【Source】

《Lan Shi Mi Zang》 (Orchid Room Secret Collection)

【Composition】

Gegen Hua (Pueraria Flower), Bai Dou Kou (White Cardamom), Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit), Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome), Fu Ling (Poria), Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Zhu Ling (Polyporus), Mu Xiang (Costus Root)n(13 ingredients)

【Categorization】

<Regulating Qi>: Chen Pi, Qing Pi, Mu Xiang

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Jiao>: Bai Zhu

<Acrid-Cool Exterior-Releasing>: Gegen Hua

<Tonifying Qi>: Ren Shen

<Warming the Interior>: Gan Jiang

<Tonifying Spleen and Promoting Water Excretion>: Fu Ling

<Aromatic and Transforming Dampness>: Sha Ren, Bai Dou Kou

<Promoting Water Excretion and Resolving Dampness>: Ze Xie, Zhu Ling

<Promoting Digestion>: Shen Qu

【Formula Explanation】

“Yi Fang” (Medical Formulas): This formula consists of medicinal agents targeting the Hand and Foot Yangming channels.

(1) Excessive, uncontrolled drinking leads to the accumulation of damp-heat toxins in the intestines and stomach.

(2) Gegen Hua: Enters the Yangming channel alone, allowing damp-heat to be dispelled from the muscles.

(3) Bai Dou Kou (White Cardamom) and Sha Ren: Both are acrid, dispersing, and alcohol-resolving, thus serving as chief ingredients.

(4) Shen Qu: Resolves alcohol and aids digestion.

(5) Mu Xiang and Gan Jiang: Regulate Qi and warm the Middle Jiao.

(6) Qing Pi and Chen Pi: Resolve phlegm and clear stagnation.

(7) Er Ling (Fu Ling and Zhu Ling) and Ze Xie: Can expel dampness through urination, thus it is a formula for resolving evils both internally and externally.

(8) Excessive drinking injures the Middle Qi, so Ginseng and Bai Zhu are added to tonify Qi.

“Shan Bu” (Revised and Supplemented): Alcohol is transformed from the essence of food and grains, having a damp body and hot nature. Moderate drinking can regulate Qi and blood, smooth Yin and Yang, assist the Middle Qi internally, and defend against external pathogens. However, excessive drinking, in mild cases, injures the Spleen and Stomach; in severe cases, it damages one’s spirit.

Therefore, people suffering from alcohol intoxication experience dizziness, irritability, dry retching, nausea, vomiting after eating, general body soreness and weakness, fever, headache, gastric upset with acid regurgitation, chest oppression and fullness, dry mouth and tongue, trembling hands and feet, mental confusion, loss of appetite, turbid urine, and loose stools. All these are symptoms of damp-heat injuring both the physical form and Qi.

Li Gao said: For alcohol-related illnesses, frequently using strongly hot or strongly cold purgatives is a grave error, as it targets the intangible primordial Qi when it is affected, but instead, tangible Yin blood is purged. Strong heat injures Yin, and strong cold injures the Stomach, leading to the dissipation of primordial Qi, leaving the seven spirits without support, shortening one’s lifespan; otherwise, deficiency-exhaustion diseases will develop.

Therefore, this formula was created with Gegen Hua as the chief ingredient, supplemented by acrid and aromatic substances; Shen Qu is used, supplemented by Qi-moving substances; and Fu Ling and Ze Xie are used, supplemented by sweet and warm substances. After administration, sweating is induced, which means dispelling externally from the muscles and clearing internally from the Yangming channel, thus resolving the problem from above and below, inside and out. This transforms the foulness in the stomach into fragrance and the turbidity into clarity, bringing about harmony and peace.

 【Functions】

Strengthen the Spleen and percolate dampness, regulate Qi and remove stagnation.

 【Indications】

Excessive alcohol consumption, vomiting with phlegm reflux, headache, irritability, dysuria, loose stools. “Yi Fang”: Specifically treats alcohol accumulation, or vomiting, or diarrhea with blockage, headache, dysuria. “Shan Bu”: Ailments of frequent drinkers.

 【Applications】

Excessive drinking, hangover.

 【Mnemonic】

A mnemonic for remembering the ingredients: ‘White person takes Gegen Hua, chooses to kill white pig, will sing two-skin country song’ (白人茯葛花,澤砂白豬,薑皮皮香麴). This refers to: Bai Zhu (白朮), Ren Shen (人參), Fu Ling (茯苓), Gegen Hua (葛花), Ze Xie (澤瀉), Sha Ren (砂仁), Bai Dou Kou (白豆蔻), Zhu Ling (豬苓), Gan Jiang (乾薑), Qing Pi (青皮), Chen Pi (陳皮), Mu Xiang (木香), and Shen Qu (神麴).