【Source】

《Yixue Qiyuan (Medical Enlightenment, 1186)》Volume Down. 《Li Dongyuan’s Prescriptions (1249)》

 【Composition】

Danggui (Angelica sinensis) body, Qianghuo (Notopterygium root), Gancao (Licorice root), stir-fried Huangqin (Scutellaria root), Yinchenhao (Artemisia scoparia), Renshen (Ginseng), Kushen (Sophora root), Shengma (Cimicifuga rhizome), Gegen (Pueraria root), Cangzhu (Atractylodes rhizome), Baizhu (White Atractylodes rhizome), Zexie (Alisma rhizome), Zhuling (Polyporus fungus), Fangfeng (Siler root), Zhimu (Anemarrhena rhizome)
(15)

 【Taxonomic group】

<Blood Tonics>: Danggui (Angelica sinensis) body

<Spleen & Middle Jiao Tonics>: Gancao (Licorice root), Baizhu (White Atractylodes rhizome)

<Acrid-Cool Exterior-Releasing Herbs>: Gegen (Pueraria root), Shengma (Cimicifuga rhizome)

<Clear Heat & Dry Dampness>: Kushen (Sophora root), stir-fried Huangqin (Scutellaria root)

<Qi Tonics>: Renshen (Ginseng)

<Acrid-Warm Exterior-Releasing Herbs>: Qianghuo (Notopterygium root), Fangfeng (Siler root)

<Aromatic Damp-Transforming Herbs>: Cangzhu (Atractylodes rhizome)

<Clear Heat & Drain Fire>: Zhimu (Anemarrhena rhizome)

<Promote Urination & Leach Dampness>: Zexie (Alisma rhizome), Zhuling (Polyporus fungus), Yinchenhao (Artemisia scoparia)

【Fang Yi】

According to ‘Yifang’ (Medical Prescriptions): This is a medication for Foot Taiyang and Yangming. (1)Qianghuo: penetrates joints.

(2)Fangfeng: dispels wind-dampness, acting as the chief herb.

(3)Shengma and Gegen: light in taste, drawing upwards, with bitterness to stimulate it.

(4)Baizhu: sweet, warm, and gentle; Cangzhu: acrid, warm, and potent, strengthening the Spleen and drying dampness, acting as assistant herbs.

(5)When damp-heat combine, causing vexing pain in the limbs and joints, Kushen, Huangqin, Zhimu, Yinchen, with their bitter and cold properties, drain it. They are stir-fried with wine for a specific purpose.

(6)Blood stagnation causes pain; Danggui, acrid and warm, disperses it.

(7)Renshen and Gancao: sweet and warm, tonify upright Qi, preventing the bitter and cold herbs from harming the Spleen and Stomach.

(8)Treating dampness without promoting urination is not the correct approach. Zhuling and Zexie, sweet, bland, salty, and neutral, guide out retained fluid, acting as adjunctive herbs.

(9) This formula resolves dampness both above and below, allowing stagnation to be dispersed and cleared. Yuji Weiyi states: This formula was originally created by Dongyuan to treat damp-heat beriberi. Later generations found it very effective for various sores. The Classics say: When dampness overruns internally, treat with bitter and warm [herbs].

Qianghuo is bitter and acrid, penetrating joints, benefiting articulation, and overcoming dampness; Fangfeng is sweet and acrid, warmly dispersing retained dampness in the channels and collaterals, thus serving as the chief herb. Water tends to flow downwards. Shengma and Gegen are bitter, acrid, and neutral, light in taste, representing Yang within Yang, guiding upwards, and stimulating with bitterness. Baizhu is bitter, sweet, and warm, harmonizing the middle Jiao and eliminating dampness; Cangzhu is light and floating in body, robust in potency, capable of removing dampness from the skin and superficial tissues, thus serving as a major herb.

Blood stagnation leads to pain; Danggui body is acrid and warm, dispersing it, allowing Qi and blood to return to their respective places. Renshen and Gancao are sweet and warm, tonifying the Spleen and nourishing upright Qi, preventing bitter herbs from harming the stomach. Zhongjing said: When damp-heat combine, causing vexing pain in the limbs and joints, Kushen, Huangqin, Zhimu, and Yinchen are used to drain it with their bitterness.

All herbs processed with wine are for specific applications. Treating dampness without promoting urination is not the correct approach. Zhuling is sweet, warm, and neutral; Zexie is salty and neutral. They leach it out with their bland taste and can also guide out retained fluid, thus serving as adjunctive herbs. The combined properties and flavors resolve dampness both above and below, allowing the dampness to be dispersed and cleared.

 【Function】

Dries dampness, clears heat, activates blood, and relieves pain.

 【Utility】

Damp-heat as the pathogenic factor, causing vexing pain in the limbs and joints, heaviness in the shoulders and back, discomfort in the chest and diaphragm, generalized body aches, or dampness flowing downwards to the shins, resulting in unbearable swelling and pain. According to ‘Yifang’: Damp-heat binding together, causing vexing pain in the limbs and joints, heaviness in the shoulders and back, or generalized body aches, or beriberi with swelling and pain, sores on the feet and knees with continuous pus discharge. Also indicated for damp-heat jaundice, with a deep, full, tense, rapid, surging, or slippery pulse.

 【Notes】

Danggui Nian Tong (Decoction for Danggui and grasping pain) — A mnemonic based on sounds: “Because the gun room was hastily upgraded, Grandma diligently stir-fried bitter thanks and returned.” This mnemonic helps recall the herbs: Yinchenhao, Qianghuo, Fangfeng, Shengma, Gegen, Cangzhu, Zhuling, Zhimu, Huangqin, Gancao, Kushen, Zexie, Danggui.

 【Add or subtract】

(1)If swelling of the feet and knees is severe, add Mugua (Chaenomeles fruit) and Fangji (Stephania root) to dispel dampness and reduce swelling. (2)If body pain is severe, add Jianghuang (Turmeric) and Haitongpi (Erythrina bark) to activate blood, unblock collaterals, and relieve pain.