Folio Bound VIEWS - Chinese Medicine

• BL-18 and BL-47 root the Ethereal Soul.


• KI-2 and LIV-3 would be used only if there is Empty-Heat.

Herbal Treatment

Prescription

Suan Zao Ren Tang
(Ziziphus Decoction)

Suan Zao Ren Semen Ziziphi spinosae 18 g

Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici wallichii 6 g

Fu Ling Sclerotium Poriae cocos 12 g

Zhi Mu Rhizoma Anemarrhenae asphodeloidis 9 g

Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis 3 g

Explanation

• Suan Zao Ren is the emperor herb to nourish Liver-Yin. It tonifies the Liver and calms
  the Mind. It is sour and just as the sour taste is astringent on a physical level, on a mental
  level it "absorbs" and roots the Ethereal Soul in Yin. It performs the function of
  "tonification by sour taste".


• Chuan Xiong is pungent and warm and it moves and scatters. It enters the Liver and
  moves Qi and Blood. It is coordinated with Suan Zao Ren: while this is sour and
  absorbing, Chuan Xiong is pungent and scattering. Together they harmonize the Liver.
  Chuan Xiong performs the function of "tonification by pungent taste". It attracts and
  draws Zhi Mu and Fu Ling to eliminate pathogenic factors (in this case Empty-Heat).


• Fu Ling strengthens the Spleen and calms the Mind: it helps Suan Zao Ren to calm the
  Mind and root the Ethereal Soul.


• Zhi Mu nourishes Yin and clears Empty-Heat. It moistens and relieves mental
  restlessness. It moderates Chuan Xiong's pungent and scattering effect. Zhi Mu is also
  coordinated with Fu Ling: the former nourishes Yin-Water and clears Empty-Heat, while
  the latter benefits Yang-Water and levels Yin. Together they nourish Water and therefore
  create the basis for the Ethereal Soul and, by clearing Empty-Heat, they calm the Mind.


• Gan Cao is sweet and, together with Suan Zao Ren which is sour, it pacifies the Liver
  and calms irritability. It also prevents Chuan Xiong from moving too much.