[Source]

Vol. 8 of Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang.

 [Composition]

Angelica Pubescens, Taxillus Chinensis, Eucommia Ulmoides, (Chuan) Achyranthes Bidentata, (Bei) Asarum Sieboldii, Gentiana Macrophylla, (Bai) Poria Cocos, Cinnamon Bark, Saposhnikovia Divaricata, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Panax Ginseng, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis, Angelica Sinensis, Paeonia Lactiflora, Raw Rehmannia Glutinosa
(15)

 [Classification Group]

<Blood Tonic>: Angelica Sinensis, Paeonia Lactiflora

<Liver and Kidney Tonic>: Eucommia Ulmoides

<Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood>: Raw Rehmannia Glutinosa

<Spleen and Middle Jiao Tonic>: Glycyrrhiza Uralensis

<Qi Tonic>: Panax Ginseng

<Aromatic Exterior Releasing>: Saposhnikovia Divaricata

<Warming the Interior>: Cinnamon Bark, Asarum Sieboldii

<Spleen Tonic and Dampness Resolution>: Poria Cocos

<Blood Circulation and Blood Stasis Dispersion>: Achyranthes Bidentata, Ligusticum Chuanxiong

<Dispelling Wind and Dampness>: Gentiana Macrophylla, Taxillus Chinensis, Angelica Pubescens

[Formula Meaning]

According to “Yi Fang”: This formula targets the Lesser Yin and Absolute Yin meridians of the Foot. (1) Angelica Pubescens and Asarum Sieboldii: Enter the Lesser Yin to open blood vessels. (2) Combined with Gentiana Macrophylla and Saposhnikovia Divaricata: Disperse meridians and elevate Yang to expel wind. (3) Taxillus Chinensis: Benefits Qi and blood, expels wind and dampness. (4) Combined with Eucommia Ulmoides and Achyranthes Bidentata: Strengthens bones and sinews, and secures the lower body. (5) Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Angelica Sinensis, Paeonia Lactiflora, Rehmannia Glutinosa: Used to activate blood and tonify Yin. (6) Panax Ginseng, Cinnamon Bark, Poria Cocos, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis: Used to benefit Qi and tonify Yang. The aromatic and warm nature helps tonify, ensuring sufficient blood and Qi. This expels wind and dampness, strengthens the liver and kidneys, and resolves pain from bi syndrome. According to “Cheng Fang Bian Du”: Prepared Rehmannia, Achyranthes Bidentata, Eucommia Ulmoides, and Taxillus Chinensis nourish the liver, benefit the kidneys, strengthen bones and sinews. Angelica Sinensis, Paeonia Lactiflora, and Ligusticum Chuanxiong harmonize and nourish blood, following the principle that “treating wind first requires treating blood; when blood circulates, wind will dissipate.” Panax Ginseng, Poria Cocos, and Glycyrrhiza Uralensis benefit Qi and support the spleen, following the principle that “expelling evil first requires tonifying the righteous; when the righteous is strong, evil will be eliminated.” However, since the disease arises from prior deficiency of liver and kidney, the evil must penetrate deeply into the deficiency. Therefore, Angelica Pubescens and Asarum Sieboldii, which enter the kidney meridian, can search for latent wind and guide it outward. Cinnamon Bark can enter the liver and kidney blood-deficient areas to expel cold. Gentiana Macrophylla and Saposhnikovia Divaricata are supplemental wind-invading herbs that circulate throughout the superficial layer, and wind can overcome dampness.

 [Functions]

Expel wind-dampness, stop pain from bi syndrome, benefit liver and kidney.

 [Efficacy]

Syndrome of wind-cold-damp bi characterized by deficiency of both liver and kidney, and insufficient Qi and blood. Symptoms include cold pain in the lower back and knees, difficulty in flexing and extending joints, or numbness and insensitivity, aversion to cold and preference for warmth, palpitations, shortness of breath, pale tongue, and weak pulse. According to “Yi Fang”: Heat from liver and kidney deficiency, wind-dampness attacking internally, causing pain in the lower back and knees, cold bi with weakness, and difficulty in flexing and extending.

 [Indications]

Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic low back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, lumbar spondylosis, rheumatic sciatica.

 [Contraindications]

Pregnant women should use with caution.

 [Mnemonics]

Formula name + Eight Tonics minus Atractylodes macrocephala + Saposhnikovia, Eucommia, Poria, Gentiana, Angelica Pubescens, Taxillus Chinensis, Asarum, Achyranthes, Cinnamon Bark. → Prevent everyone from ambushing; long-term inhalation of toxic gas will cause death; be careful, wife is precious.

 [Additions and Subtractions]

(1) For those with predominant cold evil, add Aconitum Carmichaeli, Dried Ginger, Aconitum Kusnezoffii, Sparganium Erectum to warm meridians, expel cold, and stop pain. (2) For severe pain, add Earthworm, Carthamus Tinctorius, Prepared Aconitum Kusnezoffii, Hedyotis Diffusa to help search for wind, open collaterals, activate blood, and stop pain. (3) For predominant damp evil, add Aristolochia Fangchi, Atractylodes Lancea to dispel dampness. (4) If Taxillus Chinensis is removed and Astragalus Membranaceus, Dipsacus Japonicus, and Fresh Ginger are added, it becomes San Bi Tang (from “Xiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang”). Its functions are to expel wind-dampness, stop pain from bi syndrome, benefit liver and kidney, and tonify Qi and blood. It is mainly used for wind-cold-damp bi due to deficiency of liver, kidney, Qi, and blood, with symptoms of hand and foot contractures. (5) If Taxillus Chinensis, Panax Ginseng, Poria Cocos, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Eucommia Ulmoides, Dipsacus Japonicus, Prepared Rehmannia, Achyranthes Bidentata, Paeonia Lactiflora, Angelica Pubescens, Asarum Sieboldii, Gentiana Macrophylla, and Cinnamon Bark are removed, and Carthamus Tinctorius (Red Peony), Curcuma Aromatica, Notopterygium Incisum, and Astragalus Membranaceus are added, it becomes Juan Bi Tang (from “Bai Yi Xuan Fang”). Its functions are to benefit Qi, activate blood, dispel wind, and resolve dampness. It is mainly used for wind bi syndrome, with symptoms of neck and back stiffness, pain in the shoulders and elbows, and difficulty in movement.

 [Pharmacology]

It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immune-enhancing, immune-balancing, vasodilatory, and circulatory improvement effects.