[Source]

Volume 3 of “Wen Bing Tiao Bian” (Discussions on Warm Diseases).

 [Composition]

Raw White Peony Root, Donkey-hide Gelatin, Raw Tortoise Shell, Dried (Raw) Rehmannia Root, Hemp Seed, Schisandra Berry, Raw Oyster Shell, Ophiopogon Tuber, Prepared Licorice Root, Egg Yolk, (Raw) Soft-shelled Turtle Plastron
(11)

 [Category Grouping]

<Blood Tonic>: Donkey-hide Gelatin, Raw White Peony Root

<Nourish and Moisten Yin>: Soft-shelled Turtle Plastron, Ophiopogon Tuber, Tortoise Shell

<Clear Heat and Cool Blood>: Dried Rehmannia Root

<Tonify Spleen and Middle Qi>: Licorice Root

<Astringe>: Schisandra Berry

<Settle the Spirit>: Raw Oyster Shell

<Other>: Egg Yolk

<Moisten and Lower>: Hemp Seed

[Prescription Meaning]

From “Wen Bing Tiao Bian”: This formula is for cases where the pathogenic factors have been mostly eliminated (eight to nine tenths), and only one to two tenths of vital Yin remains. This can be observed from a weak pulse and scant tongue coating. Therefore, a large quantity of concentrated and turbid substances is used to fill the Yin and close the gaps, and minerals are used to subdue and calm the Yang. Egg yolk, with its sweet taste, enters the Spleen, calms the Middle Jiao, ascends to the Heart, and descends to the Kidney. Donkey-hide gelatin, being a product of flesh and blood with spirit, strongly nourishes the blood and Yin, and is a crucial herb for treating blood deficiency. These two herbs combined nourish Yin to extinguish wind and are the chief herbs. White Peony Root is acrid, sour, and slightly cold; Licorice Root is sweet and neutral; Schisandra Berry is sour and warm. These three herbs combined turn sour and sweet into Yin, nourish Yin, and soften the Liver. Raw Rehmannia Root nourishes Yin and generates fluids; Ophiopogon Tuber nourishes Yin and moistens the Lungs; Hemp Seed is moist and rich in fat, nourishing and tonifying deficiency. The above six herbs all strengthen the effect of Egg Yolk and Donkey-hide Gelatin in nourishing Yin and fluids, and collectively serve as auxiliary herbs. Furthermore, Tortoise Shell, Soft-shelled Turtle Plastron, and Oyster Shell, all mineral substances, nourish Yin and calm Yang, serving as assistant herbs. Among these, Licorice Root also harmonizes the various herbs and acts as a guide. The combined action of these herbs increases Yin fluids, calms floating Yang, and extinguishes deficient wind, collectively achieving the effect of nourishing Yin and extinguishing wind, making it an effective prescription for treating internal wind due to deficiency.

 [Functions]

Nourishes Yin, calms Yang, softens the Liver, and extinguishes wind.

 [Indications]

Chronic dwelling of pathogenic heat in warm diseases, where heat injures genuine Yin, or due to improper use of purgatives, severely damaging Yin fluids, leading to internal wind due to deficiency. Symptoms include fatigue, tremors, weak pulse, red tongue with scant coating, and signs of impending collapse. Extreme deficiency of Liver and Kidney Yin and Blood, causing internal wind to stir incessantly, leading to dizziness, inability to open the eyes, tinnitus, twitching of muscles, and palpitations.

 [Applicable Conditions]

Convalescent stage of Japanese encephalitis, sequelae of Japanese encephalitis, convulsions, paralysis, hyperthyroidism, and lumbosacral pain syndrome.

 [Mnemonic]

Jia Jian Fu Mai Tang + Tortoise, Turtle, Chicken, Oyster, and Schisandra are all present.

 [Modifications]

(1) For those with palpitations and restlessness, add Poria cocos sclerotium and Wheat to calm the heart and spirit. (2) For those with Qi deficiency, shortness of breath, and thirst, add Ginseng to tonify Qi and secure collapse. (3) For those with continuous sweating, add Astragalus, Codonopsis, and Floating Wheat to tonify Qi and astringe sweat. (4) For those with low-grade fever, add Bidentata and Root of Spiny Date to clear low-grade fever. (5) Removing Schisandra Berry and Egg Yolk from this formula results in San Jia Fu Mai Tang from “Wen Bing Tiao Bian”, primarily treating lower Jiao deficiency due to long-term dwelling of heat in warm diseases, severe heat with consequent cold extremities, thready and rapid pulse, and a restless and agitated heart, potentially leading to heart pain. (6) Removing Tortoise Shell, Hemp Seed, Schisandra Berry, Ophiopogon Tuber, and Soft-shelled Turtle Plastron, and adding Caulis Spatholobi, Hyriopsis Shell, Shuang Gou Teng, and Poria cocos sclerotium results in “Ejiao Jizi Huang Tang,” primarily treating chronic dwelling of pathogenic heat, insufficient Yin and Blood, and internal wind due to deficiency. Symptoms include muscle contracture, tremors of the hands and feet, or dizziness, red tongue with scant coating, and thready, rapid pulse. (7) For cases where pathogenic heat burns Yin fluids to generate phlegm, add Bamboo Shavings and Fritillary Bulb to clear and transform phlegm-heat. (8) Yin and Yang are interdependent. If Yin and Blood are severely damaged, leading to damage of Yang, resulting in Qi deficiency or even Yang deficiency, and approaching a state of Yin and Yang collapse, add Ginseng, Schisandra Berry, and Ophiopogon Tuber to tonify Qi and secure collapse, saving the critical condition.

 [Pharmacology]

Has sedative, anticonvulsant, and hepatoprotective effects.