Chinese Angelica Blood-Supplementing Decoction

Chinese Angelica Blood-Supplementing Decoction

Astragali Radix (Huang Qi) 1 liang (30g), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 2 qian (6g)

Add 400 ml of water to the medicinals and boil until it has been reduced to 200 ml. (Add two cups of water and boil until half is vaporized). Remove the residuals and take on an empty stomach while it is warm.

Supplements qi and engenders blood.

Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang is used to treat fever caused by patterns of blood deficiency and floating yang. The symptoms are fever, a red complexion, vexing thirst, and a desire to drink. The pulses are surging, large, and deficient; however, forceless when one feels it with heavy pressure. It is also used to treat fever or headache that results from blood deficiency during pregnancy or after delivery or for ulcers that are slow or difficult to heal after breakout.

Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang is used to treat qi and blood deficiency with yang qi floating to the exterior due to internal damage such as exhaustion and fatigue. Deficient qi and blood (yin) fail to maintain yang, so patients present with paroxysmal hot flashes, vexing thirst, and a desire for warm or hot drinks. The pulses are surging and deficient, yet forceless when pressed hard. These are the essential points for pattern identification. The fever is caused by blood deficiency that fails to contain yang. Since visible blood cannot be generated instantly, it consolidates the intangible qi as priority. The treatment therefore emphasizes the need to supplement qi and consolidate the exterior so the yang qi will once again take root. Once this happens and qi recovers, the fever will naturally disappear on its own.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang is the basic formula to supplement qi and engender blood. It is also a representative formula that relieves fever with sweet-warm medicinals. This clinical pattern is marked by hot flashes, thirst, desire for hot drinks, large, deficient pulse, yet forceless when pressed hard. 2. Modern applications Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang is used as a basic formula to treat anemia and allergic purpura in patterns differentiated, according to traditional Chinese medicine, as blood deficiency and qi weakness. 3. Cautions and contraindications It is prohibited in cases of tidal fever due to yin deficiency.