbs upward.

 【Functions】

Clears heat and detoxifies, disperses nodules and softens indurations.

 【Indications】

Suppurative sores, scrofula (Ma Dao Chuang) with swelling and hardness like stone; lymphadenitis (Luo Li) that is hard and does not ulcerate, or tumors that remain hard after ulcerating and discharging pus.

 【Applications】

Cervical lymphadenitis, suppurative sores.

 【Mnemonic】

<Blood Tonifying, Stasis Dispelling, Nodule Dispersing>: Gui (Dang Gui), Shao (Bai Shao), Leng (San Leng), E (E Zhu), Bu (Kun Bu)
<Exterior Releasing>: Sheng (Sheng Ma), Chai (Chai Hu), Ge (Ge Gen)
<Clearing Heat>: San Huang (Huang Qin, Huang Bo, Huang Lian – Three Huangs), Mu (Zhi Mu), Gua (Gua Lou Gen), Long (Long Dan Cao), Qiao (Lian Qiao)
<…>: Gan (Gan Cao), Jie (Jie Geng)

Mnemonic Phrase (literal translation, phonetic wordplay in Chinese): “Sister-in-law returns home, ordering me to get cloth, Sheng Chai brother; three Huang mothers scrape lobsters, picking licorice and platycodon to eat.”