graminei and Yuan Zhi Radix Polygalae tenuifoliae.- If there is pronounced mental restlessness and anxiety add Suan Zao Ren Semen Ziziphi
spinosae and Zhen Zhu Mu Concha margaritiferae. - If insomnia is pronounced add Ye Jiao Teng Caulis Polygoni multiflori.
Case History 9.10
Mental-Emotional Problems: Stomach and Heart Phlegm-Fire-Female,
Age 54
A 54-year-old woman complained of long-standing depression and anxiety since she was 10. She
had had a very unhappy childhood and harboured deep feelings of resentment towards her father.
She had been on anti-depressants (tri-cyclic type) for several years and she had just recently
come off tranquillizers (Valium). Inspite of the anti-depressants she still felt very depressed and
she described her condition as a "black cloud hanging over her". She felt also extremely anxious
and her sleep was very restless. She also suffered from severe, stabbing headaches on the
forehead and was prone to a lot of catarrh. Her tongue was Reddish-Purple, Stiff, Swollen, with a
Stomach crack in the centre, and a thick-sticky-yellow coating (Plate 9.6(270)). Her pulse was
Wiry, Slippery and Full.
Diagnosis This patient suffered from two main conditions: Phlegm-Fire affecting
Stomach and Heart and stasis of Blood. Both Phlegm-Fire and stasis of
Blood agitate the Mind and the Ethereal Soul leading to depression and
anxiety.
Treatment The principle of treatment adopted was to resolve Phlegm, drain Fire,
move Blood, calm the Mind, and settle the Ethereal Soul. She was
treated with herbs only and the formula used was a variation of Wen
Dan Tang Warming the Gall-Bladder Decoction:
Ban Xia Rhizoma Pinelliae ternatae 6 g
Fu Ling Sclerotium Poriae cocos 5 g
Chen Pi Pericarpium Citri reticulatae 9 g
Zhu Ru Caulis Bambusae in Taeniis 6 g
Zhi Shi Fructus Citri aurantii immaturus 6 g
Zhi Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis praeparata 3 g
Sheng Jiang Rhizoma Zingiberis officinalis recens 5 slices
Da Zao Fructus Ziziphi jujubae one date
Yuan Zhi Radix Polygalae tenuifoliae 6 g
Suan Zao Ren Semen Ziziphi spinosae 4 g
He Huan Pi Cortex Albizziae julibrissin 6 g
Yu Jin Tuber Curcumae 6 g