Following up on a previous post where we took a look at how Hu Xi-Shu makes sense of the six levels, and how both yin and yang have exterior, interior and pivot levels. In this post we take a glimpse of how he categorizes different formulas based on which level they treat.
Categorizing formulas from the Shang Han Lun and sorting them into “formula families” has a history that stretches back to Xu Da-Chun at the beginning of the Qing dynasty. Modern day practitioners like Huang Huang also base much of their clinical work using this particular lens.
Much like Huang Huang, Xu Da-Chun, Ke Yun-Bo, and the Japanese doctor Yoshimasu Todo, Hu Xi-Shu has his own way of categorizing formulas. He takes the approach of fitting them into the six levels and at the same time taking into consideration what is exterior, interior and pivot. So in this way of thinking the Shao Yin level is both Yin and Exterior. Yes, this is a bit different from the material most of us learned to pass our NCCAOM exam, and a bit like trying to make sense of an Escher drawing.
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EXTERNAL PRESENTATIONS:
Exterior yang (Tai Yang) / Exterior yin (Shao Yin)
Exterior Yang/Tai Yang Windstrike Formulas
Cinnamon Twig Decoction (guì zhï täng)
-with wheezing and fluid issues
Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Magnolia Bark and Apricot Kernel (guì zhï jiä hòu pò xìng zî täng)
-with palpitations
Cinnamon Twig and Licorice Decoction (guì zhï gän câo täng)
-with deficiency of fluids, blood and qi leading to palpitations and agitation
Minor Construct the Middle Decoction (xiâo jiàn zhöng täng)
-with cinnamon twig presentation and severely stiff neck
Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Kudzu (gui zhi jia ge gen tang)
Exterior Yin/Shao Yin Windstrike Formulas
Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Aconite (guì zhï jiä fù zî täng)
Glycyrrhizae Radix Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata (gän câo zhì fù zî täng)
-with wind, cold, damp bi obstruction
Various modifications of Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Aconite (guì zhï jiä fù zî täng)
Exterior Yang/Tai Yang Damage by Cold
Ephedra Decoction (má huáng täng)
Kudzu Decoction (gé gën täng)
Exterior Yin/Shao Yin Damage by Cold
Ephedra, Aconite Accessory Root , and Licorice Decoction (má huáng fù zî gän câo täng)
Ephedra, Asarum, and Aconite Accessory Root Tuber Decoction (má huáng xì xïn fù zî täng)
External presentations + Interior water/rheum
Tai Yang windstrike
-with internal fluid disorder and difficult urination
Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria (wû líng sân)
-with internal fluid disorder
Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes, and Licorice Decoction (líng guì zhú gän täng)
Tai Yang damage by cold
-with coughing and wheezing
Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction (xiâo qïng lóng täng)
Concurrent Shao and Tai Yin fluid disorder
True Warrior Decoction (zhën wû täng)
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INTERIOR YANG /YANG MING
Interior Yang/Tai Yang
Major Order the Qi Decoction (dà chéng qì täng)
Minor Order the Qi Decoction (xiâo chéng qì täng)
Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction (tiáo wèi chéng qì täng)
Interior Yang Heat/Yang Ming not yet excess
White Tiger Decoction (bái hû täng)
White Tiger plus Ginseng Decoction (bái hû jiä rén shën täng)
Interior Yang Heat/Excessive heat in the Yang Ming
(no significant excess in the Yang Ming organs)
Gardenia and Prepared Soybean Decoction (zhï zî chî täng)
Gardenia and Magnolia Bark Decoction (zhï zî hòu pò täng)
Gardenia and Rhubarb Decoction (zhï zî dà huáng täng)
Interior Yang/Yang Ming internal heat
-with knotted dampness
Virgate Wormwood Decoction (yïn chén häo täng)
-with fluids gathering in the chest
Minor Decoction [for Pathogens] Stuck in the Chest (xiâo xiàn xiöng täng)
-with deficient blood and fluids
Coptis and Ass-Hide Gelatin Decoction (huáng lián ë jiäo täng)
-with thirst and fluid problems
Polyporus Decoction (zhü líng täng)
Interior Yang/Yang Ming
with excess heat in the organs and blood stagnation in the lower abdomen
Peach Pit Decoction to Order the Qi (táo hé chéng qì täng)
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INTERIOR YIN/TAI YIN (Warm the center / eliminate fluids)
Interior Yin/Tai Yin
Frigid Extremities Decoction (sì nì täng) and its various modifications
-with agitation and severe cold from deficiency
Zingiberis Rhizoma and Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata (gän jiäng zhì fù zî täng)
-with rheum, deficiency of blood and fluids, vomiting, or spitting of frothy saliva
Fresh Ginger and Licorice Decoction (shëng jiäng gän câo täng)
-with rheum, epigastric focal distention and loose stools
Regulate the Middle Pill (lî zhöng wán)
-with blood and fluid deficiency and painful spasms of the stomach, abdomen or limbs
Peony and Licorice Decoction (shào yào gän câo täng)
Peony, Licorice Decoction and Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata (shào yào gän câo zhì fù zî täng)
-with Stomach deficiency and cold fluids rebelling upward
Evodia Decoction (wú zhü yú täng)
-with vomiting from Stomach deficiency with rheum
Inula and Haematite Decoction (xuán fù dài zhê täng)
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HALF EXTERIOR, HALF INTERIOR: Shao Yang / Jue Yin
Half Exterior, Half Interior/Shao Yang
Minor Bupleurum Decoction (xiâo chái hú täng)
Platycodon Decoction (jié gêng täng)
Frigid Extremities Powder (sì nì sân)
Scutellaria Decoction (huáng qín täng)
Half Exterior, Half Interior/Jue Yin
Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Ginger Decoction (chái hú guì zhï gän jiäng täng)
Mume Pill (wü méi wán)
Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium (bàn xià xiè xïn täng)
Licorice Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium (gän câo xiè xïn täng)
Fresh Ginger Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium (shëng jiäng xiè xïn täng)
Coptis Decoction (huáng lián täng)
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TAI YANG/YANG MING
Tai Yang Windstrike
-with some Yang Ming heat
Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Peony (guì zhï jiä sháo yào täng)
-with internal accumulation and pain
Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Rhubarb (guì zhï jiä dà huáng täng)
Tai Yang Damage by Cold
-with Yang Ming heat and fluid issues
Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction (dà qïng lóng täng)
Maidservant from Yue’s Decoction (yuè bì täng)
-with Yang Ming heat, sweating and wheezing
Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction (má xìng shí gän täng)
-with heat in both the exterior and interior with agitation
Lophatherus and Gypsum Decoction (zhú yè shí gäo täng)
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TAI YANG/SHAO YANG
Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction (chái hú guì zhï täng)
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EXTERIOR PRESENTATIONS (Tai Yang or Shao Yin) w/TAI YIN
Cinnamon Twig and Ginseng Decoction (guì zhï rén shën täng)
Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities (däng guï sì nì täng)
Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction (zhì gän câo täng)
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YANG MING/TAI YIN
Accessory Root Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium (fù zî xiè xïn täng)
YANG MING/SHAO YANG
Major Bupleurum Decoction (dà chái hú täng)
Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction (chái hú jiä lóng gû mû lì täng)