Explanation
This formula restores Liver-Blood and Liver-Yin to allow the Ethereal Soul to settle and the
person to sleep peacefully. When Liver-Yin is deficient the Ethereal Soul has no residence and
there is insomnia. This formula makes the Ethereal Soul peaceful so that it does not wander. It
tonifies Liver- and Heart-Yin, calms the Mind and settles the Ethereal Soul. The tongue
presentation appropriate to this formula is a Red body without coating.
The original text says that this formula makes the Ethereal Soul peaceful so that it cannot "jump
over".
- Bai Shao and Dang Gui nourish Liver-Blood and Liver-Yin.
- Long Chi sinks Yang and calms the Mind. It enters the Liver and is absorbing, drawing
the Ethereal Soul back into Liver-Yin. In insomnia there is excessive movement of Mind
and Ethereal Soul; Long Chi calms this movement and absorbs the Ethereal Soul. The
original text states that the ancients believed that a restless Corporeal Soul is treated by
tiger's eyeballs and a restless Ethereal Soul by dragon's teeth (Long Chi). This is because
the tiger pertains to Yin and corresponds to Metal (hence the Lungs and Corporeal Soul)
and the dragon pertains to Yang and corresponds to Wood (hence the Liver and Ethereal
Soul). In order to treat a restless Ethereal Soul one needs to use Long Chi which pacifies
the Liver. This substance can "calm movement", and in insomnia and anxiety there is
excessive movement of the Ethereal Soul and therefore Mind. Long Chi calms this
movement and absorbs the Ethereal Soul into the Liver. - Tu Si Zi nourishes the Kidneys: this helps to nourish the Liver and these two organs have
a common root. - Mai Dong, Bai Zi Ren and Fu Shen nourish the Heart and calm the Mind.
- Suan Zao Ren nourishes Liver-Yin and settles the Ethereal Soul.
Mental-Emotional Pattern
Frustration, resentment, old grudges and sometimes sadness, can cause Liver-Yin to become
deficient. This person's Liver-Yin would have been consumed by repressed anger over many
years: he or she would feel very tense, anxious and sleep very badly with the sleep being
disturbed by unpleasant dreams. The pulse would be Fine but also slightly Wiry on the left side.
In some cases, sadness depletes Liver-Yin: in this case the person would feel very depressed and
sad and also sleep badly, but without too many dreams. The pulse would be Choppy or Fine.