Heart, or Lungs. The main manifestations for which it is used in this context are mental
restlessness, jumpiness, insomnia, a bitter and sticky taste, a flustered feeling in the heart region,
nausea, vomiting, palpitations, dizziness, a Swollen tongue with a sticky-yellow coating and a
Wiry or Slippery pulse.
Two characteristic pulse and tongue configurations strongly indicate the use of this formula. One
is a tongue which is Swollen and has a combination of Heart and Stomach crack with a rough,
brush-like yellow coating inside the Stomach crack. A combined Heart and Stomach crack
extends all the way to the tip, as a Heart crack would do, but it is wide and shallow in the centre,
as a Stomach crack would be (see Figure 9.8(261)).
The other sign is a pulse which is Big, Slippery and Wiry on both Middle positions of left and
right.
Mental-Emotional Pattern
Phlegm-Heat disturbs the Mind in two ways: Phlegm obstructs the Mind's orifices and Heat
agitates the Mind. The combination of these two factors will cause mental restlessness, manic
behaviour alternated with severe depression, crying or laughing without reason and insomnia. In
severe cases this corresponds to manic-depressive illness or schizophrenia.
Gui Shen Tang
(Restoring the Mind Decoction)
Ren Shen Radix Ginseng 15 g
Bai Zhu Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae 30 g
Ba Ji Tian Radix Morindae officinalis 30 g
Fu Shen Sclerotium Poriae cocos pararadicis 15 g
Zi He Che Placenta hominis 6 g
Ban Xia Rhizoma Pinelliae ternatae 9 g
Chen Pi Pericarpium Citri reticulatae 3 g
Bai Jie Zi Semen Sinapis albae 9 g
Shi Chang Pu Rhizoma Acori graminei 3 g
Zhu Sha Cinnabaris 3 g
Mai Men Dong Tuber Ophiopogonis japonici 6 g
Bai Zi Ren Semen Biotae orientalis 6 g
Zhi Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis praeparata 3 gExplanation
- Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Ba Ji Tian and Fu Shen tonify Spleen and Kidneys.