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:

• 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’.
• 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).
• 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]

• Qi-deficient fever: + increase Chai Hu [Bupleurum] + Huang Qin [Scute] + Ge Gen [Pueraria]
• Headache: + Chuan Xiong [Cnidium]
• Leucorrhoea: + Bai Zhi [Atractylodes] + Huang Bai [Phellodendron]
• Abdominal pain: + Bai Shao [White Peony] + Gan Cao [Licorice]
• Tinnitus (low pitch): + Shan Zhu Yu [Cornus]
• Abdominal distension: + Zhi Shi [Citrus Sinensis]

Dang Gui Shao Yao San

[Dang Gui & Peony Combination]

• Severe blood vacuity: + increase Bai Shao [White Peony] + increase Dang Gui [Angelica sinensis] or + Shu Di Huang [Cooked Rehmannia] + Gou Qi Zi [Lycium]
• Fatigue: + Huang Qi [Astragalus] + Ren Shen [Ginseng]
• Severe oedema/diarrhoea: + increase Bai Zhu [Atractylodes white] + Fu Ling [Hoelen] + Ze Xie [Alisma].
• Severe coldness: + Gan Jiang [Dried Ginger] + Gui Zhi [Cinnamon]
• Abdominal distension: + Zhi Shi [Citrus Sinensis]

Gui Pi Tang

[Ginseng & Longan Combination]

• Liver fire: + Chai Hu [Bupleurum] + Zhi Zi [Gardenia]. This makes the formula Jia Wei Gui Pi Tang [Ginseng, Longan & Bupleurum Combination]
• Severe blood vacuity: + Shu Di Huang [Cooked Rehmannia]. This makes the formula Hei Gui Pi Tang [Ginseng, Longan & Rehmannia Combination]
• Continuous menstrual flow: + Wu Wei Zi [Schizandra] + Shan Zhu Yu [Cornus]
• Menstrual pain: + Xiang Fu [Cyperus], + Yan Hu Suo [Corydalis], + Yu Jin [Curcuma]

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San

[Bupleurum & Peony Combination]

• Severe liver qi stasis: + Xiang Fu [Cyperus]
• Fixed pain due to blood stagnation: + Hong Hua [Carthamus], Tao Ren [Persica], Yan Hu Suo [Corydalis]
• Breast distension/rib-side pain: + Xiang Fu [Cyperus]
• Menstrual pain: + Xiang Fu [Cyperus], Yan Hu Suo [Corydalis]
• Amenorrhoea: + Hong Hua [Carthamus], + Tao Ren [Persica] + Xiang Fu [Cyperus]
• Stomach upset: + Chen Pi [Citrus]
• No appetite: + Chen Pi [Citrus] + Ban Xia [Pinellia]
• Severe blood deficiency: + Shu Di Huang [Cooked Rehmannia] + Gou Qi Zi [Lycium] + He Shou Wu [Polygoni Multiflori Radix]
• Constipation: + Zhi Ke [Citrus, ripe] + Da Huang [Rhubarb]

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

[Rehmannia Six Combination]

• Asthma: + Wu Wei Zi [Schizandra].
• Dry cough (lung kidney yin vacuity): + Wu Wei Zi [Schizandra] + Mai Men Dong [Ophiopogon]
• Qi vacuity: + Ren Shen [Ginseng] + Dang Shen [Codonopsis] + Huang Qi [Astragalus]
• Yang vacuity: + Gui Zhi [Cinnamon]

Ba Zhen Tang

[Dang Gui & Ginseng Eight Combination]:

• Deficient heat (flushing, afternoon feverishness etc): + Huang Bai [Phellodendron], + Sang Bai Pi [Morus]
• Liver qi stagnation: + Chai Hu [Bupleurum] + Xiang Fu [Cyperus]
• Insomnia: + Zizyhpus [Suan Zao Ren] + Yuan Zhi [Polygala]
• Sweating: + Huang Qi [Astragalus] + Fu Xiao Mai [Wheat] + Wu Wei Zi [Schizandra]
• Post-partum: + Yi Mu Cao [Leonorus]
• Blood stasis: + Chi Shao [Red Peony] + Yan Hu Suo [Corydalis]

Suan Zao Ren Tang

[Zizyphus Combination]:

• Severe blood vacuity: + Shu Di Huang [Cooked Rehmannia] + Bai Shao [White Peony]
• Severe heat signs: + Sheng Di Huang [Raw Rehmannia]
• Night sweats: + Wu Wei Zi [Schizandra] + Mu Li [Oyster Shell]
• Severe palpitations: + Long Yan Rou [Longan] + Mu Li [Oyster Shell]
• Severe insomnia: + Long Gu [Dragon Bone] + Mu Li [Oyster Shell] + Yuan Zhi [Polygala]

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; athlete’s 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.