[Source]

“Fu Ren Liang Fang” (Prescriptions for Women)

 [Composition]

Psoralea, Nutmeg, Schisandra, Evodia
(4)

 [Classification]

<Warming the Interior>: Evodia

<Tonifying Yang and Assisting Yang>: Psoralea

<Astringing>: Nutmeg, Schisandra

[Formula Explanation]

“Yi Fang” (Medical Formulas): This is a formula for the Kidney channel of the Foot Shaoyin. (1) Psoralea: Pungent, bitter, and greatly warming. It can tonify the ministerial fire (kidney yang) to assist the monarchical fire (heart yang). When fire is abundant, it can generate earth (spleen). Therefore, it is the chief herb. (2) Nutmeg: Pungent and warming. It can move qi and resolve food stagnation, and warm the stomach and consolidate the intestines. (3) Schisandra: Salty in flavor, it can tonify the kidney. Sour in flavor, it can astringe essence. (4) Evodia: Pungent and hot. It removes dampness, dries the spleen, and can enter the qi division of the Shaoyin and Jueyin channels to tonify fire. (5) Ginger: Warms the stomach; Jujube: Tonifies earth, thus controlling water. The reason for chronic diarrhea is that the kidney and mingmen fire are weak, unable to govern the spleen and stomach. Therefore, this formula greatly tonifies the primordial yang of the lower jiao, making the fire abundant and earth strong. This allows it to control water and prevent it from flowing improperly. “Fang Ji Xue Wang” (Study of Formulas): In this formula, Psoralea tonifies the kidney and assists yang, warms the spleen, and stops diarrhea. It is an essential herb for treating diarrhea due to kidney deficiency and strengthening fire to benefit earth, thus serving as the chief herb. Evodia warms the middle and disperses cold. Nutmeg warms the spleen and astringes the intestines. When these two herbs are combined with Psoralea, the effect of warming the kidney and spleen is enhanced. Schisandra mainly astringes and is an assistant herb for stopping diarrhea. Together, they serve as deputy herbs. The usage includes Ginger and Jujube to regulate and tonify the spleen and stomach, aiding in transportation and transformation. The overall combination of the formula, as stated in “Yi Fang Ji Jie” (Interpretation of Medical Formulas), is: “Greatly tonifies the primordial yang of the lower jiao, making the fire abundant and earth strong, thus allowing it to control water and prevent it from flowing improperly.” When the spleen and kidney are warm, transportation and transformation are restored, the intestines are consolidated, and diarrhea can be stopped.

 [Functions]

Warms the kidney and spleen, consolidates the intestines, and stops diarrhea.

 [Efficacy]

Deficiency of mingmen fire, spleen and kidney deficiency-cold, diarrhea at the fifth watch or chronic diarrhea, loss of appetite, poor digestion, lower back pain, abdominal pain, cold limbs, and fatigue. “Yi Fang”: Kidney diarrhea, spleen diarrhea. “Shan Bu”: Spleen and kidney double deficiency, diarrhea after intercourse, loss of appetite, poor digestion.

 [Indications]

Diarrhea at the fifth watch, chronic diarrhea, chronic colitis.

 [Contraindications]

(1) Contraindicated for diarrhea and abdominal pain caused by excess heat in the stomach and intestines. (2) Avoid raw and cold foods.

 [Mnemonic]

Wu Kou Po Wu (Five [Schisandra] bandits break Wu [Evodia]).

 [Modifications]

(1) If diarrhea at the fifth watch is prolonged, with deficiency of spleen and kidney yang, and little appetite, add Ginseng, Atractylodes, processed Ginger, and prepared Licorice to strengthen the warming and antidiarrheal effects. (2) If there is significant aversion to cold and cold limbs, add Aconite and Cinnamon to warm kidney yang. (3) If Evodia and Schisandra are removed from this formula and Costus Root and Fennel are added, it becomes Dan Liao Si Shen Wan (Mildly Treating Four Spirits Pill) from “Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng”, used for diarrhea at the fifth watch with more severe abdominal pain. (4) If Evodia and Schisandra are removed from this formula, it becomes Er Shen Wan (Two Spirits Pill) from “Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang”, primarily used for spleen and kidney deficiency with complete loss of appetite. (5) If Nutmeg and Psoralea are removed from this formula, it becomes Wu Wei Zi San (Schisandra Powder) from “Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang”, used for kidney diarrhea. (6) If chronic diarrhea is accompanied by rectal prolapse, add Codonopsis, Astragalus, and Cimicifuga to lift the middle qi.

 [Pharmacology]

Can regulate the activity of intestinal smooth muscles and enhance the function of the digestive system.