one of Fullness, not Deficiency, and that, in Chinese medicine, it falls
under the category of dysentery from Damp-Heat: this damages mucous
membranes and capillaries leading to mucus and blood in the stools. He
also said: "In such a case, the more you tonify, the worse it will be". He
therefore recommended a combination of three formulae: Bai Tou Weng
Tang Pulsatilla Decoction, Xiang Lian Wan Saussurea-Coptis Pill and
Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang Pueraria-Scutellaria-Coptis Decoction:Bai Tou Weng Radix Pulsatillae chinensis 6 g
Qin Pi Cortex Fraxini 6 g
Huang Bo Cortex Phellodendri 6 g
Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis 3 g
Ge Gen Radix Puerariae 9 g
Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae baicalensis 4 g
Mu Xiang Radix Saussureae 6 g
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae albae 9 g
Yi Yi Ren Semen Coicis lachryma jobi 12 g
Fu Ling Sclerotium Poriae cocos 9 g
Ma Chi Xian Herba Portulacae oleraceae 4 g
Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici wallichii 3 g
Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis 3 gExplanation The first seven herbs constitute a combination of the above-mentioned
formulae to drain Damp-Heat from the Intestines, move Qi and stop
pain.
Bai Shao was added as it is astringent and absorbing to help to stop
diarrhoea. In combination with Gan Cao, it "moderates urgency" which
means not only to stop pain, but also to calm any urgency, such as
urgency of bowel movement in this case. Bai Shao also calms Blood in
order to stop bleeding.Yi Yi Ren and Fu Ling were added to help to drain Dampness.Ma Chi Xian is specific to drain Damp-Heat from the Intestines.Chuan Xiong was added to direct the other herbs to the Blood portion
in order to stop bleeding.Gan Cao harmonizes and, together with Bai Shao, it moderates
urgency.This formula proved to be right and this patient, who is still being
treated, started improving straight away reporting a decrease in the
number of bowel movements with normal stools some of the time. The
bleeding from the bowel stopped after two months. This case history
highlights the importance of a correct differentiation between Fullness