Constraint (yue ju wan) (YTS)

Original Case by: Ye Tian-Shi (叶天士)

[Patient] Dai [habitually] held in his/her feelings with no desire to speak up. This was a Heart disease and herb medicine is difficult to treat such an illness disease. This is damage caused by constraint of the seven emotions. [Zhu] Dan Xi’s yue ju wan (Escape Restraint Pill) method was used.

xiang fu (Cyperi Rhizoma)
chuan xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma)
huang lian (Coptidis Rhizoma)
fu ling (Poria)
zhi ban xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum)
ju hong (Citri reticulatae Exocarpium rubrum)
chao shan zha (dry-fried Crataegi Fructus)
shen qu (medicated leaven)

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Sp/St Yang Def (Hepatitis)

Spleen and Stomach Yang Deficiency (Chronic Hepatitis)

Original Case by: Yue Mei-Zhong (1900-1982) 岳美中¸­

(Thanks Greg for this instructive case!)

Bai, male, 39. January 24, 1964, initial consultation, in-patient department. Patient had suffered from chronic hepatitis for six years with intermittent bilateral flank pain, abdominal distention and bloating, anorexia, frequent belching, borborygmus, flatulence, and loose stools one to two times per day or once every-other day. Previously, he had been admitted to the hospital five successive times and undergone hepato-protective therapies, testosterone propionate therapy, etc., all with only temporary effects. When his job was stressful the condition would flare. Formulas such as Chai Hu Shu Gan San (Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder) had been applied in the past without obvious benefit. Upon examination, all six pulses were deficient, slow, and weak, and the tongue was swollen and large with a greasy, floating coat. Origin of the disease occurred in his early years when famine and forced labor led to dysfunction of Spleen and Stomach ascension, descension, and transportation. His presentation closely resembled a syndrome from Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer (Jin Gui Yao Lue)”nausea and borborygmus, epigastric distention, Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (Pinellia Heart-Draining Decoction) commands.” The prescription followed:

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Constraint (Lv->St) (YTS)

Liver accosts the Stomach with qi counterflow and blood constraint.

Original Case by: Ye Tian-Shi (叶天士)

[Patient] Wang (63) was overworked and had anger, which damaged the yang. There was qi counterflow and blood constraint leading to pain. There was focal distention and sloppy stools. This was wind and wood rebelling against earth. Previous formulas were ineffective.formula that unblocks and boosts the yang ming and jue yin was given.

Prescription: dà bàn xià(Major Pinellia Decoction) plus

táo rén (peach kernel, persica)
bǎi zǐ rén (Platycladi Semen)
dāng guī« (Angelicae sinensis Radix)
shēng jiāng (fresh ginger rhizome)
dà zǎo (Jujubae Fructus)

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Constraint- Distended Sinews (YTS)

Original Case by: Ye Tian-Shi(叶天士)

[Patient] Lu (24) [had suffered] damage from constraint. The sinews were distended and there was heart (epigastric) pain.

gōu téng (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis)
xiāng fù (Cyperi Rhizoma)
yù jīn (Curcuma tuber)
cì jí lí (Tribuli Fructus)
mǔ dān pí(Moutan Cortex)
bò hé(Menthae haplocalycis Herba)
chén pí (Citri reticulatae Pericarpium)
fú líng (Poria)

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Childhood Atopic Eczema (JB)

Case by: Jason Blalack

A six-year or old girl came in with chronic eczema located symmetrically around the elbows, back of the knees, on the legs, and on the upper back. The areas were dry, itchy, had mild erosion and lichenification, only mild erythema in areas, and had scabs and scratch marks. She had a history of persistent runny nose, felt hot, restless sleep, talking in her sleep, allergies (e.g. cats, pollen, possible food intolerances), and would easily get sinus and ear infections since the age of four. Her pulse was fast and slippery and her tongue body was red with red prickles and a slightly thicker coat.

Diagnosis: This was wind predominate chronic childhood atopic eczema due to damp collecting, transforming to heat, with an underlying Spleen qi deficiency.

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