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TCM Principles
Use of Chinese Medicine Singles for Improved Accuracy in Treatment
By Dagmar Riley
Overview
Sun Ten granulated extracts are a Taiwanese brand of the highest quality. Characteristics of the Taiwanese prescribing style, suitable to Sun Ten products, are:
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The vast majority of Practitioners in Taiwan prescribe granules in the form of ready-made formulas with single herb additions. This differs from raw herb prescribing, where all formulas are made from scratch.
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Single herb extracts are often added at a dose of 0.1-1 gram TID; 0.3 g TID is common (about 1 gram per day).
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Proportions within the target dose are given greater consideration than precise raw herb equivalence.
Tailor your formulas to your patient and improve accuracy in treatment: Examples of popular formulas modified with Singles according to Peter Townsend
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
[Ginseng & Astragalus Formula]
Dang Gui Shao Yao San
[Dang Gui & Peony Combination]
Gui Pi Tang
[Ginseng & Longan Combination]
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
[Bupleurum & Peony Combination]
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
[Rehmannia Six Combination]
Ba Zhen Tang
[Dang Gui & Ginseng Eight Combination]:
Suan Zao Ren Tang
[Zizyphus Combination]:
How to create highly effective, historically proven formulas with just a few singles
Not only can singles be used to modify base formulas, a simple combination of 2-4 singles can create time-proven, highly effective formulas. These can be used on their own or to modify base formulas. The following are some examples:
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang
[Dang Gui and Astragalus Decoction]
Dang Gui [Angelica sinensis] + Huang Qi [Astragalus]
Actions: Supplements blood, supplements qi (to increase the ability to engender blood).
Symptoms and signs: Anaemia; desire to drink warm drinks; fatigue; fever; hot flashes; irritability; leukopenia; menorrhagia; irregular menstrual periods; pale tongue; floating-large-forceless-empty pulse.
Er Miao San
Cang Zhu [Atractylodes] + Huang Bai [Phellodendron]
Actions: Clears heat, dries dampness.
Indications: Damp-heat lodged in the lower burner affecting the sinews, bones, and genital region.
Symptoms and signs: Gout; heat in the feet; pain in the lower back; painful lower limbs; red feet; red knees; rheumatoid arthritis; swelling of the feet; swelling of the knees; vaginitis; weakness of the lower limbs; yellow, thick, smelly leukorrhea; athletes foot; dark urine; eczema; gonorrhoea; scanty urine; urinary tract infection; tongue with greasy-yellow coating; slippery-rapid pulse; soft-rapid pulse.
Xiao Luo Wan
[Scrophularia and Fritillaria Pill]
Mu Li [Oyster Shell] + Zhe Bei Mu [Fritillaria] + Xuan Shen [Scrophularia]
Actions: Softens hardness and disperses binds.
Symptoms and signs: Goitre; scrofula; hyperthyroidism; thyroiditis; red tongue; slippery-rapid pulse; rapid-wiry pulse.
Zeng Ye Tang
[Increase the Fluids Decoction]
Mai Men Dong [Ophiopogon] + Xuan Shen [Scrophularia] + Sheng Di Huang [Raw Rehmannia]
Actions: Supplements yin and fluids, clears heat.
Symptoms and signs: Chronic pancreatitis; constipation; dry mouth after radiotherapy; dry throat; irritation of the intestines; thirst; ulcer; red, dry tongue; weak-forceless pulse; fine-rapid-forceless pulse.
New series: An exploration of single herbs in practical table form
This article is the first in a series that will explore each single herb category in a practical table format for quick reference in your clinic. Gain instant clarity on the similarities and differences of all herbs in one category to choose the most effective herb for your formula modifications.
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Resolving the Exterior - Resolving the Exterior with Warmth an/red Acridity |
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Name |
Properties |
Channels Entered |
Actions and Indications |
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Same |
Different |
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Gui Zhi [Cinnamon Twigs] |
Acrid, sweet, warm |
Lung, spleen, heart, bladder |
Effuse and Dissipate Wind-Cold:
For Wind- Cold Exterior Patterns |
Warms and unblocks the channels and collaterals: For amenorrhea and impediment pain caused by wind-cold.
Assists yang and promotes qi transformation: For chest impediment, phlegm-rheum, and oedema. |
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Qiang Huo [Notopterygium] |
Acrid, bitter, warm |
Bladder, liver, lung, kidney |
Overcomes dampness and alleviates pain: For wind-damp painful obstruction, headache and stiff nape. |
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Jing Jie [Schizonepeta] |
Acrid, slightly warm |
Lung, liver |
Vents rashes and alleviates itching: For initial stage of measles and pruritic skin eruptions.
Stops bleeding: For hemorrhage. |
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Fang Feng [Siler] |
Acrid, sweet, slightly warm |
Lung, liver, spleen, bladder. |
Expels wind-dampness and alleviates pain: For wind-damp painful obstruction.
Relieves spasms: To alleviate trembling of the hands and feet, and tetany.
Relieves diarrhoea: For painful diarrhoea. |
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Bai Zhi [Angelica] |
Acrid, warm |
Lung, spleen, stomach. |
Dissipates cold and relieves pain: For headache and tooth ache.
Reduces swelling and expels pus: For early stages of sores and carbuncles. For deep-source nasal congestion.
Expels dampness and alleviates discharge: For vaginal discharge. |
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Xin Yi Hua [Magnolia] |
Acrid, warm |
Lung, stomach |
Unblocks the nasal passages: For nasal obstruction or congestion, nasal discharge, sinus problems and related headaches. |
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Cang Er Zi [Xanthium] |
Sweet, bitter, warm |
Lung, liver |
Unblocks the orifices: For deep-source nasal congestion and related headache. For nasal or sinus problems, and related headaches. For thick nasal discharge.
Removes painful obstruction: For wind-damp painful |
*Reproduced with kind permission from Health World Limited - Australia and New Zealand |
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