YIN CHEN HAO WAN (BP065) Artemisia &Rhubarb Combination Complex

Indication

This is a variant of a formula that was originally recorded in the ‘Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases’ (shang han lun), by Zhang Zhong-jing (circa 150 – 219 C.E.). The original was intended to be used for Bright Yang syndrome (yang ming bing zheng) with jaundice due to the presence of Damp-Heat.

The Damp and Heat combine to form a Damp-Heat complex that accumulates and affects the Spleen in addition to the Bright Yang Fu organs (Stomach and Large Intestine). The Damp-Heat ‘steams’ the Gallbladder, resulting in the escape of bile, which causes jaundice.

The original formula contains only three herbs, which subsequent generations of physicians have used as the basis for designing formulas that treat different clinical presentations with jaundice. This variant has been enhanced with seven additional herbs in order to broaden the therapeutic scope of the original formula in the treatment of various Liver and Gallbladder diseases as well as certain metabolic disorders – all centred on the accumulation of Damp- Heat.

The synergistic actions of the herbs are as follows:

Artemisia frigida, herb (yin chen hao), Lysimachia christinae, herb (jin qian cao), Gardenia jasminoides, fruit (shan zhi zi), Abrus cantoniensis, herb (ji gu cao), Taraxacum mongolicum, herb (pu gong ying), Rheum root & rhizome (da huang): clear and purge Damp-Heat, resolve jaundice.

Alisma orientale, rhiz. (ze xie): promotes diuresis to drain Damp.

Curcuma longa, tuber (yu jin), Crataegus fruit (shan zha), Citrus, fruit (zhi shi): disperse stagnant Liver Qi and drain the Gallbladder.

Lysimachia christinae, herb (jin qian cao), Curcuma longa, tuber (yu jin), Artemisia frigida, herb (yin chen hao), Rheum root & rhizome (da huang): clear the Gallbladder and expel gallstone.

Indications:

Fatty liver (steatohepatitis)

Cholecystitis

Gallstones

Hepatitis

Hepatic cirrhosis

Obesity

Signs & Symptoms:

Sensation of fullness and pain of the chest and hypochondrium (mainly right side)

Fever or alternating fever and chills

Scanty dark urine

Bitter taste in the mouth

Loss of appetite

Nausea or vomiting

Jaundice

Abdominal distension

Thirst with inability to drink much fluid

Tongue is red with yellow greasy coat

Pulse rapid and wiry or rapid and slippery

Combinations –

Acne:

LONG DAN XIE GAN TANG

SI MIAO YONG AN WAN (Jia Wei)

A C Skin Formula (formerly Acne)

ANTI-INFLAMM. Formula

Acute cholecystitis:

XIAO CHAI HU WAN

SI MIAO YONG AN WAN

Acute cystitis or UTI (severe, due to Damp-Heat in the Bladder):

BA ZHENG SAN

SI MIAO YONG AN WAN

Acute hepatitis:

XIAO CHAI HU WAN

Fatty liver:

NEI XIAO LUO LI WAN

LI DAN PAI SHI WAN

Obesity:

WU LING SAN

LI DAN PAI SHI WAN

TAO HONG SI WU WAN

TCM Syndromes: Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder.

TCM Actions: Clears Damp-Heat, soothes the Liver and drains the Gallbladder.