Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Resuscitation
                                              
                                          Chapter 10

           Herbal Formula for Resuscitation

The herbal formulae for resuscitation is mainly composed of aromatic herb taking effects on opening orifices to treat loss
of consciousness.
Unconsciousness is an excess syndrome caused by the misting of heart-orifice due to exuberance of the evil qi.lt is
usually manifested as unconsciousness, tightly closed hands and clenched jaws, coarse breathing and forceful pulse.
According to different causes of disease, closure syndrome can be divided into heat-closure syndrome and cold-closure
syndrome. The former is caused by warm-poison sinking into the pericardium, while the latter is due to dysfunctional
activiy of qi caused by accumulation of cold-evil, or phlegm turbidity covering the heart orifice.
According to the principle of "treating stagnated syndrome with herbs for the opening and dispersing "Su Wen- (from
Chapter 74 in the Plain Questions) . Unconsciousness syndrome should be treated by opening orifice. Heat closure
syndrome should be treated by clearing away heat and opening orifice, called "cold opening" . While cold closure
syndrome should be treated with warm-natured herbs for opening orifice, called" warm opening". Formulae of
resuscitation in this chapter are divided into formulae to resusciate with cold property and formulae to resusciate with
warm property.
Formulae for resuscitation are used only for closure syndrome due to exuberance of both the evil qi and vital energy, but
not for prostration syndrome manifested as profuse sweating, cold limbs, feeble breathing, enuresis, eyes closed and
mouth opened, etc. For case with coma and delirium in Yangming  fu organ syndromw, purgative therapy with cold
property should be applied, and it is also not advisable to use the method of opening orifice. Even for coma and delirium
caused by Yangming fu organ syndrome accompanied with the evil qi sinking into the pericardium, this method is not
suitable to use singly. Only based on situation by combining opening orifice with purgation, can the therapy tally with the
syndrome. In addition, formulae for resuscitation are chiefly composed of the herbs which have strong aromatic odor
and stimulation on the sense organs, and long- term administration may lead to consumption of the genuine qi.
Therefore, this group of formulae is used only in emergency for symptomatic relief, not for long term use. For this
reason, they are usually made into bolus, pills and powder, and are not advisable for use in decoction, because their
volatile active compositions will be volatilized and the efficacy will be decreased.