Herbal Prescriptions

I. Prescriptions Based on Syndrome Differentiation
  • Debility of vital gate fire Therapeutic aim: Invigorating the kidney and strengthening yang. Sample Prescription: Modified Yougui Bolus (右歸丸)
Radix Aconiti Praeparata
Monkshood (processed)
Shu fu zi
Cortex Cinnamomi
Cassia bark
Rou gui
Colla Cornus Cervi
Deer horn glue
Lu jiao jiao
Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparatae
Rhemannia root (processed)
Shu di
Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Chinese yam
Shan yao
Fructus Corni
Asiatic corneliam cherry fruit
Shan yu rou
Fructus Lycii
Chinese wolfberry fruit
Gou qi chi
Cortex Eucommiae
Eucommia bark
Du zhong
Semen Cuscutae
Dodder seed
Tu si zi
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Chinese angelica root
Dang gui

In this prescription, monkshood, cassia bark and deer horn glue replenish the kidney essence and bone marrow as well as warm and tonify the kidneys. They are the chief ingredients. The Chinese angelica root is added to tonify the blood and nourish the liver. The rest of the ingredients are used to nourish yin, invigorate the kidneys and benefit the liver and spleen. The whole combination is especially good for treating a kidney yang deficiency with insufficiency of essence and blood. In TCM , a debility of the vital gate fire means there is an insufficient source of yang; thus the ingredients for nourishing yin and replenishing essence help firm up and tonify the kidney yang.

  • Fear and fright damaging the kidneys Therapeutic aim: Benefit the kidneys and make the spirit tranquil. Sample Prescription: Tranquilizing Bolus (安神定志丸)
Radix Codonopsis
Tangshen
Dang shen
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Large head atractylodes root
Bai shu
Poria cocos
Indian bread
Fu shen
Semen Ziziphi Spinosae
Spine date seed
Suan zao ren
Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparatae
Rhemannia root (processed)
Shu di
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Chinese angelica root
Dang gui
Radix Polygalae
Chinese senega
Yuan zhi
Rhizoma Acori Tatarnowi
Grassleaf sweetflag rhizome
Shi chang pu
Os Draconis
Fossil bones
Long gu
Concha Ostreae
Oyster shell
Mu li
Radix Morindae Officinalis
Morinda root
Ba ji tian
Scolopendra
Centipede
Wu gong

In this prescription, tangshen, large head atractylodes and Indian bread replenish the heart-qi so as to console the spirit (shen). Spine date, rhemannia and Chinese angelica enhance the blood to nourish the heart. Chinese senega and grassleaf sweetflag calm the heart and tranquilize the spirit and mental state. Fossil bones and oyster shell sedate and calm the spirit. Morinda root fortifies the kidneys, and, centipede expels the wind evils in the meridians. The whole combination benefits the qi (vital energy), nourishes the heart and tranquilizes the spirit. Furthermore, it promotes communication between the heart and kidneys, thus benefiting impotence caused by emotional factors.

  • Stagnation of liver-qi Therapeutic aim: Dispersing liver-qi stagnation. Sample Prescription: Xiaoyao Powder (逍遙散)
Radix Bupleuri
Chinese tororwax root
Chai hu
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Chinese angelica root
Dang gui
Radix Paeoniae
White peony root
Bai shao
Poria
Indian bread
Fu ling
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Large head atractylodes root
Bai shu
Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata
Liquorice root (processed with honey)
Jiu gan cao
Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Ginger (stewed)
wei jiang
Herba Menthae
Peppermint
Bo he
In this prescription, tororwax root disperses the stagnation in the liver. Angelica root and peony root nourish the blood to soothe the liver. Atractylodes root and Indian bread fortify the spleen and expel dampness to facilitate the production of blood and qi (vital energy). Liquorice root, ginger and peppermint act as buffers. The whole combination not only nourishes the liver organ and enhances its functioning, but also benefits the spleen to promote the blood and qi production. Therefore, it is suitable for this type of impotence.
  • Spleen and heart deficiency Therapeutic aim: Fortifying the spleen and nourishing the heart. Sample Prescription: Decoction for Invigorating Spleen and Nourishing Heart (歸脾湯)
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Large head atractylodes root
Bai shu
Radix Astragali
Milkvetch root
Huang qi
Radix Ginseng
ginseng
Ren shen
Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Fresh ginger
Sheng jiang
Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae
Common jujube fruit
Da zao
Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata
Liquorice root (processed with honey)
Jiu gan cao
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Chinese angelica root
Dang gui
Poria cocos
Indian bread
Fu shen
Arillus Longan
Longan aril
Long yan rou
Semen Ziziphi Spinosae
Spine date seed
Suan zao ren
Radix Polygalae
Chinese senega
Yuan zhi
Radix Aucklandiae
Costus root
Mu xiang
In this prescription, atractylodes root, milkvetch root, ginseng, ginger, jujube fruit and liquorice root fortify the spleen and benefit the qi (vital energy). Angelica root nourishes the liver to promote heart functions. Indian bread, spine date and longan aril nourish the heart and calm the spirit. Chinese senega improves communication between the heart and kidneys. Costus root acts as a buffer. The whole combination benefits the blood and qi, which regulates the heart and spleen at the same time.
  • Downward accumulation of dampness-heat Therapeutic aim: Clearing away heat and eliminating dampness. Sample Prescription: Decoction for Dampness Effusion (萆薢滲濕湯)
Dioscorea tokoro
Fish-poison yam
Bi xie
Semen Coicis
Coix seed
Yi yi ren
Poria cocos
Indian bread
Chi fu ling
Semen Plantaginis
Plantain seed
Che qian zi
Rhizoma Alismatis
Oriental water plantain rhizoma
Ze xie
Cortex Phellodendri
Chinese corktree (bark)
Huang bai
Radix Bupleuri
Chinese tororwax root
Chai hu
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Chinese angelica root
Dang gui
Radix Morindae Officinalis
Morinda root
Ba ji tian
Scolopendra
Centipede
Wu gong
In this prescription, fish-poison yam and coix seed exert a detoxifying effect by clearing away
heat and leaching out dampness. Indian bread, plantain seed and water plantain leach out dampness for diuresis. Corktree clears excessive heat and dries dampness. Tororwax root and angelica root disperse the liver stagnation and nourish the blood. Morinda root fortifies the kidneys and centipede expels the wind evils in the meridians. The whole combination exerts a combined action of clearing away heat, leaching out dampness, promoting diuresis (urination) and activating the blood.
  • Obstruction from blood stasis Therapeutic aim: Activating blood and removing obstructions. Sample Prescription: Decoction for Smoothing Blood Vessel (蜈蚣達絡湯)
Scolopendra
Centipede
Wu gong
Rhizoma Chuanxiong
Szechuan lovage rhizoma
Chuan xiong
Radix Salviae Mil. Tiorrhizae
Red sage root
Dan shen
Radix Paeoniae Rubra
Red peony root
Chi shao
Hirudo
Leech
Shui zhi
Aspongopus
Jiuxiang bug
Jiu xiang chong
Bombyx Batryticatus
Stiff silkworn
Jiang can
Radix Bupleuri
Chinese tororwax root
Chai hu
Radix Astragali
Milk-vetch root
Huang qi
Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae
Achyranthes root
Niu xi
  In this prescription, centipede removes stagnated blood from the meridians. Lovage, red sage root, peony root, leech, jiuxiang bug and silkworm promote blood circulation to remove obstruction in the meridians. Tororwax regulates the qi movement; Milkvetch replenishes qi (vital energy) and Achyranthes fortifies the kidneys and activates blood circulation. The whole combination exerts a combined action of regulating qi and activating blood, therefore it removes obstructions in the meridians.

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