Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Strengthening Blood- Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang  


                                               Zhi Gan Cao Tang
                                           Roasted Licorice Decocton



SOURCE: Treatise on Cold-Attack
INGREDIENTS:
Zhi Gan Cao (Roasted licorice root) 12g
Sheng Jiang ( Fresh ginger) 9g
Hong Shen (Ginseng) 6g
Di Huang (Dried rehmannia root) 30g
Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig) 9 g
E Jiao (Donkey-hide gelation) 6g
Mai Dong (Ophiopogon root) 9g
Huo Ma Ren  9g
Da Zao (Chinese date) 10
DIRECTIONS: Decoct all the other herbs except E Jiao (donkey-hide gelation) in the formula in water for a fixed
period of time, then decoction is strained and mixed with 10ml or rice wine. Melt E Jiao (Donkey-hide gelation)
separately in boiling water, then it is divided into three portions and one portion is mixed with 1/3 of the decoction just
before taking. Take three times a day.
EFFECTS: Nourishing yin, replenishing qi and tonifying blood to restore pulse.
INDICATIONS:
(1) Deficiency of both qi and blood marked by irregular intermittent pulse or knotted pulse, palpitation, emaciation,
shortness of breath, pallor, pale tongue with less saliva.
(2) Intermittent fever of deficiency type manifested by dry cough, or cough with little expectoration of bloody sputum,
emaciation, shortness of breath, insomnia due to vexation, spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, dry mouth and throat,
difficult defecation, scanty, yellow urination and feeble and rapid pulse.
ANALYSIS OF FORMULA:
This is a common formula for deficiency of both qi and blood marked by irregular or knotted pulse and palpitation. Zhi
Gan Cao (Roasted licorice root) as a principal herb with sweet flavor and warm property has effects of replenishing qi,
relieving contraction to nourish the heart. Hong Shen (Ginseng) and Dang Gui (Chinese date) invigorates the spleen and
stomach to enrich the source of growth and transforma tion. Dried rehmannia root nourishes yin and the blood; E Jiao
(Donkey-hide gelatin) tonifies the blood and moistenes dryness; Mai Dong (Ophiogogon root) nourishes yin to clear the
lung; Huo Ma Ren nourishes yin and moisturizes dryness; Combination of these four herbs are capable of benefiting
heart qi, nourishing heart blood and heart yin and they are assistant herbs in this formula. Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig),
Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) and rice wine are taken as the adjuvant herbs with the effects of activating yang qi, warming
meridians and restoring pulse to prevent the strong flavored herbs from causing stagnation of qi.
If this formula is used for dryness of the lung due to yin impairment, the doses of Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger), Gui Zhi
(cinnamon twig) and rice wine should be decreased in order to prevent the warm herbs from consuming yin fluid.