【Source】

“Wen Bing Tiao Bian”, Vol. 2.

 【Composition】

Rhubarb, Mirabilitum, (raw) Licorice, Ginseng, (fine) raw Rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Scrophularia (Scrophularia), Angelica sinensis, Sea cucumber, Ginger juice
(10)

 【Classification Group】

<Blood Tonic>: Angelica sinensis

<Yin Tonic and Yin Nourishing>: Ophiopogon japonicus

<Heat Clearing and Blood Cooling>: raw Rehmannia

<Spleen Tonic and Middle Jiao Tonifying>: Licorice

<Purgative>: Rhubarb, Mirabilitum

<Qi Tonic>: Ginseng

<Warm Exterior Releasing>: Ginger juice

<Heat Clearing and Fire Purging>: Scrophularia

【Prescription Rationale】

According to “Fang Ji Xue Tang”: Rhubarb and Mirabilitum clear heat and unblock the bowels, soften hardness and moisten dryness, serving as the principal herbs in the formula. Raw Rehmannia, Scrophularia, Ophiopogon japonicus, and sea cucumber nourish yin and increase body fluids. Ginseng, Angelica sinensis, and Licorice tonify qi and blood, serving as secondary herbs in the formula to rescue the depleted yin fluid and assist vital qi in propelling the medicinal effects. Taking with raw ginger juice as an auxiliary herb to prevent nausea and rejection of the medicine, and to harmonize stomach qi, thus not only serving as an “antireversal” agent.

 【Functions】

Clear heat and unblock bowels, nourish yin and benefit qi.

 【Indications】

Yangming stage warm disease, where purgation was indicated but not administered, with deficiency of vital qi and excess of pathogenic factors, deficiency of both qi and blood, severe damage to body fluids by pathogenic heat, leading to constipation and inability to defecate.

 【Mnemonics】

Nourishing Yin and Benefiting Qi (Qi Tonic, Blood Tonic, Yin Tonic, Spleen Tonic): Ginseng, Angelica, Ophiopogon, Licorice, Sea Cucumber -> Came home late because selling fried sea cucumber. Clearing Heat and Unblocking Bowels (Exterior Releasing, Heat Clearing, Purgative): Ginger, Scrophularia, Raw Rehmannia, Mirabilitum -> Will choose a strange place to laugh heartily.

 【Modifications】

(1) If sea cucumber is unavailable, increase the amount of raw Rehmannia. (2) If abdominal distention is severe, add Magnolia bark and Raphanus sativus seed to promote qi circulation.