【Chinese Name】 |
桃核承氣湯
|
【Phonetic】 |
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
|
【English Name】 |
Peach Kernel Qi-Guiding Decoction |
【Classification】 |
Blood-regulating formulas |
【Source】 |
《Treatise on Cold Damage》Shang Han Lun《傷寒論》 |
【Combination】 |
Persicae Semen (Tao Ren) 50 pieces (12g), Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang) 4 liang (12g), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi) 2 liang (6g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhi Gan Cao) 2 liang (6g), Natrii Sulfas (Mang Xiao) 2 liang (6g) |
【Method】 |
Decoct the first four medicinals with water. Take the decoction after mixing in the mang xiao. |
【Action】 |
Breaks up blood and expels stasis through purgation. |
【Indication】 |
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang is indicated for patterns of blood amassment in the lower jiao. The symptoms are distension and spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen, normal urination, fever at night, menstrual block due to blood stasis, and painful menstruation; there may even be delirium, dysphoria, and mania. The pulse will be deep and excessive or choppy. |
【Pathogenesis】 |
This formula is used to treat blood retention in the lower jiao caused by an unresolved taiyang pattern that travels along the taiyang channel and enters the taiyang fu-organ, which then transforms into heat and finally binds with blood. The binding of stasis and heat in the lower jiao leads to distension and spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen. The location of this disease is in the blood level instead of the qi level, which therefore bears no effect on the bladder qi transformation leaving the urination normal while there is fever during night. The heart governs the blood vessels and stores the spirit, which is disturbed by rising heat caused by stasis. As a result, there may be vexation, agitation, delirium, dysphoria, and mania. This is a pattern of binding stasis and heat. Therefore, the therapeutic principle is to break up and expel blood stasis through purgation in order to eliminate the blood retention from the lower jiao. |
【Application】 |
1. Essential pattern differentiation Tao He Cheng Qi Tang is commonly used to treat blood amassment in the lower jiao due to binding of blood stasis and heat. This clinical pattern is marked by distension and spasmodic pain in lower abdomen, normal urination, deep, excessive or choppy pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders, when the patient shows signs of binding of stasis and heat in the lower jiao: acute pelvic inflammatory disease, retained placenta, annex inflammation, intestinal obstruction, and endometriosis. 3. Cautions and contraindications If the patient has an unresolved exterior syndrome, first release the exterior pattern and thereafter use this formula to eliminate stasis. Tao He Cheng Qi Tang is not applicable for pregnant women because of its drastic effect in breaking up blood and expelling stasis through purgation. |
【Additonal formulae】 |
1. Xia Yu Xue Tang (Blood Stasis Decoction 下瘀血湯) [Source]《Essentials from the Golden Cabinet》Jin Gui Yao Lue《金匱要略》 [Ingredients] Da huang 2 liang (6g), tao ren 20 pcs (12g), zhe chong 20 pcs (9g) [Preparation and Administration] Grind these medicinals into a fine powder. Form into four honey pills, add 1 sheng of wine, make one pill, take 8 he at once, then the new refreshed blood will flow immediately. [Actions] Drains heat and expels stasis. [Applicable Patterns] Heat pattern due to blood stasis, patterns of combined heat and stasis. Symptoms include: painful lower abdomen that is worse with pressure following childbirth, gelosis felt upon pressure, inhibited lochia, dry mouth, dry stool, dry and scaly skin, a purple red tongue body with ecchymosis, a dry yellow coating, and a deep, choppy and strong pulse. It also treats scanty menstruation due to blood stasis. 2. Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan (Rhubarb and Eupolyphaga Pill 大黃蟅蟲丸) [Source]《Essentials from the Golden Cabinet》Jin Gui Yao Lue《金匱要略》 [Ingredients] Da huang 10 fen (75g), huang qin 2 liang (60g), gan cao 3 liang (90g), tao ren 1 sheng (60g), xing ren 1 sheng (60g), shao yao 4 liang (120g), gan di huang 10 liang (300g), gan qi 1 liang (30g), meng chong 1 sheng (60g), shui zhi 100 pieces (60g), qi cao 1 sheng (60g), tu bie chong 0.5 sheng (30g) [Preparation and Administration] Grind all of the medicinals into a fine powder. Form them into honey pills as big as a bean. Take five pills (3g) with wine, three times a day. (Modern use: skewer qi cao separately, mash tao ren and xing ren separately. Pulverize the rest and sift them. Mix all of the medicinals and make them into a fine powder. Add honey to make pills, 3g for each pill, and seal with wax. Take 1 pill at a time with warm water or wine.) [Actions] Dispels blood stasis and regenerates new blood. [Applicable Patterns] Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan is indicated for severe deficiency due to exhaustion or lesions from the five labors, and the retention of dried blood due to internal deficiency-heat. The symptoms and signs are marked by emaciation, contractions or spasms in the lower abdomen, abdominal pain which is worse with pressure or the pain which cannot be relieved by pressure, fullness of the stomach and poor appetite, scaly skin, dull and lusterless eyes, dark eyes, a tongue body with ecchymosis, and a pulse that is deep, choppy or wiry. |
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