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Q.  With the exception of …………. all of the eight strategies are commonly used today.

vomiting

Q. What are the applications of tonifying (Bu Fa)?

Deficiency of Qi, Blood, Yin or Yang and of any Zang-fu.

Q. The main categorization methods for formulas include:

According to the size of the formula. According to disease and syndromes. According to function or strategies of the formula.

Q. Qi fang (Seven formulas) includes:

Large, small, mild, urgent, odd numbered, composite type and even numbered.

Q. The different titles of the feudal system adopted in formulas demonstrate different significant roles of ingredients. What are they?

King (Jun), Minister (Chen), Assistant (Zuo) and Envoy (Shi).

Q. Minister (Chen) ingredient has two different roles:

Aids the King in treating the principal syndrome or disease and serves as the main ingredient directed against a coexisting syndrome of disease.

Q. What is the King (Jun) herbal role in a formula?

The King acts directly against, and has the greatest effect upon the principal syndrome or disease.

Q. Assistant (Zuo) ingredient has three different roles:

Helpful assistant, corrective and opposing.

Q. Envoy (Shi) ingredient may have two different roles:

Guiding and harmonising.

Q. Please point out the ways to modify a formula.

Modification of the dosage, modification of the ingredients and modification of the form of administration.

Q. Common types of formulations include:

Decoction, powders, pills and others.

Q. What are the advantages and drawbacks of decoction (Tang Ji)?

Advantages: suitable for most conditions, strong, rapidly absorbed and convenient to modify. Disadvantages: expensive, difficult to prepare and bad tasting.

Q. What are the advantages and drawbacks of powders (San Ji)?

Advantages: easy to prepare and store, good for external and internal use, easy to move about and convenient to take. Disadvantage: limited in use.

Q. What are the advantages and drawbacks of pills (Wan Ji) and tablet (Pian Ji)?

Advantages: easy to store and take, cheap, good for chronic conditions, honey for spleen and water for normal. Disadvantages: slow effect and difficult to modify.

Q. Please list some other types of formulations apart from Tang Ji, San Ji, Wan Ji and Pian Ji.

Soft extracts (Gao Ji), Syrups (Tang Jiang Ji), Medicinal Wines (Jiu Ji) and Injection (Zhu She Ji).

Q. There are two types of fire for cooking decoctions:

Military and civilian.

Q. Please list some other ways of administration.

Decocted first, added near end, decocted in gauze, dissolved in the strained decoction and taken with the strained decoction.

Q. Usually herbs are recommended to be taken one hour before meals or after meals?

One hour before the meal.

Q. Herbs irritating to the gastrointestinal tract should be taken after meals or before meals?

One hour after the meal.

Q. Herbs can be taken many times a day to meet the needs of the illness.

Yes.

Q & A. The decoction in cold nature for heat syndromes should be taken cool, while the decoction in heat nature for cold syndromes should be taken hot.

Q. The actions of exterior relieving formulas are:

A. Promote sweating, relieve the muscles and promote the eruption of rashes or pox.

Q. The indications of exterior relieving formulas are:

A.

1. Exterior syndromes (fever and chills, headache, body aches and a floating pulse).

2. Early stage of pox and rashes.

3. Early stage of sores and abscesses with some signs of exterior syndromes.

4. Oedema with signs of exterior syndromes especially in the upper portion of the body (Wind-Water).

5. Bi-syndrome contracted with wind cold and dampness, in the early stage or with signs of exterior syndrome (painful obstruction syndrome).

Q. The exterior relieving formulas can be divided into:

A. Exterior Wind-Cold, Exterior Wind-Heat and Exterior Syndrome with Deficient constitution.

Q. Please point out the precautions in using exterior relieving formulas.

A.

1. The right degree of perspiration by exterior relieving formulas is mild perspiration over the entire body.

2. When patients exhibit both exterior and interior syndromes, first relieve the exterior then treat the interior or treat both simultaneously.

3. Patients who take this kind of formula should be instructed to put on more clothes or covered with a warm quilt.

4. This kind of medicine should not be cooked for lengthy periods, because the herbs are light and volatile in nature. Long periods of cooking will disperse their therapeutic effects.

5. This kind of medicine should be taken after a meal while the liquid is warm in order to assist the medicine to go upward.

Q. Please list the contraindications of exterior relieving formulas.

A.

1. Once the syndrome has changed into interior syndrome.

2. Once the pox and rashes have erupted.

3. Once the sores have ulcerated.

4. Oedema due to deficiency of Yang or Qi.

5. Dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhoea.

Q. The ingredients of Ma Huang Tang are:

A. Ma Huang, Gui Zhi, Xing Ren and Zhi Gan Cao.

Q. What can Ma Huang Tang do further apart from the diaphoretic function?

A. Relieves the Exterior & Disperses the Lung Qi to stop coughing and wheezing.

Q. In Ma Huang Tang, there is Ma Huang that serves as a diaphoretic, why does it use Gui Zhi in its composition?

A. Gui Zhi assists the diaphoretic action of Ma Huang, but also relieves the Exterior, warms the channels, dispels cold as well as activates the flow of Ying Qi (nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (protective Qi) to fight against the exterior pathogen.

Q. Why does one need to drink hot porridge after taking Gui Zhi Tang?

A. To induce sweating but not excessively.

Q. Why does Gui Zhi Tang stimulate sweating as well as stop sweating?

A. It stimulates medicinal sweating to stop pathogenic sweating. By regulating the Ying and Wei-Qi it restores their harmony and stops sweating by their malfunction. It stimulates sweating to release the pathogen from the Exterior.

Q. Why is Gui Zhi an indispensable herb in Ma Huang Tang, but Ma Huang can never be used in Gui Zhi Tang?

A. Ma Huang is a diaphoretic agent that removes the pathogen in combination with Gui Zhi from the muscle layer. Ma Huang is especially good at Lung disorder syndromes. With conditions of Ma Huang Tang, there is no sweating, so sweating is induced to release the pathogen. In Gui Zhi Tang there is profuse sweating but no Lung disorder symptoms, therefore Ma Huang cannot be used in Gui Zhi Tang.

Q. Both Ma Huang Tang and Xiao Qing Long Tang can be used to treat wheezing, what is the difference?

A. Ma Huang Tang disperses and disseminates the Lung-Qi that is constrained by the attack of the Wind-Cold to treat wheezing, whilst Xiao Qing Long Tang transforms congested fluids, warms the lungs and directs rebellious Qi downwards to stop wheezing.

Q. What are the indications of Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang, and what are the key characteristics of pathogenic factors?

A.

1. External contracted wind-cold-dampness with concurrent accumulation of internal heat.

2. Common cold in the four seasons.

3. Bi (joint pain) syndrome in the early stages.

Q. What are the indications of Xiang Su San?

A. 1. Wind cold attacking the exterior with internal Qi stagnation. 2. Gentle formula for the common cold in the four seasons.

Q. The ingredients of Gui Zhi Tang are…, how about Jui Wei Qiang Huo Tang, Xiao Qing Long Tang and Xiang Su San?

A.

Jui Wei Qiang Huo Tang: Qiang Huo, Fang Feng, Cang Zhu, Bai Zhi, Xi Xin, Chuan Xiong, Huang Qin, Sheng Di Huang and Gan Cao.

Xiao Qing Long Tang: Ma Huang, Gui Zhi, Gan Jiang, Xi Xin, Bai Shao Yao, Wu Wei Zi, Ban Xia and Zhi Gan Cao.

Xiang Su San: Zi Su Ye, Xiang Fu, Chen Pi and Zhi Gan Cao.

Q. What is the basic rule for the composition of exterior relieving formulas with pungent cool herbs?

A.

1. Combined mainly with pungent cool herbs for dispersing Lung Qi.

2. Combined with herbs for clearing Heat.

3. Combined with herbs of sweet-cold for clearing away Heat and enriching body liquid.

4. Slightly combined with herbs of pungent warm for relieving the exterior.

Q. With 5 identical herbs in their ingredients, why do Sang Ju Yin and Yin Qiao San have different effects?

A. Sang Ju Yin has the additional herbs of Sang Ye, Ju Hua and Xing Ren. Xing Ren desends Lung Qi in combination with Jie Geng (also in Yin Qiao San), therefore this ascending and descending action circulates Lung Qi and stops coughing, the predominate complaint. Yin Qiao San however, has the additional herbs of Jin Yin Hua, Niu Bang Zi, Jing Jie, Dan Dou Chi and Dan Zhu Ye. These herbs are primarily used to clear away heat and toxicity, thereby treating the predominate complaints; thirst, cough and sore throat. It should be worth noting that the envoy herbs are Gan Cao and Sheng Gan Cao respectively. Sheng Gan Cao is slightly different to Gan Cao and is therefore not completely identical. Sheng Gan Cao also aids in the removal of heat and toxicity.

Another key point is that the King herbs and dosages are different. In Sang Ju Yin the King herbs are Sang Ye (7.5g) and Ju Hua (3g), whilst in Yin Qiao San, Jin Yin Hua (9g) and Lian Qiao (9g) are King.

Q. Please compare Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang and Ma Huang Tang.

A.

Q. What are Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang’s indicated chief symptoms?

A. Heat lodged in the Lung causing wheezing, coughing and laboured breathing. The lung opens into the nose where there will be nasal flaring causing pain and thirst. Fever will also be present along with a white or yellow tongue coating and a slippery rapid pulse.

Q. What formula should be selected when a Yin deficient patient catches Wind Heat externally?

A. Yin Qiao San.

Q. Ren Shen in Bai Du San should be used with a large dose, small dose or an average dose?

A. Small dose.

Q. What are the precautions in application of purgative formulas?

A.

1.      Do not apply purgative formulas when exterior syndromes have not yet been relieved when interior excess syndromes have not formed.

2.      Do not apply purgative formulas to pregnant women or postpartum except with great care.

3.      Do not apply strong purgative formulas during prolonged illness with bodily weakness or in the elderly except with great care.

4.      The dosage of purgative formulas must be always reasonable, when the symptoms are removed, draining downward treatment must be withdrawn.

5.      Do not apply purgative formulas to patients with false interior excess symptom signs caused by extreme deficiency.

Q. What are the differences among Da Cheng Qi Tang, Xiao Cheng Qi Tang and Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang?

A. Da Cheng Qi Tang is for severe constipation, whilst Xiao Cheng Qi Tang is for moderate constipation and Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang is for mild constipation. The latter two are based on Da Cheng Qi Tang. All three have Da Huang as their King herb. Da Cheng Qi Tang and Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang both have Mang Xiao whilst Xiao Cheng Qi Tang does not.

Da Cheng Qi Tang= Pi, Man, Zao + Shi

Xiao Cheng Qi Tang= Pi, Man + Shi

Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang= Zao + Shi

Q. How can Da Cheng Qi Tang be used to treat green watery diarrhoea since it is a purgative formula?

A.  Da Cheng Qi Tang is a very strong purgative formula. However, it is effective for diarrhoea arising from heat in the Yangming excessive Fu organs. The heat in the interior mixes with turbidity in the intestines, which impairs the fluids and obstructs the intestines. When turbid fluids pass around the intestinal obstruction and are finally eliminated, they come out as green-blue watery diarrhoea with a fetid odour (heat).

Q. Why in the ingredients of Da Huang Fu Zi Tang, there is no Mang Xiao?

A. Da Huang Fu Zi Tang is a warm purgative formula when there is cold accumulation in the interior. Mang Xiao is very cold and is used to clear heat. If used when a patient has cold accumulation in the interior, it will severely injure Yang and increase the cold accumulation disorder.

Q. Based on which formula is Ma Zi Ren Wan composed of?

A. Xiao Cheng Qi Tang. It is made by reducing the dosage of those herbs that strongly disperse and purge and adding herbs that nourish and moisten.

Q. How can Wen Pi Tang be applied for both constipation and dysentery?

A. Wen Pi Tang warms and tonifys the Spleen Yang and purges cold accumulation. Constipation here, is caused by a deficiency of Spleen Yang, which leads to excessive cold and causes Qi stagnation and also impairs the transportation of the intestines. Spleen-Yang Deficiency also results in passing undigested food in the stools and as the Spleen controls the Blood vessels, Blood may pass into the stools causing dysentery. It is worth noting that Da Huang can be used for both constipation and dysenteric disorders.

Q. Why can Xiao Chai Hu Tang be applied in a wide range of disorders?

A.

1. Firstly, because it treats the Shaoyang syndrome (middle stage), that being when the pathogen is half in the exterior and half in the interior. Any pathogen combination that starts to enter the interior can therefore be treated.

2. Secondly, it can be easily modified to meet 12 other similar syndromes.

3. Thirdly, it can treat excessive and deficient disorders.

4. Fourthly, it expresses the life philosophy of the TCM practitioner because it can accomplish so many things (Prof Dang answer).

Q. Since Xiao Chai Hu Tang is not a sweating promoting formula, why does one may appear sweating after taking it?

A. The aim of the formula is to remove the pathogen, which is half way in the exterior and half way in the interior (Shaoyang), without allowing it to enter the interior of the body (Yangming). Xiao Chai Hu Tang attacks the pathogen in the Shaoyang causing it to move to the exterior (Taiyang). Because the pathogen is now in the exterior, exterior symptoms will arise (alternating fiver and chills and sweating). Chai Hu then releases the pathogen from the exterior through sweating.

Q. What kind of syndrome can be treated with Da Chai Hu Tang?

A. Da Chai Hu Tang, a modification of Xiao Chai Hu Tang, can treat concurrent Shaoyang and Yangming syndromes. The alternating chills and fever, sensation of fullness in the chest and hypochondriac, a bitter taste in the mouth, vomiting and a wiry pulse are all classic symptoms of this syndrome.

Q. Why in Si Ni San syndrome, there exists a symptom of cold extremities?

A. In Si Ni syndrome, the extremities are cold whilst the trunk of the body is warm. Liver Qi stagnation causes internal heat accumulation that constrains the Yang Qi and inhibits its spreading to the extremities, so the extremities are deficient in Yang Qi and warmth.

Q. Annoys the mechanism of Xiao Yao San, answer the question of why it is named as ‘Rambling Powder’ or ‘Happy Powder’?

A. Xiao Yao San releases the constrained Liver Qi and encourages its free flow. Therefore any pain symptoms are relieved and the patient is happy (Prof. Dang’s answer). I prefer Bensky’s: This allows a open mindedness and a free flow or rambling/happy spirit. A constrained Liver leads to irritability and moods.

Q. As king herb in both Xiao Yao San and Xiao Chai Hu Tang, is there any differences of Chai Hu in functions and dosage?

A. In Xiao Yao San, Chai Hu’s dosage is 9g. Its aim is to release the constrained Liver Qi. Xiao Chai Hu Tang’s dosage is also 12g, but this time it is combined with Huang Qin to drain heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and thus vents the Shaoyang disorder.

Q. What is the main character of the symptoms treated with Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang?

A. The disharmony between the stomach and intestines due to a cold-heat complex. This causes epigastrium distension, fullness and tightness with very slight or no pain, a dry retching or frank vomiting, borborygmus with diarrhoea and a reduced appetite.

Q. What are the differences between Jia Wei Xiao Yao San and Hei Xiao Yao San?

A. Jia Wei Xiao Yao San is Xiao Yao San plus Mu Dan Pi and Shan Zhi Zi. It is used for irregular menstruation disorders and Liver and Spleen Blood deficiencies. It also clears heat from the body. Hei Xiao Yao San is Xiao Yao San plus Shu Di Huang or Sheng Di Huang. It is good for Blood deficiency syndromes.

Q. The representative formula for tonifying Qi is…

A. Si Jun Zi Tang.

Q. The representative formula for tonifying blood is...

A. Si Wu Tang.

Q. What are the differences between Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentleman Decoction) and Li Zhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill) regarding their mechanisms and ingredients?

A.

Q. A patient with presentations of ‘loose stools or diarrhoea, poor appetite, weakness of the extremities, pallid and wan complexion, a pale tongue with a white coating, and a moderate pulse’ need be treated with:

A. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San.

Q. Which formula can treat the theory of ‘Back up earth in order to engender metal’?

A. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San.

Q. What tonifying formulas present the theory of ‘Sweet-warm herbs relieve high fever’?

A. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang.

Q. What formula can be used for treating ‘Consistently irregular, or slow irregular pulse, palpitation and anxiety, irritability, insomnia, emaciation, shortness of breath, a pale shiny tongue’?

A. Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Restore the Pulse Decoction).

Q. Please list 5 names of formulas containing the ingredients of Si Jun Zi Tang (Four gentleman Decoction).

A. Liu Jun Zi Tang, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi, Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, Ba Zhen Tang

Q. Why just plus herbs of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi to Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) may change to tonify Yin formula into a tonifying Yang formula?

A. Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan derives from the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan formula. The addition of Fu Zi and Gui Zhi allows it to be changed into a Yang tonifying formula. Fu Zi tonifies the source fire, dispels cold and eliminates dampness. Whilst Gui Zhi benefits the joints, warms the channels and unblocks the vessels, all of which are Yang aspects.

Q. What is the pathological mechanism of Li Zhong Wan Syndrome? What is the king ingredient of the formula?

A. Warms the middle jiao and strengthens the stomach and spleen. The king herb is Gan Jiang.

Q. What are the clinical symptoms treated by Wu Zhu Yu Tang, why?

A. Vomiting immediately after eating, acid regurgitation (with or without epigastric pain) and gnawing hunger due to Deficient Cold in the Stomach and Liver. Headache of Jueyin meridian with retching and vomiting saliva. Shaoyin meridian disorder with vomiting, diarrhoea, cold extremities and agitation.

Q. What are the differences between Gui Zhi Tang and Xiao Jian Zhong Tang?

A.  Xiao Jian Zhong Tang is Gui Zhi Tang + Yi Tang and is used to warm and tonify the Middle-Jiao and moderate spasmodic abdominal pain.

Q. What are the ingredients of Si Ni Tang, and what are the differences between Si Ni San and Si Ni Tang?

A. The ingredients of Si Ni Tang are Fu Zi, Gan Jiang and Zhi Gan Cao. The differences are shown in the table below:

Q. The reasons of cold extremities appeared in Si Ni Tang and Si Ni San are same or not? Why?

A. The extremities are not the same as shown in the table above. In Si Ni San Liver Qi stagnation causes internal heat accumulation that constrains the Yang Qi and inhibits its warmth spreading to the extremities. This can be relieved by touch. In Si Ni Tang however, it is the failure of the Kidney and Spleen Yang Qi that causes cold limbs and cannot be relieved by touch.

Q. What are the indications and clinical symptoms treated with Shen Fu Tang?

A. The indications of Shen Fu Tang is the sudden collapse of the Yang Qi. The clinical symptoms of this syndrome are cold extremities, sweating, weak breathing and a shortness of breath, dizziness, an extremely pale complexion, a pale tongue and a faint pulse that is almost imperceptible.

Q. What are the actions of Dang Gui Si Ni Tang and what kinds of clinical symptoms can be treated with it?

A. The actions of Dang Gui Si Ni Tang are to warm the meridians, disperse Cold, nourish the Blood and unblock the blood vessels. The clinical symptoms are:

1. Long standing cold hands and feet, a pale tongue with a white coating and a submerged thin pulse that is so thin it is almost imperceptible.

2. Aches at the waist, thigh, legs and feet due to cold attacking the meridians.

Q. Yang He Tang is used to treat swelling of Yin type (due to Yang deficiency and Yin cold excess) but not ulcerated, is that True or False?

A. True. (Yang swelling symptoms are:

1.      Redness.

2.      Pain.

3.      Heat.

4.      Swelling).

Q. What kinds of depressions (stagnation) are treated by Yue Ju Wan? Find out the specific herb applied for each kind of depression.

A. Yue Ju Wan treats six kinds of depression, as shown below:

• Liver Qi stagnation – Xiang Fu,

• Blood stasis – Chuan Xiong,

• Dampness stagnation – Cang Zhu,

• Fire stagnation – Shan Zhi Zi,

• Food stagnation – Shen Qu,

• Phlegm stagnation (indirectly because when dampness is cleared phlegm is cleared also) – Cang Zhu.

Q. In the treatment of Liver depression, what are the differences among Yue Ju Wan, Xiao Yao San and Yi Guan Jian?

A. Yue Ju Wan promotes the movement of Qi and releases constraint. Xiao Yao San spreads the Liver Qi and releases constraint and also strengthens the spleen and nourishes the blood. Yi Guan Jian nourishes the Yin and tonifys the Liver and Kidney, and also spreads the Liver Qi and releases constraint.

Q. What are the indications treated with Ban Xia Hou Po Tang?

A. Liver-Qi and Phlegm Stagnation causing Plum Pit-Qi. Symptoms include a feeling of something caught in the throat that can not be swallowed nor ejected, a stifling sensation in the chest and hypochondria, coughing and vomiting.

Q. Which of the following formulas is used for treating unremitting belching caused by phlegm turbidity obstructing the interior together with deficiency of the stomach?

A. Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang.

Q. What are the main symptoms and signs of Bai Hu Tang?

A. High fever with profuse sweating, an aversion to heat, a red face, severe thirst, irritability and a surging large forceful pulse along with a slightly rapid pulse.

Q. Why are Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Huan Lian and Dan Zhu Ye selected in Qing Ying Tang (clear the Ying-Liver-heat decoction), since these herbs are not mainly used for clearing Ying-level Heat?

A. These herbs in combination clear heat from Ying to the Qi level and out to the exterior and relieve toxicity.

Q. What is the key strategy of syndromes of Blood level?

A. Clear heat and relieve fire toxin, cool the blood, dispel blood stasis, nourish Yin and stop bleeding.

Q. Please analyze the compositions of Huang Lian Jie Du Tang?

A. This formula is for Heat in all three Jiaos. Each of the ingredients clears heat in each of the three jiaos. This is done by employing the three Huang herbs: Huang Lian, Huang Qin and Huang Bai. Huang Lian is the king herb and purges heat from the Heart and the middle jiao. Huang Qin clears heat from the Lung and upper jiao. Huang Bai clears heat from the lower jiao. Lastly, Zhi Shi clears Heat in all 3 Jiao and guides it out from the body through the urine and also relieves irritability and toxicity.

Q. Why doesn’t Dao Chi San select Huang Lian in the formula but selects Sheng Di Huang, since the formula is used for clearing Heart Heat?

A. Sheng Di Huang enters the Heart to cool the blood and also enters the Kidney to nourish the Yin and generate fluids, which strengthens the Kidney water, which controls fire in the Heart. Huang Lian does however, drains heat from the Heart but does not generate fluids and therefore cannot relieve the thirst aspect of this syndrome.

Q. What is the syndrome treated by Long Dan Xie Gan Tang?

A. Excessive Heat-Fire or Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder or Liver meridian.

Q. What are the differences between Qing Wei San and Yu Nu Jian?

A. Qing Wei San and Yu Nu Jian are very similar apart from a few exceptions. Firstly, Qing Wei San is for heat accumulation in the stomach syndrome whilst Yu Nu Jian is for heat in the stomach with Yin (Shaoyin) deficiency. The actions of Qing Wei San is to drain stomach fire, cool the blood and nourish the Yin, whilst Yu Nu Jian drains heat from the stomach and nourishes the Yin but does not cool the Blood. They both present similar symptoms: toothache, bleeding gums and a dry red tongue coating.

Q. Why does Qing Wei San apply Sheng Ma in its ingredients?

A. Sheng Ma is used as an Envoy to guide the other herbs upwards to the Yangming channel to clear Heat and disperse Fire in the Stomach.

Q. What is the pathological mechanism of Yu Nu Jian syndrome?

A. Stomach Heat with Yin-Deficiency due to the vigorous Stomach-Fire injuring the Kidney-Yin.

Q. What are the differences between Shao Yao Tang and Bai Tou Weng Tang in treating dysentery?

A. Shao Yao Tang treats dysentery with damp-heat, whilst Bai Tou Weng Tang treats dysentery caused by heat and toxins. Shao Yao Tang regulates and harmonises the Qi and Blood, clears heat and relieves toxicity. Bai Tou Weng Tang clears the heat, relieves toxicity, cools the Blood and alleviates dysenteric disorders. The stool in Shao Yao Tang contains equal amounts of blood and puss discharge whereas in Bai Tou Weng Tang the stool contains more blood than puss.

Q. What are the rules in combination of herbs of clearing summer-heat formulas?

A.

1.      Mainly composed with herbs for clearing Summer-heat such as Yin Hua, Xi Gua Cui Yi, Xian He Ye for mild conditions whilst Shi Gao and Zhi Mu is for severe conditions.

2. Combined with Xiang Ru, Su Ye if accompanied with Exterior-Cold symptoms.

3. Combined with Hua Shi, Fu Ling, Ze Xie, etc.

4. Combined with Xi Yang Shen, Mai Dong and Shi Hu, if accompanied with symptoms of Qi and deficiency.

Q. Why can Liu Yi San be used in treatment of Summer-heat?

A. Liu Yi San clears summer-heat, resolves dampness (often seen in summer heat syndromes) and augments the Qi. This formula resolves summer heat by applying cold herbs to relieve heat and promote urination to remove the heat and dampness out of the body by using Hua Shi. Gan Cao also aids in the removal of heat and augments the middle jiao Qi. This formula also generates fluids, an important factor for the summer season, so the syndrome does not develop into a more severe case and treat thirst.

Q. What are the differences between Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang and Qing Gu San in treating deficient heat?

A. Qing Hao Bei Jia Tang treats deficient heat in the late stages of febrile disease by nourishing the Yin and venting the Heat. Qing Gu San treats deficient heat, which causes a ‘steamed bone’ feeling that is due to interior Yin deficiency heat (empty heat).

Q. Why does Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang apply Huang Qi in its ingredients?

A. Huang Qi is an important herb in this formula hence its large dosage of 30g. With the severe prolonged sweating seen in this syndrome, it will injure Yang and destabilise the protective Qi (Wei). Huang Qi augments the protective Qi and stabilises the exterior and treats the main symptom of night sweating. This prevents excessive sweating from causing further injury to Yin and Yang and also protects the Stomach from the actions of the other herbs in the formula.

Q. Why are there Qi activating or Qi tonifying herbs in formulas for Blood- stasis?

A. Qi is the commander of Blood. Qi is also the mother of Blood. Qi is considered Yang because it moves and Blood is Yin because it nourishes the tissues and sinews. Therefore if there is blood stasis, increasing the power of Qi by tonifying it will move blood greatly and remove blood stasis. Also if Blood tonifying herbs are used this may cause more stasis or even worsen the condition, therefore Qi activating herbs are used to ensure the smooth passage of Blood.

Q. Why are there blood-activating herbs in formulas for bleeding? Please give examples.

A.  These herbs are added because the astringent nature of bleeding stopping herbs can cause Blood-Stasis. Blood-Stasis itself can be a causative factor of bleeding, therefore Blood activating herbs are used to ensure the flow of Blood.

Q. Er Chen Tang (Two Cured Decoction) is a basic formula for treating phlegm disorders, especially for:

A. Damp-Phlegm.

Q. What are the actions of Wen Dan Tang (Warm the Gallbladder Decoction)?

A. Regulate Qi, transform phlegm, clears the Gallbladder and harmonises the Stomach.

Q. Xiao Xian Xiong Tang comprises of:

A.  Gua Lou, Huang Lian and Jiang Ban Xia.

Q. The formula used for treating dry-phlegm is:

A. Bei Mu Gua Lou San.

Q. The formula used for treating upward disturbance of internal wind-phlegm is:

A. Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang.

Q. Which formulas do you think could possibly be used for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and which is commonly seen in clinical practice?

A. Jian Pi Wan and Mu Xiang Bing Long Wan.

Q. The actions of Xiao Feng San are:

A. Disperses wind, eliminates dampness, clears heat and cools the Blood.

Q. The condition of ‘loss of speech and use of limbs’ (Yin Fei Zhong) due to obstruction of the orifices which caused by turbid phlegm following the upward-flaring of the deficient yang’ should be treated with.

A. Di Huang Yin Zi.

Q. The representative formula for treating externally contracted cool dryness is.

A. Xing Su San.

Q. The formula used for treating White throat is.

A. Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang.

Q. Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is used in the treatment of.

A. Syndrome: Warm dryness attacking the Lung. Presentations: Headache, fever, hacking cough, wheezing, a dry parched throat, dry nose, fullness sensation and pain in the chest and hypochondriac, irritability, thirst, a dry tongue without any coating and a deficient big (wide) rapid pulse. Indications: upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, acute and chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia.

Q. What is the reason for the inclusion of Ban Xia in Mai Men Dong Tang?

A. Ban Xia, pungent and warm, (a minister herb) lowers rebellious Qi and transforms phlegm which is a knock-on effect of Yin deficiency of the Lung and Stomach. This leads to fire flaming up to injure the fluids of the Lung and cause phlegm.

True & False

Q. Although the eight methods are clearly classified, it is difficult to classify every formula to a certain method.

A. True.

Q. Even the same syndrome can vary in different degrees when it appears in different individuals.

A. True.

Q. The art of constructing a formula requires considerable flexibility in tailoring the formula to fit the specific needs of the patient.

A. True.

Q. Su Zi is the King herb of San Zi Yang Qin Tang? True or False.

A. False, they all are.

Q. Da Jian Zhong Tang has stronger actions to treat middle jiao deficient cold than Xiao Jian Zhong Tang. Is this True or False?

A. True.

Q. The purpose of using tonifying herbs in an exterior relieving formula is to tonify a deficiency of a patient. Is this True or False?

A. True.

Q. Qian Zheng San is used in treatment of deviation of the eyes and mouth due to wind-phlegm attacking meridians. Is this True or False?

A. True.

Q. Mai Men Dong Tang can be applied to both deficiency of the Lung Yin and deficiency of the Stomach Yin. True or False?

A. True.

Questions on this page are Copyright © 2003 by Attilio P. D’Alberto

TCM CENTRAL • John R. Wahnish, MSTOM, L.Ac. • [TCMcentral.com] • Revised: Copyright © 2002 •  E-mail: tcmcentral@nyc.rr.com