Formulas that promote qi movement

Question 1

Yue Ju Wan

“Escape restraint pill”

Answer 1

Ingredients:
Xiang Fu (6g), Chuan Xiong (6g), Zhi Zi (6g), Cang Zhu (6g), Shen Qu (6g)
Function:
Moves the qi and releases stagnation.
Indication:
Stagnations syndrome (Yu Zheng)
Focal distention, stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen, hypochondriac fixed pain, belching, vomiting, acid regurgitation, reduced appetite and indigestion.
Tongue:
Pulse:
Clinical applications:
1. Used to treat “six constraints”: qi, blood, phlegm, fire, food, dampness due to MJ stagnation.
2. Used for peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, infectious hepatitis, cholecystitis, gallstones, intercostal neuralgia, neurosis and dysmenorrhea.
Modifications:
-Severe contraint -> increase dosage of Xiang Fu, add Mu Xiang, Zhi Ke, Hou Po
-Severe blood constraint -> increases dosage of Chuan Xiong, add Tao Ren & Hong Hua
-Severe damp constraint -> increase dosage of Cang Zhu, add Fu Ling & Ze Xie
-Severe food constraint -> increase dosage of Shen Qu, add Shan Zha, Mai Ya
- Severe phlegm constraint -> add Ban Xia Gua Lou

Question 2

Chai Hu Shu Gan San

“Bupleurum flower to dredge the LV powder”

Answer 2

Ingredients:
Chai Hu (6g), Bai Shao (5g), Chuan Xiong (5g), Zhi Ke (5g), Chen Pi (6g), Xiang Fu (5g), Zhi Gan Cao (2g)
Function:
Soothe the LV qi, harmonizes the blood and alleviates pain.
Indication:
Pain caused by LV qi stagnation with blood stasis syndromes.
Hypochondriac area pain, breast distention, a stifling sensation in the chest with pain decrease by deep sigh, belching, abdominal distention, and alternating chills and fever.
Tongue: dark, thin coating
Pulse: wiry
Clinical applications:
1. Key symptoms are constraint and clumping of LV qi. These manifest symptoms such as hypochondriac and flank pain, a stifling sensation in the chest causing deep sigh and tendency to vent frustration through anger.
2. This formula is Si Ni San + Chen Pi, Xiang Fu and Chuan Xiong, change Zhi Shi to Zhi Ke.
3. Currently used for hepatits, chronic cholecystitis, chronic gastritis, chronic peptic ulcers and intercostal neuralgia syndromes.
Modifications:
- With blood deficiency -> add Dang Gui, Sheng Di and Shu Di
- Severe blood stasis -> add Dan Shen
- LV qi stagnation with fire -> add Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Zi
C/C:
LV qi stagnation pain due to qi or yin xu

Question 3

Tian Tai Wu Yao San

“Top-quality lindera powder”

Answer 3

Ingredients:
Wu Yao (12g), Qing Pi (6g), Mu Xiang (6g), Xiao Hui Xiang (6g), Gao Liang Jiang (9g), Bing Lang (9g), Chuan Lian Zi (12g), Ba Dou (12g)
Function:
Moves qi, spreads LV qi, disperses cold and alleviates pain
Indication:
SI hernia caused by cold and qi stagnation syndrome
“Lower abdominal pain” radiating to the testicles that is pendent and swollen.
Tongue: pale, white coating
Pulse: submerged, slow or wiry
Clinical application:
1. Used for hernia due to cold coagulation and qi stagnation in the area transversed by LV channel which passes around and connects with genetalia.
2. Used for orchitis, epididymitis, peptic ulcer, dysmenorrhea and chronic gastritis.
Modifications:
- Severe swollen pain -> add Li Zhi He, Ju He
- For excess cold -> Add Rou Gui, Wu Zhu Yu
C/C:
Damp-heat in LJ

Question 4

Hou Po Wen Zhong Tang

“Magnolia bark warming the middle decoction”

Answer 4

Ingredients:
Hou Po (9g), Cao Dou Kou (5g), Chen Pi (9g), Mu Xiang (5g), Gan Jiang (2g), Sheng Jiang (3pcs), Fu Ling (5g), Zhi Gan Cao (5g)
Function:
Moves the qi, “warms the MJ,” dries dampness, and eliminated fullness
Indication:
Cold dampnes coagulated syndrome
Epigastric and abdominal distension, fullness or pain, loss of appetite, fatigue in the extremities, loose stools, also vomiting of clear liquid.
Tongue: white, slippery coating
Pulse: wiry, deep
Clinical applications:
1. Used to treat cold-damp injuring SP &ST.
2. Currently used for peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, chronic pancreatitis, leukorrhea and chronic enteritis.
Modifications:
- For heaviness of body or swollen limbs -. add Da Fu Pi
- For severe cold pain -> add Rou Gui, Gao Liang Jiang

Question 5

Liang Fu Wan

“Galangal and cyperus pill”

Answer 5

Ingredients:
Gao Liang Jiang (3g), Xiang Fu (12g)
Functions:
Regulate qi to soothe the LV, warms the middle to alleviate pain
Indications:
“Epigastric pain”
Epigastric pain that favor to warmth, a stifling sensation in the chest with hypochondriac pain.
Tongue: white coating
Pulse: wiry
Clinical applications:
1. Used for painful epigastric or hypochondriac disorder with cold marked by favorably to warmth.
2. Currently used for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and dysmenorrhea.
Modifications:
-For severe cold -> increase the dosage of Gao Liang Jiang and add Gan Jiang
-For more severe pain -> increase the dosage of Xiang Fu and add Qing Pi, Mu Xiang or Chen Xiang
-For painful menstruation: add Dang Gui
C/C:
Heat in the LV and ST or ulcer bleeding

Question 6

Jin Ling Zi Tang

“Melia toosendan powder”

Answer 6

Ingredients:
Jin Ling Zi (9g), Yan Hu Suo (9g)
Function:
Soothes LV qi, drains heat, regulates blood, and alleviates pain.
Indication:
LV qi stagnation turns to “heat syndrome”
Intermittent epigastric pain and hypochondriac pain, hernia pain, or menstrual pain that is worse by “hot foods, bitter taste in the mouth”
Tongue: red, yellow coating
Pulse: wiry, rapid
Clinical applications:
1. Used to treat various pain symptoms due to LV qi stagnation turning into heat.
2. Used for peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, hepatitis, and cholecystitis.
Modifications:
For menstrual pain -> add Dang Gui, Yi Mu Cao, Xiang Fu
For hernia pain -> add Ju He, Li Zhi He

Question 7

Ban Xia Hou Po Tang

“Pinellia and magnolia bark decoction”

Answer 7

Ingredients:
Ban Xia (12g), Hou Po (9g), Fu Ling (12g), Sheng Jiang (9g), Zi Su Ye (6g)
Function:
Moves the qi, dissipates clumps, “descends the rebellous qi, and transforms phlegm”
Indication:
Plum-pit qi syndrome
A feeling of something caught in the throat that could be neither swallowed nor ejected; a stifling sensation in the chest and hypochondria, also be coughing or vomiting.
Tongue: moist or greasy, white coating
Pulse: wiry, slow or wiry, slippery
Clinical applications:
1. Used to treat plum-pit syndrome due to phlegm obstruction and qi stagnation lodged in the throat (LV qi causing ST & LU not to descend)
2. Currently used for hysteria
Modification:
1. Severe qi constraint -> Add Xiang Fu, Yu Jin
2. For severe pain in hypochondriac -> Add Chuan Lian Zi, Yan Hu Suo
3. For sore throat -> Xuan Shen, Jie Geng
C/C:
Patients with flushed face, bitter taste in mouth, and a red tongue (qi contraint transforming into fire and injuring yin)

Question 8

Nuan Gan Jian

“Warming the LV decoction”

Answer 8

Ingredients:
Rou Gui (3-6g), Xiao Hui Xiang (6g), Dang Gui (6-9g), Gou Qi ZI (9g), Wu Yao (6g), Chen Xiang (3g), Fu Ling (6g), Sheng Jiang (2-5 slices)
Function:
Warm and tonify LV and KD, moves the qi and alleviates pain
Indication:
LV and KD deficiency cold syndrome
“Lower abdominal pain” that is sharp, locallized and is aggravated by local application of cold. Also used for swelling, distention and pain of the scrotum.
Tongue: pale, white coating
Pulse: slow, deep and tight
Clinical application:
- Used for LV blood deficiency and KD yang deficiency cold and lower abdominal pain or hernia pain caused by LV qi stagnation. Occurs in those who likes warmth and averse to cold
- Used to treat a variety of disorders including varicocele, hydrocele and inguinal hernia.
Modifications:
- For severe cold -> add Wu Zhu Yu, Gan Jiang
- For severe abdominal pain -> add Xiang Fu
- For severe scrotum pain -> add Qing Pi, Ju He
C/C:
Heat, redness, swelling and pain of scrotum due to damp-heat in LJ