[Source]

Volume 1 of “Wen Bing Tiao Bian.”

 [Composition]

Raw Rehmannia Root, Scrophularia Ningpoensis, Bamboo Leaf Heart, Honeysuckle Flower, Forsythia Fruit, Coptis Chinensis, Salvia Miltiorrhiza, Ophiopogon Japonicus, Rhinoceros Horn
(9)

 [Classification]

<Tonifying Yin>: Ophiopogon Japonicus

<Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood>: Raw Rehmannia Root, Rhinoceros Horn

<Clearing Heat and Drying Dampness>: Coptis Chinensis

<Activating Blood and Removing Stasis>: Salvia Miltiorrhiza

<Clearing Heat and Purging Fire>: Scrophularia Ningpoensis, Bamboo Leaf Heart

<Clearing Heat and Detoxifying>: Forsythia Fruit, Honeysuckle Flower

[Formula Meaning]

From “Cheng Fang Du Bian”: In the formula, Rhinoceros Horn and Coptis Chinensis both enter the heart to clear fire. Rhinoceros horn has a light and agile nature, capable of resolving epidemic toxins. Coptis chinensis possesses a bitter and descending quality, which can dry dampness. These two ingredients are the principal herbs for treating warm diseases. If the heat invades the pericardium and damages the Ying (Nutritive) Yin, then Rehmannia Root and Scrophularia Ningpoensis nourish the Kidney water, Ophiopogon Japonicus nourishes the Lung metal, and Salvia Miltiorrhiza leads them to the heart. All of these serve to increase the body fluids and rescue from burning. Forsythia Fruit, Honeysuckle Flower, and Bamboo Leaf all can penetrate the heart internally and reach the exterior, with their acrid and cool nature, they gently relieve the symptoms, thus calming the spirit, reducing fever, and preventing the pathogen from lingering.

 [Functions]

Clears the Ying level, detoxifies, purges heat, and nourishes Yin.

 [Indications]

Warm diseases where the pathogenic heat has entered the Ying (Nutritive) level. Symptoms include fever worse at night, thirst or no thirst, occasional delirium, restlessness and insomnia, or faint macules and papules, a red and dry tongue, and a fine and rapid pulse.

 [Applications]

Acute infectious diseases in their critical stage, such as petechiae, purpura, epidemic encephalitis B, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, etc., showing the above symptoms.

 [Contraindications]

(1) When using this formula, pay attention to tongue diagnosis. As stated in “Wen Bing Tiao Bian,” “Those with a white and slippery tongue should not take it.” A red tongue with a white and slippery coating indicates the presence of dampness. (2) If this formula is taken incorrectly, the Yin-nourishing and moisturizing ingredients such as Rehmannia Root, Scrophularia Ningpoensis, and Ophiopogon Japonicus will stir up dampness, retain the pathogen, prolong the illness, and lead to other diseases.

 [Mnemonic]

: Lian lian xuan di jin zhu xi, <...> : Dan mai. → Lian nian dang xuan Dan mai de jin zhu xi chang.

 [Modifications]

(1) If Qi level heat is still strong, increase the dosage of Honeysuckle Flower and Forsythia Fruit, or add Gypsum, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides, Isatis Root, Radix Isatidis, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, etc., to enhance the heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. (2) If Ying level heat is severe, increase the dosage of Rhinoceros Horn, Raw Rehmannia Root, Scrophularia Ningpoensis, etc., to strengthen the Ying-clearing and blood-cooling effects. (3) If Ying level heat reverses and invades the pericardium, with symptoms of closed orifices and delirium, add An Gong Niu Huang Wan or Zhi Bao Dan to clear the heart and open the orifices. (4) If severe heat induces liver wind, with symptoms of convulsions and muscle twitching, add Zi Xue Dan, or add Scutellaria Root, Lumbricus, etc., to extinguish wind and stop spasms. (5) If accompanied by hot phlegm, add Bamboo Sap, Gastrodia Elata, Fritillaria cirrhosa, etc., to clear heat and resolve phlegm.

 [Pharmacology]

Has anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects.