FAMILIES OF REMEDIES

This newsletter will present the main “families” of remedies grouped according to condition treated in a tabular form for quick reference. The “families” of remedies considered will be those for the following conditions or patterns:

1. Bi Syndrome2. Mental-emotional problems 3. Headaches4. Phlegm

1. BI SYNDROMEThe main remedies for Bi Syndrome are (Table 1):

• Brocade Sinews • Nourish the Root and Clear Wind • Clear Channels

The remedies are compared and contrasted in Table 1. Please note that all remedies will treat Wind-Dampness in the joints and this has been omitted from the Patterns to concentrate on highlighting the differences between the remedies.

Table 1. Remedies for Bi Syndrome.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

BROCADE Liver-Blood Chronic Bi, especially Tongue: Pale SINEWS deficiency inwomen Pulse:Choppy

NOURISH THE Liver- and Kidney- Chronic Bi in the Tongue: without coating ROOTAND Yindeficiency elderly Pulse:Floating-Empty CLEAR WIND

CLEAR Damp-Heat in Acute or sub-acute Tongue: sticky yellow coating CHANNELS the joints joint pain with Pulse: Slippery (Yi Yi Ren Tang) swelling, ache and redness of joints

INVIGORATE Spleen- and Kidney- Chronic lower Tongue: Pale THEROOT(Du Yangdeficiency backacheandknee- Pulse:Weak-Deep Huo Ji Sheng Tang) ache

created by‘Traditional Formulae for the Modern World’

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5. Digestive problems 6.Deficiencyconditions7. Eye Problems8. Dampness

• Invigorate the Root •BenefittheSinews

BENEFITTHE PhlegmandBlood Chronicjointpain Tongue:Swollen SINEWS stasis in joints with swelling and Pulse: Slippery joint deformities

2. MENTAL-EMOTIONAL PROBLEMSThe main remedies for mental-emotional problems are (Table 2):

• Release Constraint (FreeingConstraint)

• Clear the Soul• Open the Heart• Calm the Shen• Root the Spirit• Breaking Clouds • FreeingtheMoon

Table 2. Remedies for mental-emotional problems. PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

RELEASE CONSTRAINT Liver-Qi stagnation Depression, irritability, Tongue: Slightly (Yue Ju Wan) moodiness red sides Pulse: Wiry

CLEAR THE SOUL Phlegm-Heat in Anxiety, worry, Tongue: Swollen (Wen Dan Tang) Lungs and Heart, insomnia, feeling Pulse: Slippery Shen obstructed oppression in chest

OPEN THE HEART Heart-Qi stagnation Anxiety, worry, Tongue: No change (Ban Xia Hou Po Tang) insomnia, feeling Pulse: Slightly Wiry oppression in chest on HE pulse

CALM THE SHEN Spleen-, Liver- Anxiety, insomnia, Tongue: Pale (Gui Pi Tang) and Heart-Blood depression Pulse: Choppy deficiency

ROOTTHESPIRIT Liver-Yindeficiency, Insomnia Tongue:Nocoating (YinMeiTang) Hununsettled Pulse:Floating- Empty

BREAKING CLOUDS Spleen- and Kidney- Depression Tongue: Pale (BuZhongYiQiTang) Qideficiency Pulse:Weak

FREEINGTHEMOON Liver-Bloodand Depression,irritability, Tongue:Paleornormal (XiaoYaoSan) Spleen-Qideficiency, moodiness,pre- Pulse:Fineonright, Liver-Qi stagnation menstrual tension slightly Wiry on left

FREEINGTHESUN Liver-Qistagnation Irritability,moodiness, Tongue:Redonsides (Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San) turning into Heat propensity to anger Pulse: Wiry

HEAVENLY EMPRESS Heart- and Kidney- Insomnia, anxiety, Tongue: Red without (TianWangBuXinDan) Yindeficiencywith mentalrestlessness coating HeartEmptyHeat Pulse:Floating- Empty, Rapid

• FreeingtheSun• Heavenly Empress • Settling the Soul• Nourish the Soul• Searching Soul• Bright Spirit

SETTLINGTHESOUL Phlegm-Firein “Manicbehaviour”, Tongue:Red,Swollen, Heart and Liver, Hun active at night, anxiety, sticky- yellow coating unsettled (from Shi), mental restlessness, Pulse: Slippery, Rapid Shen obstructed talking a lot, laughing

NOURISH THE SOUL Liver-, Kidney- and Insomnia, mental Tongue: No coating (SuanZaoRenTang) Heart-Yindeficiency, restlessness,slight Pulse:Floating-Empty Hun unsettled “manic behaviour” (from Xu)

SEARCHING SOUL Liver-Blood, Liver- Depression Tongue: Pale Qi, and Kidney-Yang Pulse: Weak deficiency,Hunnot “going”

BRIGHT SPIRIT Phlegm and Qi Depression, confusion Tongue: Swollen stagnation in Lungs Pulse: Slippery and Heat, Shen obstructed, Hun not “going”

3. HEADACHESThe main remedies for chronic headaches are (Table 3):

• Bend Bamboo• Brighten the Eyes• Clear Yang

Of course there are very many other remedies that can treat headaches, but the above are the three remediesthatarespecificallyforchronicheadaches.

Table 3. Remedies for headaches.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

BEND BAMBOO Liver-Yang rising, Chronic headaches from Tongue: Pale or normal Liver-Blood Liver-Yangrising,dizziness, Pulse:Fineand deficiency irritability slightlyWiry

BRIGHTEN THE EYES Liver-Blood Chronic, dull headaches, Tongue: Pale deficiency blurredvision,dizziness Pulse:Choppy

CLEAR YANG (Ban Xia Liver-Yang rising, Chronic headaches from Tongue: Swollen Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang) Phlegm in head, Liver-Yang rising and Pulse: Slippery and Kidneydeficiency Phlegm,dizziness,muzziness Wiry

4. PHLEGMThe main remedies for Phlegm are (Table 4):

• Limpid Sea• Clear the Soul• Clear Yang

• Settling the Soul• Harmonize the Centre • Bright Spirit

• BenefitSinews

Table 4. Remedies for Phlegm.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

LIMPID SEA Phlegm Sputum in throat, Tongue: Swollen feeling of oppression Pulse: Slippery of the chest

CLEAR THE SOUL Phlegm-Heat in Sputum in throat, feeling Tongue: Swollen, Lungs and Heart of oppression of the chest, sticky-yellow coating anxiety Pulse: Slippery

CLEAR YANG Phlegm, Liver- Sputum in throat, feeling Tongue: Swollen Yang rising, of oppression of the chest, Pulse: Slippery or Wiry Kidneydeficiency headaches

BENEFITSINEWS Phlegminthejoints Sputuminthroat,feeling Tongue:Swollen of oppression of the chest, Pulse: Slippery pain and deformity of joints

SETTLING THE SOUL Phlegm-Heat in Sputum in throat, feeling Tongue: Red, Swollen Liver and Heart of oppression of the chest, Pulse: Slippery-Rapid insomnia, “manic behaviour”

HARMONIZE THE Phlegm in the Sputum in throat, feeling Tongue: Swollen CENTRE Stomach, Qi and of oppression of the chest, Pulse: Slippery or Yin Xu of Stomach digestive problems, Soggy and Spleen, Type-II diabetes Blood stasis

BRIGHT SPIRIT Phlegm in Lungs Sputum in throat, feeling Tongue: Swollen and Heart, of oppression of the chest, Pulse: Slippery or Wiry Qi stagnation anxiety, depression

5. DIGESTIVE PROBLEMSThe main remedies for Phlegm are (Table 4):

• Soothe the Centre• Prosperous Earth• Central Mansion• DrainFields• Ease the Muscles

Table 5. Remedies for digestive problems.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

SOOTHE THE CENTRE Spleen-Qi Epigastric ache, Tongue: Pale, sticky (XiangShaLiuJun deficiency,Qi distensionandfullness, coating Zi Tang) stagnation in tiredness Pulse: Soggy

• Smooth Passage• Jade Spring• Break into a Smile• Buddha’s Hand• Harmonize the Centre

Middle Burner, Dampness

PROSPEROUS EARTH Spleen-Qi Tiredness, poor appetite, Tongue: Pale (LiuJunZiTang) deficiency loosestools Pulse:Weak

CENTRAL MANSION Qi and Yin Loose stools, diarrhoea, Tongue: rootless (ShenLingBaiZhuTang) deficiencyof tiredness,poorappetite coating Stomach and Spleen, Pulse: Soggy Dampness

DRAINFIELDS Dampnessin Epigastricfullnessandache Tongue:stickycoating (Huo Po Xia Ling Tang) Middle Burner Pulse: Slippery

EASE THE MUSCLES Damp-Heat in Epigastric fullness and ache, Tongue: sticky-yellow (Lian Po Yin) Middle Burner thirst coating Pulse: Slippery

SMOOTH PASSAGE Spleen-Qi Abdominal pain and Tongue: sticky coating deficiency,Liver- distension,irritablebowel Pulse:Soggyor Qi stagnation, Slippery or Wiry Dampness in Intestines

JADE SPRING (Sha Stomach-, Spleen- Slight epigastric ache, Tongue: no coating ShenMaiDongTang) andLung-Yin drymouthdesireto Pulse:Floating-Empty deficiency drinkinsmallsips

BREAK INTO A SMILE Liver-Qi stagnation Lower abdominal Tongue: slightly red sides (Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang) in Lower Burner distension and pain Pulse: Wiry

BUDDHA’S HAND Qi stagnation in Belching, acid regurgitation, Tongue: sticky coating (Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan) Middle Burner, hiccup, nausea, vomiting, Pulse: Wiry on right rebellious Stomach- epigastric distension Guan (ST position) Qi, Dampness and fullness

HARMONIZETHE QiandYindeficiency Poordigestion,obesity, Tongue:nocoatingor CENTRE of Stomach and Type-II diabetes rootless coating Spleen, Phlegm Pulse: Soggy or Slippery inStomach, orFloating-Empty Blood stasis

6. DEFICIENCY CONDITIONSYANGThe main remedies to tonify Yang are (Table 6.1):

• Strengthen the Root• Unicorn Pearl• Herbal Sentinel -Yang

Table 6.1 Remedies to tonify Yang.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

STRENGTHEN THE Kidney-Yang Backache, dizziness, Tongue: Pale ROOT(YouGuiWan) deficiency frequenturination, Pulse:Weak-Deep tiredness, cold feeling

UNICORN PEARL Kidney-Yang Backache, dizziness, Tongue: Pale (YuLinZhu) deficiency,Liver- frequenturination, Pulse:Weak-Deep Blooddeficiency tiredness,coldfeeling, more for women

HERBAL SENTINEL Kidney- and Lung- Propensity to colds, Tongue: Pale -YANG Yangdeficiency allergicrhinitisorasthma, Pulse:Weak-Deep tiredness, cold feeling

YINThe main remedies to nourish Yin are (Table 6.2):

• Nourish the Root• Growing Jade• Herbal Sentinel - Yin • Jade Spring

Table 6.2 Remedies to tonify Yin.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

NOURISH THE ROOT Kidney-Yin Lower backache, Tongue: without coating (ZuoGuiWan) deficiency dizziness,tinnitus,dry Pulse:Floating-Empty throat, feeling of heat

GROWING JADE Liver- and Kidney- Lower backache, dizziness, Tongue: without coating (YangJingZhong Yindeficiency tinnitus,drythroat,feeling Pulse:Floating-Empty Yu Tang) of heat, more for women

HERBAL SENTINEL Lung- and Kidney- Lower backache, dizziness, Tongue: without coating -YIN Yindeficiency tinnitus,drythroat,feeling Pulse:Floating-Empty of heat, propensity to cold, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma

JADE SPRING Lung-, Stomach- Dry throat, dry mouth with Tongue: without and Spleen-Yin desire to sip, dry stools, coating, ST crack deficiency drycough Pulse:Floating-Empty

ROOTTHESPIRIT Liver-Yindeficiency, Insomnia Tongue: without coating Hununsettled Pulse:Floating-Empty

NOURISH THE SOUL Liver-, Kidney- and Insomnia, mental Tongue: without coating Heart-Yindeficiency, restlessness,slight Pulse:Floating-Empty Hun unsettled “manic” behaviour (from Xu)

• Root the Spirit• Nourish the Soul• Heavenly Empress

HEAVENLY EMPRESS Heart- and Kidney- Insomnia, anxiety, Tongue: without coating Yindeficiencywith mental restlessness Pulse:Floating-Empty Heart Empty Heat

QIThe main remedies to tonify Qi are (Table 6.3):

• Prosperous Earth• Central Mansion

Table 6.3 Remedies to tonify Qi.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

PROSPEROUS EARTH Spleen-Qi Tiredness, desire to lie Tongue: Pale deficiency down,disliketospeak, Pulse: Weak loose stools

CENTRAL MANSION Qi and Yin Tiredness, diarrhoea, Tongue: Pale deficiencyof desiretoliedown, Pulse: Soggy Stomach and dislike to speak Spleen, Dampness

BLOODThe main remedies to nourish Blood are (Table 6.4):

• Precious Sea• Brighten The Eyes • Brocade Sinews

Table 6.4 Remedies to nourish Blood.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

PRECIOUS SEA Liver-Blood and Tiredness, blurred vision, Tongue: Pale Spleen-Blood dizziness, numbness, Pulse: Choppy deficiency scantyperiods

BRIGHTEN THE EYES Liver-Blood Blurred vision, dizziness, Tongue: Pale deficiency dryeyes,diminishedvision Pulse: Choppy

BROCADE SINEWS Liver-Blood Joint ache, better Tongue: Pale deficiency withrest Pulse: Choppy

CALM THE SHEN Liver-, Spleen- Insomnia, anxiety, Tongue: Pale and Heart-Blood depression Pulse: Choppy deficiency

GLORIOUS SEA Liver-Blood Chronic skin problem, Tongue: Pale deficiency dryskin Pulse:Choppy

• Calm The Shen • Glorious Sea

7. EYE PROBLEMSThe main remedies for eye problems are (Table 7):

• Brighten the Eyes• Bend Bamboo

Table 7. Remedies for Eye Problems.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

BRIGHTEN THE EYES Liver-Blood Blurred vision, dry eyes, Tongue: Pale deficiency diminishedvision, Pulse:Choppy diminished night vision, dizziness

BEND BAMBOO Liver-Blood Blurred vision, dry eyes, Tongue: Pale or normal deficiency,Liver- diminishedvision, Pulse:WiryorFine- Yang rising diminished night vision, Wiry red eyes, dizziness, headache

DRAINFIRE Liver-Fire Dryeyes,redeyes,swollen Tongue: Red, redder on eyelids, painful eyes sides, yellow coating Pulse: Wiry-Rapid

NOURISH THE ROOT Liver- and Kidney- Dry eyes, blurred vision, Tongue: without Yindeficiency diminishedvision, coating diminishednightvision, Pulse:Floating-Empty dizziness tinnitus

8. DAMPNESSThe main remedies for Dampness are (Table 8):

• Ease the Muscles• DrainFields• Soothe the Centre• Buddha’s Hand • Central Mansion

Table 8. Remedies for Dampness.

PATTERN INDICATIONS TONGUE/PULSE

EASE THE MUSCLES Damp-Heat in Epigastric fullness, nausea, Tongue: thick sticky- Stomach and thirst, sticky taste, muscle yellow coating Spleen and in ache Pulse: Slippery muscles

DRAINFIELDS Dampnessin Epigastricfullness,muscle Tongue: thick sticky- Stomach and Spleen ache, sticky taste white coating and in muscles Pulse: Slippery

• DrainFire• Nourish Root

• Smooth Passage• Separate Clear and Turbid • Clear the Root• Water Passages• WelcomeFragrance

SOOTHE THE CENTRE Dampness in Epigastric fullness and Tongue: sticky coating, Stomach and Spleen, distension, poor digestion, teethmarks, Pale Spleen-Qideficiency, tiredness Pulse: Soggy Qi stagnation

BUDDHA’S HAND Rebellious Stomach- Belching, epigastric Tongue: sticky coating Qi, Qi stagnation, fullness, nausea Pulse: Slippery or Wiry Dampness in on Stomach position Stomach and Spleen

CENTRAL MANSION Qi and Yin Poor digestion, Tongue: Pale, rootless deficiencyof diarrhoea,tiredness coating or sticky coating Stomach and Pulse: Soggy Spleen, Dampness Middle Burner

SMOOTH PASSAGE Dampness and Qi Alternation of constipation Tongue: may have red stagnation Lower and loose stools, abdominal sides, sticky coating Burner, Spleen-Qi distension and fullness Pulse: Slippery or Wiry deficiency

SEPARATECLEAR Dampnessin Urinarydifficulty, Tongue: sticky coating AND TURBID the Bladder frequent urination on root Pulse: Slippery on Chi position left

CLEAR THE ROOT Dampness in Lower Prostate hypertrophy, Tongue: sticky coating Burner,Bloodstasis urinarydifficulty on root with red spots Pulse: Slippery

WATERPASSAGES Dampnessinthe Chronicurinarydifficulty Tongue: without Bladder, Kidney and frequency, lower coating in centre, deficiency backache,dizziness,tinnitus sticky coating on root Pulse: Weak, slightly Slippery on left chi position

WELCOME Dampness in nose Sinusitis, thick- yellow- Tongue: sticky coating FRAGRANCE andsinuses bloodynasaldischarge, Pulse: Slippery ache face and forehead