[Source]

“Revised Vernacular Treatise on Cold Damage Formulas”

 [Composition]

Aged Ejiao (Ejiao), Raw White Peony Root (White Peony Root), Haliotidis Concha (Haliotidis Concha), Twin-horned Cattail Stems (Twin-horned Cattail Stems), Raw Rehmannia Root (Raw Rehmannia Root), Honey-fried Licorice Root, Poria cocos wood, Egg Yolk, Trachelospermum jasminoides Stem (Trachelospermum jasminoides Stem), Raw Oyster Shell
(10)

 [Categorization]

<Blood Nourishing>: Aged Ejiao, Raw Peony Root

<Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood>: Raw Rehmannia Root

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Qi>: Licorice Root

<Tonifying Spleen and Promoting Fluid Metabolism>: Poria cocos wood

<Expelling Wind-Dampness>: Trachelospermum jasminoides Stem

<Calming the Spirit>: Raw Oyster Shell

<Calming the Liver and Extinguishing Wind>: Twin-horned Cattail Stems, Haliotidis Concha

<Others>: Egg Yolk

[Rationale of the Formula]

This formula uses Ejiao and egg yolk as the monarch ingredients, drawing from their substantial and fluid nature to nourish blood and subdue liver wind. The ministers include peony and licorice root, and Poria cocos wood, which moisten the liver with their sour and sweet properties and subdue wind by counteracting wood with wood. Since liver yang is often hyperactive when heart blood is deficient, Haliotidis Concha and oyster shell are added to subdue yang. When tendons are spasming, the collaterals are also obstructed, thus Twin-horned Cattail Stems and Trachelospermum jasminoides Stem are used to unblock collaterals and relieve spasms. This is an excellent formula for nourishing blood, supplementing yin, moistening the liver, and subduing wind.

 [Functions]

Nourishes blood and yin, moistens the liver, and subdues wind.

 [Indications]

Chronic lingering pathogenic heat that scorches genuine yin, resulting in tendon and sinew cramps, involuntary movements of the hands and feet, or dizziness and vertigo, with a red tongue and scanty coat, and a fine, rapid pulse.

 [Mnemonics]

Blood nourishing and spleen tonifying → Nourishes blood and yin: Peony, Ejiao, Licorice. Spirit calming + Liver calming and wind extinguishing: Poria cocos wood, Oyster shell, Twin-horned Cattail Stems, Haliotidis Concha. Others: Raw Rehmannia Root, Trachelospermum jasminoides Stem, Egg Yolk. → Shao (Peony) A (Ejiao) Gan (Licorice), Fu (Poria) Tu (Oyster shell) Gou (Twin-horned Cattail Stems) Ming (Haliotidis Concha), Sheng (Rehmannia) Ji Zi Luo (Egg yolk). → Little A, Gan (sweet) drew a very vivid and impressive picture, with clear composition, raw egg falling on the ground.