Immature Bitter Orange, Chinese Chive and Cinnamon Twig Decoction

Immature Bitter Orange, Chinese Chive and Cinnamon Twig Decoction

Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Shi) 4 pieces (12g), Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Hou Po) 4 liang (12g), Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (Xie Bai) 0.5 sheng (9g), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi) 1 liang (6g), Trichosanthis Fructus (Gua Lou) 1 piece (12g)

Decoct zhi shi and hou po in five sheng water and reduce to two sheng then filter the residue. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring it to a boil once again. Divide the decoction into three equal parts. It is to be taken warm three times per day. (Modern administration: It can also be prepared as a decoction.)

Unblocks yang and dissipates masses, dispels phlegm and lowers qi.

Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang is indicated for chest bi caused by chest yang weakness, phlegm obstruction, and counterflow qi. The symptoms are fullness and pain in the chest, chest pain radiating to the back, panting, cough, spitting, shortness of breath, hypochondriac qi counterflowing upward to heart and chest. The coating is white and greasy, and the pulse is deep, wiry or tight.

This pattern is caused by chest yang weakness, fluid concentrated into phlegm, binding of qi and phlegm, and yin cold qi counterflow. Phlegm is a yin pathogen which tends to obstruct the movement of qi. When it collects in the chest, fullness and pain in the chest may occur. The pain may radiate between the chest and the back. Phlegm obstruction along with lung failing to diffuse and govern descent leads to panting, cough, spitting, and shortness of breath. When the chest yang is weak, yin cold qi counterflows and the patient can feel it rising from the hypochondria to attack the heart and chest. The root of this pattern is chest yang weakness, while the branches are phlegm obstruction and qi stagnation with counterflow qi. Therefore, the therapeutic methods are to unblock yang, dissipate masses, dispel phlegm, and lower qi.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang is a commonly used formula for chest bi caused by chest yang weakness, phlegm obstruction, and counterflow qi. This clinical pattern is marked by fullness and pain in the chest, hypochondriac counterflow qi rising to attack heart and chest, white, greasy coating, deep, wiry or tight pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders, when the patient shows signs of chest yang weakness, phlegm obstruction, and qi stagnation: angina pectoris, intercostal neuralgia, and non-suppurative costal cartilage inflammation. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula is not appropriate for chest bi due to yang deficiency with weak qi.

1. Gua Lou Xie Bai Bai Jiu Tang (Trichosanthes, Chinese Chive and White Wine Decoction 瓜蔞薤白白酒湯)

Officinal Magnolia ( Magnolia officinalis ) is listed as "Endangered" in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.