Indications for when Rambling Powder is appropriate

[Guest guest]

Rambling Powder is for Liver constraint with Blood Deficiency. It

works to spread Liver Qi, strengthen the Spleen, and nourish Blood.

(Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas & Strategies, Dan Bensky & Randall

Barolet, p. 147.)

 

Because Blood Deficiency can trigger Liver constraint (as well as

Liver constraint triggering Blood Deficiency), Blood needs to be

tonified and the Spleen strengthened (since the Spleen plays a major

role in Blood production). Treating the Liver constraint alone in

cases where there also is Blood Deficiency and a weak Spleen is like

trying to bail a leaky row boat without repairing the leak. The

rowboat keeps filling with water, the Blood Deficiency keeps

constraining the Liver.

 

The following list of indications is taken from Bensky and Barolet,

pp. 147:

 

" Hypochrondriac pain, headache, vertigo, a bitter taste in the

mouth, dry mouth and throat, fatigue, reduced appetite, pale-red

tongue, and a wiry deficient pulse. There may also be alternating

fever and chills, and irregular menstruation or distended breasts. "

 

" Hypochrondriac " is a fancy term for the sides of the upper abdomen

(with the epigastric area in the middle of the upper abdomen). In

other words the person is having pains in the sides. Any time a

person is having pain in the sides, strongly suspect there is Liver

constraint and Liver Qi Stagnation. BTW, pains in a side or both

sides can be an indication of mononucleosis, aka glandular fever.

Yes, sometimes Liver constraint coupled with a weakened Spleen can

make a person more vulnerable to mononucleosis, aka glandular fever,

and indicate that a person is at increased risk of developing mono.

(As many times as I've had mono, I pay attention to indications like

these because it's a lot easier to prevent mono from developing than

to put it into remission once it has.)

 

The reason why pain in the side is such a prominent feature of Liver

constraint and Liver Qi Stagnation is because the Liver meridian

runs through the hypochrondriac area. It also runs through the area

of the breasts; hence, the possible sore and painful breasts.

Which, BTW, aren't limited to women with PMS but can occur also in

males and in women pass menopause.

 

The course of the Liver meridian also is a factor in the pain in the

area of the liver and the spleen. The liver is on the right side of

the body, tucked up under the diaphragm, and the spleen is on the

left side of the body. Meridians can affect organs in the area

through which they run. In some cases, there may be not just pain

but actual swelling of the organs. (There are modifications for the

basic Rambling Powder formula when there is swelling of the liver

and/or spleen. See Bensky and Barolet, p. 148 for modifications.)

 

The dry mouth and throat are coming in part from the Blood

Deficiency. The headache may be due in part to Blood Deficiency as

well as to Liver imbalance. The fatigue and lack of appetite are

Spleen Deficiency indicators. If there is Rebellious Stomach Qi

because of the Liver Invading the Stomach, this too can play a

factor in the person not having much of an appetite and not eating.

(Hence, the use of raw ginger to harmonize the Stomach and stop/

prevent Rebellious Stomach Qi.)

 

A wiry pulse (feels like a guitar string) can indicate Liver

imbalance, pain, and/or Phlegm. (The Foundations of Chinese

Medicine, Giovanni Maciocia, p. 169.)

 

A bitter taste in the mouth can be an indication of Liver and/or

Gall Bladder problems. Because Liver Qi constraint can affect the

Gall Bladder, this can trigger Lesser Yang-stage symptoms like

alternating feelings of being too hot and too cold. (Bensky and

Barolet, p. 147.)

 

Bensky and Barolet list several modifications to the basic Rambling

Powder formula. What to add and/or subtract if the pain in the

sides is especially severe, if there is fixed pain from Blood

Stasis, if there is vaginal discharge (the Liver meridian runs

through the genital area too), if there is pain over the liver with

reduced appetite and fatigue, if the liver and spleen are enlarged,

and if there are fibrocystic breasts. (p. 148)

 

The Rambling Powder formula is itself is a variation of Frigid

Extremities Powder.

 

Bensky and Barolet mention several " biomedically-defined disorders "

in which Rambling Powder may be useful IF the person fits the

symptom and sign pattern for someone with constrained Liver Qi and

Blood Deficiency with weakened Spleen. Keep in mind while reading

this list that a biomedically-defined condition can have different

underlying Roots. This is not a situation where one automatically

gives this formula to someone with one of these medical conditions.

It's given only if the criteria for Liver Qi constraint and Blood

Deficiency with a weakened Spleen are met. These conditions

are " hepatitis, pleurisy, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, anemia,

functional uterine bleeding, menopausal syndrome, pelvic

inflammatory disease, fibrocystic breasts, neutrasthenia, optic

nerve atrophy, and central retinitis. " (Bensky and Barolet, p. 148.)

Keep in mind that the Liver meridian also runs through the genital

area; hence, the effects on the uterus, the pelvic area, etc. Keep

in mind that the Liver " opens into the eyes " ; hence, the optic nerve

atrophy and central retinitis (but ONLY when the TCM imbalance of

Liver constraint with Blood Deficiency and Spleen weakness are

present).

 

Note to students: In the previous post on Liver constraint it was

pointed out the the Liver can Invade the Spleen either because the

Spleen is weak or the Liver is constrained. Sometimes there will be

a sign as to which is the more pressing or severe problem. This is

the color of the complexion. If the Spleen being weak is the more

pressing problem, a yellowish tone may predominate in the

complexion. If the Liver constraint is the more pressing problem,

there may be green tones in the complexion. Sometimes a formula may

need to be modified accordingly. Like a little more help being

given to stenghtening the Spleen when the complexion is yellow. Like

another herb put into the formula to strenghten the Spleen. (In TCM

herbalism, one doesn't increase the dosage of a herb; one adds

another herb from the same class.) If there are greenish tones in

the complexion, one might have to add a little extra help for the

Liver constraint. Remember, we're talking about TCM Organs here and

not just Western-defined medical conditions. Even though people turn

yellow when they have hepatitis, if the TCM imbalance involving the

Liver is pressing, there also will be greenish tones in the

complexion. Also, mononucleosis (aka glandular fever) can mimic

hepatitis. Especially if it's the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) that is the

cause of the mono.

 

A note for all: In the previous post I got some page numbers wrong.

It should be pp. 147-148 instead of 147-150. Sorry.

[Guest guest]

For serious students interested in studying formulas I would reccomend

the study of three formulas. These three formulas are very important

for the modern situation. All of these formulas were developed by Li

Dong Yuan and those who follow his teachings - Li Dong Yuan is one of

the most important physicians in the history of TCM and indeed in the

history of medicine. He postulated the concept that the Middle Burner

is the source of much pathology (this concept was not new to him as

the great Ayurvedic scholars had described the importance of the

Stomach and the Liver in disease development - perhaps as far back as

5000 years ago) - he was one of the first people in history to

describe the relationship between the Liver and the Spleen. He

developed many theraputic concepts for resolving complicated mixed

cases (really the most common cases in modern people) in the Center.

 

If one learns the usefulness of his concepts and his formulas - and

the formulas of those who came after him who had the same

understandings - then one has very powerful solutions to many of the

thorniest cases.

 

His masterwork on these subjects was his classic " Treatise on the

Stomach and Spleen " translated by Bob Flaws. Bob Flaws feels that for

we modern people Li Dong Yuan has more to offer than most ancient

teachers. I throughly agree that the concepts of Li Dong Yuan are core

understandings that if a practioner does not understand the importance

of they will constantly bump their head against a barrier. Coursing

the Liver is an important point in this understanding - and three

formulas that work on the Center - and that course the Liver while

supporting the Stomach and Spleen are -

 

Xiao Yao San (Wan) - Rambling Powder or Pills - this is the formula

that Victoria has been discussing.

 

Xiao Chai Hu Tang Pian - Minor Bupleurum Formula - this formula is

very popular in Asia - in Hong Kong and Japan many people take this

formula (of all ages and classes) to improve energy as the balancing

of the functions of the Liver, Stomach, and Spleen is considered the

most important thing we can do to overcome overheating and stagnation

in the Center which is a major cause of feelings of fatigue, dullness,

and heaviness - it is considered a basic support for dealing with the

stress of modern society. Although many thousands of people buy this

in the corner drugstore and take this formula on their own without

side effects - still I would advise a little caution - this is because

Bupleurum is a medicinal herb and needs to be prescribed according to

the conditions and one should observe it over time. Ron Teeguarden

states that studies show that most everyone can benefit from this

formula for a limited time - I agree - still it must be watched. One

of the problems is that if Bupleurum is taken in too large a doses in

the beginning it can course the Liver to rapidly causing a host of

symptoms caused by the dumping of the Liver toxins into the

bloodstream. A solution to that is to start at low doses and slowly

increase the dosage and observe the effects - after a week or two the

full dose can be taken - many people take this formula for two or

three years and then stop - taking periodic Liver coursing courses

yearly after that. For those with Yin defeciencies then one could try

the formula that replaces Ginseng with Codonopsis - many more we will

be able to accept it.

 

Bu Zhang Yi Qi Wan - Central Chi Pills - this is a great formula - it

should be clearly understood by all serious students- the warning

about Yin defecienies also applies here - watch those cases closely -

Yin supporting substances can help (Rehmmania-Asparagus, etc.)

 

Blue Poppy and ITM both have very interesting essays and articles on

these formulas

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky,

 

I hope you are seeing a trained TCM healer. I also recommend that

people with " knotty " problems learn all they can about TCM (which

you're obviously doing). When the client is knowledgeable about TCM

it's one more person on the healing team. Also, the client is more

likely to know to report certain things that allopathic medicine

doesn't realize are significant symptoms.

 

I also recommend that people with severe medical problems continue

to be monitored by their MDs and DOs. You're also doing this.

 

A lot of the symptoms you mentioned point to Liver imbalance. Some

point to Kidney imbalance, and some point to Spleen imbalance. A

trained TCM healer in person will be able to rule in or rule out.

These are just ideas on what may or may not be the problems from a

TCM standpoint.

 

Whenever there are bone problems, TCM healers suspect the

possibility of Kidney imbalance. For the benefit of readers who are

new to TCM, the word " Kidneys " is capitalized to indicate that it's

the TCM concept of the Kidneys which is referred to and not the

anatomical kidneys. TCM Organs are collections of functions. The TCM

concept of the Kidneys also includes in addition to many of the

functions of the kidneys, many of the functions of the adrenal

glands, the health of the bones, and the health of the ears.

 

> I've lost my left vertebral artery over the past year. I was

getting horrible headaches, and feeling so weak and tired, nauseaus

and dizzy. I cried and cried because it felt like i was dying

inside, and only anti-depressants were suggested, which i declined.

i knew something was dreadfully wrong, and I was becoming inactive

because of pain, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, so it was

appropriate for me to cry.

 

It's very appropriate. Whenever emotions are denied and suppressed,

they weaken the body and in time trigger imbalances. Personally, I

find a good cry to be very healing. I'm acknowledging that there are

some problems, and after I have a good cry, I feel more like

tackling them. Also, from a Western allopathic viewpoint, crying

rids the body of some harmful chemicals that have built up within.

 

I also got very humorous in expressing my anger and frustration. I

made sure my husband knew the anger wasn't directed at him but at

the illness. That way he could laugh along too. Of course when I

was angry at him for something, I made sure he knew that too. But

mostly I was angry at and frustrated by the illness.

 

Something you may want to include in your healing program is

visualization if you haven't already done so. You can get very

creative. Since I had read that chronic mono is caused by there not

being enough EBNA (Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigens - and I knew from a

test that my EBNA was low) to kick the mono into remission, I used

to visualize these big, beefy fighters in baby blue sweatshirts with

EBNA in big red letters across the chest of the sweatshirts across

their very ample chests. They stand around flexing their very ample

muscles until they spot an Epstein Barr virus that looks like the

Evil Eye Fleggle (sp) character in a zoot suit from the 1950s

musical L'il Abner. They descend on him in a pack, and it's like a

scene from the old Batman TV series in which there's a lot of POWs

and Whams flashed across the screen. As the dust clears, there's

nothing but a tattered zoot suit left, and the EBNA fighters burp in

appreciation.

 

Don't worry about being anatomically correct. Just do what seems to

be correct. I have no idea why it was important for me to visualize

the EBNA fighters in baby blue sweatshirts with red lettering, just

that I should. Even people without a knowledge of anatomy and

physiology come up with very appropriate symbolism. For example,

one woman with a stubborn infection visualized white soap bubbles

coming out of a long tube and cleaning up the mess. The white soap

bubbles obviously are white blood cells. But why the long pipe?

Because the kind of white blood cells she needed have their origins

in the long bones. She didn't know much anatomy and physiology, but

her subconscious sure picked some very apt symbolism.

 

I can't state that visualization works. Who knows? I was doing

other things to put the mono into remission. But at the very least

it gave me something to do other than gritting my teeth because I

had to rest so much. It was entertaining and helped me to drop off

to sleep. I did eventually go into remission even though my doctor

had told me I'd probably never have another negative mono test. It's

not going to hurt. I wouldn't rely entirely upon visualization, but

it might help.

 

Some quick notes about color in diagnosis in TCM. (I don't know how

extensive your background is, but some of the list members are brand

new to TCM.) The color red usually indicates Heat. Paleness can

indicate Cold, Yang Deificiency, or Blood Deficiency. The paleness

of Yang Deficiency is a shiny paleness or whiteness; that of Blood

Deficiency is a dull pale or whiteness. The color white can in some

cases indicate Lung imbalance.

 

Blue also can indicate Cold. From a Western anatomical and

physiology standpoint it indiates poor oxygenation of tissues.

 

Purple tones in the tongue tissue, the skin, the bed of the nails,

around the eyes, etc. point to Blood Stasis. Reddish-purple to

Blood Stasis with Heat. Bluish-purple to Blood Stasis with Cold.

 

Sometimes (not always) when the Liver is messed up, there will be

greenish tones in the skin. Abnormal yellow tones point to Spleen

weakness. Red can also point in some cases to Heart imbalance. The

color black to Kidney imbalance. An orangy tone in the side of the

tongue points to Liver Blood Stagnation.

 

Each of the 5 Organs also is vulnerable to one or more emotions.

For the Liver it's anger, frustration, and resentment. The Lungs

(and Qi) can be weakened by grief. The Heart is vulnerable to

mania. The Spleen is vulnerable to pensiveness and obsessing. (Also

to studying too much.) The Kidneys are weakened by fear and fright.

 

The TCM understanding of the emotion-body connection is a lot more

sophisticated than in the West. For one thing, it's very much

understood to be a two-way street. In the West, all too often only

lip service is given to the fact that physical medical problems can

have psychological sysmptoms. Like when people are/ appear angry

when they're in pain. Like when people who are having trouble

breathing (even if it's very slight) will look and be anxious. Too

many MDs and DOs rush to give antidepressants or antianxiety drugs

without realizing that the psychological symptoms are best treated

by treating and correcting the underlying physical problem.

Actually TCM doesn't differenciate between the physical and the

psychological, but I explain it in terms that Westerners can best

understand.

 

TCM's sophistication goes way beyond this. TCM reconizes that once

there is imbalance from whatever initial trigger, that the person is

going to be more prone to feeling a particular emotion. It can be a

snowballing situation. For example, once Liver imbalance occurs,

the person is going to be more prone to feeling angry which in turn

can unbalane the Liver further which leads to the person being even

more prone to anger, and so on.

 

The way people usually run into problems with their emotions is they

deny/ supress them, they overexpress them, or they inappropriately

express them. An example of overexpression is someone going nuclear

over something slight when a simple " I don't like that! " would

suffice. Inappropriately expressing emotions occurs when someone

substitutes one emotion as a way of not feeling another, more

threatening (to the individual) emotion. For example, a person who

is always angry as a way of avoiding admitting to him or herself

that s/he's scared, feeling vulnerble, in love, etc. Sometimes

anger is the more threatening emotion and sadness and feelings of

hopelessness get substituted for it.

 

Any strong, sudden emotions can trigger problems because they are so

overwhelming and the person doesn't have time to process them

correctly.

 

Abnormal bone growths as well as nodules can be due to Phlegm.

Again, the TCM term is capitalized because it's not equivalent to

phlegm. If it is Phlegm, Phlegm can take a long time to treat and

can be hard to treat, but it is treatable. Part of what can cause

Phlegm to be so difficult to treat is that there are different types

of Phlegm - Dry, Cold, Hot, substantial, insubstantial, etc. - and

the treatment will depend on what type it is. For example, if it's

Cold Phlegm, attacking the Phlegm directly with Phlegm resolving

herbs usually is not the best approach. Instead, the main approach

needs to be resolving the Cold problem, and the Phlegm problems

automatically will clear up in many of these cases. In other cases,

the Phlegm needs to be attacked directly.

 

In all cases of Phelgm, a weakened Spleen can play a major role. So

usually the Spleen needs to be strengthened.

 

In cases where the Liver Invades the Spleen, two possibilities need

to be considered: Is the Spleen being invaded because the Spleen is

too weak or because the Liver out of balance? Treatment will vary

somewhat depending on which it is. In the case of the former, the

main emphasis will be on strengthening the Spleen and Liver

imbalance will be secondary. In the latter case, the main emphasis

will be on treating the Liver.

 

Check your back for sore spots. You can use a handheld massager to

very gently check over the spine and the area immediately beside the

spine. Sometimes when there is an imbalance between the Kidneys, the

Liver, and the Spleen (also the kidneys and the liver) there will be

a sore spot or spots in or near the spine. (You want to be very

gentle when checking - especially considering your bone problems.)

Sometimes if the sore spot(s) is massaged out, a lot of problems

will stop. Again, you want to be very gentle in doing this.

 

Some words about pain. If the pain is worse with touch and the

person is sensitive to touch, this points to the problem being one

of some kind of Excess. If pressure lessens the pain, this points

to Deficiency. This may not make a lot of sense now, but it will

later on.

 

If cold eases the problem, this points to a Hot imbalance. If

warmth eases the pain, this points to there being a Cold imbalance.

 

People can have both Excess and Deficiency problems and both Hot and

Cold problems. In fact, it's common. For example, Spleen Deficiency

can result in Dampness (Excess) and in time Phlegm (Excess). (One

of the major roles of the Spleen is to transport and transform

liquids in the body. If the Spleen is weak, Dampness accumulates and

in time it can congel into Phlegm. There can be a co-factor which

influences what type of Phlegm is produced. For example, Dampness

congeling in the presence of Cold produces Cold Phlegm. Dampness

congeling because of Heat produces Hot Phlegm.) Qi Stagnation and

Blood Stasis are classified as Excess Problems because any is too

much.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Becky <bsalibrici> wrote:

 

> I don't know where to begin locally regarding TCM. I don't even

know what mung beans are. I use brown rice as a rule, and I think the

larger bean sprouts in the grocery store are mung sprouts (?) I see

packages of bean sprouts that are much larger sprouts than alfalfa and

such ... Could they be mung? I'm sure I could find a specialized

grocer who would know ...

 

Yes, that's the one. Do you have a health food store near you? They

usually carry seeds/beans for sprouting and can get you started on

doint your own. Or you could buy the sprouts from the grocery store.

 

> crying was probably the main way my body could get rid of some of

the toxins. It was actually a good thing, and it did make me feel

better. I used to tell the people around me (because I was working)

to please not be concerned about it, that I have dry eyes, and it made

me feel better. I was expressing sheer grief, desparately seeking

help. My lungs did become sensitive ... sometimes they felt like they

were burning, and I was caughing up an awful taste - nothing else tho,

just the taste.

 

Lungs are associated with grief so it makes sense that they bothered

you while you were processing that emotion.

 

> I so take ginger tea, and use the root at times. I still have to

figure out what Xiao Yao San (Wan) - Rambling Powder or Pills is. And

what Xiao Chai Hu Tang Pian - Minor Bupleurum Formula is. Also

mentioned was Bu Zhang Yi Qi Wan - Central Chi Pills with a warning

about Yin defecienies. I don't know about asparagus, but butcher's

broom is related to asparagus I believe, and I've read that it kills

red blood cells. I wouldn't want to do that. I've never heard of

Rehmmania.

 

Those are Chinese patent formulas and you may not be able to find them

in a store near you. You can look them up on the internet for

information. Crane Herb company has a great site

http://www.craneherb.com/products.esp - just enter the name of each

one and it will return a list of their products which you can click on

to find out about the contents, symptoms and contraindications.

 

sue

[Guest guest]

> Thank you for your reply. Learning so much all at once can be

overwhelming, but I've begun learning about TCM, yes.

 

TCM can seem very overwhelming at first. For one thing, the

terminology and concepts are so different from anatomy and

physiology. But the good news is that once one has the overall

picture, it all starts to fall into place. It's just a little

daunting getting to that overall picture.

 

A little more of the overall picture today:

 

The Chinese Materia Medica is a list of healing substances used in

TCM. Think of it as an herbal PDR (Physician's Desk Reference). For

simplicity, all the substances are referred to as " herbs " even

though some of them are parts of animals or minerals.

 

In the Materia Medica (MM), herbs are divided into classes based on

what the herb's primary use is. For example, there is a chapter of

Herbs That Regulate the Qi (used for Qi Stagnation). Another chapter

is Herbs That Warm the Interior and Expel Cold. Herbs That Clear

Heat. Herbs That Drain Dampness. The chapter of Tonifying Herbs is

subdivided into four subclasses: Qi Tonifying Herbs, Blood Tonifying

Herbs, Yang Tonifying Herbs, and Yin Tonifying Herbs. In TCM the

word " tonic " means that it will increase or add that substance to

the body. For example, Qi Tonic Herbs are used to treat Qi

Deficiency.

 

In the MM, each " herb " will have its TCM properties listed. One of

these is the thermal energy. All herbs (and food) have either a

heating, a cooling, or a neutral effect on the body. The

classifications of thermal energy are Cold, Cool, Neutral, Warm, and

Hot. An herb whose thermal energy is Cold will have more of a

cooling effect on the body than an herb whose thermal energy is Cool.

 

The taste(s) of the herb also will be listed. These are sweet,

bitter, salty, pungent (acrid, spicy), sour, and bland. (An herb can

have more than one taste.) The taste of the herb will reveal things

about the herb's properties. For example, herbs with a bland taste

will tend to leach edema.

 

The " Channels Entered " (or Organs/ Meridians that the herbs have a

special affinity for) also will be listed. This won't mean a lot to

you now. Just know that it's a way by which TCM herbalists can

finetune treatment. Say for example that one suffers from Lung Yin

Deficiency. There are a lot of Yin Tonic herbs. The healer will

make sure to pick one that specifically targets the Lungs.

 

Then there is a section on the " Actions and Indications " of the

herb. How the herb works and what symptoms indicate it should be

used.

 

There is a section on Cautions and Contraindications. The

recommended dosage is given. There is a section on Major

Combinations. This lists other herbs that this particular herb often

gets combined with and for what symptoms.

 

In the modern MMs there will be a section on Major Known Ingredients

(chemicals), and a section on Modern Pharmacological and Clinical

Research. (BTW, I use Dan Bensky's and Andrew Gamble's Chinese

Herbal Medicine Materia Medica (Revised Edition). The terminology

will vary a little from MM to MM depending on who did the

translation.

 

In modern MMs, the pharmaceutical name also will be listed. The

pharmaceutical name is the Western (used in healing) name which is

based on the botanical name. The pharmaceutical name will always

have a prefix which indicates what part of the plant is used. For

example Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae indicates that it's the root

part of the plant that has that particular use. Some of the other

prefixes are Rhizoma (rhizome), Flos (flower), Fructus (fruit), and

Ramulus (twig). Don't worry about memorizing these. I just wanted

to give the readers who are new to herbalism some idea of the

different parts that can be used. I also wanted to underscore the

point that different parts of the plant (or animal or whatever) can

have very different properties. For example, one herb may have its

healing properties concentrated in the leaves, and you'll see the

prefix " Folium " which means " leaf " . In some cases, one part of a

plant (or animal or whatever) may have very, very different

properties from another part. For example, the properties of Hebra

Ephedrae (the part of the plant growing above ground) are the

opposite of those of Radix (root of) Ephedrae. A healer could create

some big problems if s/he got the root and the herb mixed up in the

case of ephedra.

 

The way an herb is processed (or not processed) sometimes will

affect its properties. This info gets added to the pharmaceutical

name with a suffix. " Recens " means fresh and undried. For example,

fresh ginger is Rhizoma (rhizone of) Zingiberis Offinalis (ginger)

Recens (fresh) Rhizoma Zingiberis Offinalis Recens. Dried ginger is

Rhizoma Zingiberis Offinalis (without a suffix).

 

" Conquitae " means cooked or prepared. Rehmannia is an herb whose

properties will vary depending on if it's unprocessed or if it's

processed. Radix (root of) Rehmanniae Glutinosae (aka sheng di

huang) is unprocessed rehmannia. Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

Conquitae (aka shu di huang) is processed rehmannia.

 

Unprocessed rehmannia (Sheng Di Huang) is classified an an Herb That

Cools the Blood. The literal English translation of sheng di huang

is " fresh earth yellow " . (The word huang in Chinese means yellow.)

Rehmannia is Chinese foxglove. The herb's thermal energy is Cold.

Its taste is sweet and bitter. It targets the Heart, Kidney, and

Liver.

 

Processed rehmannia (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Conquitae, aka Shu

Di Huang) is a Blood tonic herb. The way it's processed and its

properties changed is that it's cooked in wine. The literal English

translation of shu di huang is " cooked earth yellow " . Instead of

having Cold thermal energy like uncooked rehmannia has, its thermal

energy is Warm. Its taste is sweet (the bitterness is gone). Like

the uncooked rehmannia it too targets the Heart, Kidney, and Liver.

 

Cooked rehmannia is used a lot more often in TCM than unprocessed

rehmannia is used. That's because Blood Deficiency is a far more

common problem than Hot Blood is.

 

Cooked rehmannia also nourishes Yin in addition to being a Blood

tonic herb. It also tonifies the Essence (Jing). Don't worry about

what Jing (Essence) is at this point. Just know that it has

something to do with the Kidneys, and cooked rehmannia also gets

used when there are problems with low back pain, leg weakness,

dizziness, hearing and ear problems, and premature graying of hair

due to exhausted Blood and Essence.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Becky <bsalibrici> wrote:

> I so take ginger tea, and use the root at times. I still have to

figure out what Xiao Yao San (Wan) - Rambling Powder or Pills is.

And what Xiao Chai Hu Tang Pian - Minor Bupleurum Formula is. Also

mentioned was Bu Zhang Yi Qi Wan - Central Chi Pills with a warning

about Yin defecienies. I don't know about asparagus, but butcher's

broom is related to asparagus I believe, and I've read that it kills

red blood cells. I wouldn't want to do that. I've never heard of

Rehmmania.

 

There are different ways of taking Chinese herbal formulas. Three of

the more common ways are tea, pills, or powder. When you see the

word " San " in the name of a formula, this means " powder " . Xiao Yao

San is Rambling powder. Xiao Yao Wan is basicly the same formula but

administered in pills. " Wan " means pill.

 

The word " Tang " in a formula's name means it's taken as a tea or

decoction.

 

Some other ways of administering herbs includes in medicinal wines

(jiu ji or yao jiu)and as syrups (jiang ji). (The syrup form gets

used with children a lot.) There are also modern ways of

administering herbs like in granules (chong fu ji) and injections

(zhen ji).

 

Sometimes the way the herbal formula is administered will make a

difference in its effectiveness. For example, because I was so Cold

and because of what the formula was supposed to do, I was instructed

to always warm the main formula I was on before drinking the tea.

That particular tea was more effective taken warm than drank cold or

at room temperature.

 

I was on some other formulas too. Two of these were extacted

(soaked) in alcohol. Because of the nature of the formulas and what

I needed, the herbs were more effective as an alcohol extract than

taken in a pill or a tea.

 

Pills get used more than any other method of administration. This

is because there are some drawbacks to many of the other forms of

administering herbs. For example teas can take hours to prepare, and

the taste can be horrible. Plus there's the problem of taking the

tea with you when you leave home. But sometimes, in spite of the

disadvantages, taking a formula as a tea is far more effective than

taking it as a pill.

 

In TCM an herb is rarely taken alone. The herb will be combined with

at least one other herb (or food) to increase its effectiveness.

There are a very few formulas that contain just two herbs. Most

consist of four or more herbs.

 

In TCM there are what are called " patent medicines " or classical

formulas. These are formulas which have proved their effectiveness

over centuries for specific problems. Rambling Powder or Rambling

Pills is one of these formulas. It's classified as a Formula That

Regulates and Harmonizes the Liver and Spleen. It's particularly

good in cases where there is Liver Constraint with Blood Deficiency.

It " spreads the Liver qi, strengthens the Spleen, and nourishes the

blood " . (Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas & Strategies, compiled and

translated by Dan Bensky & Randall Barolet, p. 147.)

 

Yes, there also are books that give classical herbal formulas. In

addition to giving the basic formulas, the books also will give the

more common modifications to the formulas. For example, if in

addition to the person having a Constrained Liver, a weak Spleen,

and Blood Deficiency, swelling of the liver and/or the spleen also

is a problem, there are instructions to add 3 herbs to the basic

Rambling formula. If there is also Blood Stasis with very intense

pain, there are instructions for what herbs to add to take care of

that. Etc. Sometimes modifying a formula will involved deleting an

herb and substituting another herb.

 

However, TCM herbalists aren't just restricted to patent formulas

and their common variations. A completely trained TCM herbalist

also has the ability to make up a formula from scratch or figure out

new variations on classical formulas. There are guidelines for doing

this.

 

Something else to keep in mind about TCM is that it pays more

attention to underlying Roots (causes) than it does to symptoms.

This doesn't mean that TCM doesn't also treat symptoms, just that

treating the Root imbalance(s) will be uppermost in healers' minds.

 

TCM also tries to identify and treat ALL the person's problems at

the same time. TCM also recognizes that the clinical picture will

change with treatment. Depending on the nature of the problem(s), a

client may see the healer daily, weekly, every two weeks, or once a

month. This is so treatment can be changed to match the changing

clinical picture. (An example of when a healer would need to see a

client daily or even more than once during a day would be when the

person is suffering from a rapidly changing infection.)

 

Minor Bupleurum Decoction - Xiao Chai Hu Tang - is classified as a

Formula That Harmonizes Lesser Yang-stage Disorders. The " Tang " in

the formula's name indicates it's taken as a decoction or tea.

 

I don't want to get into Lesser Yang-stage Disorders too much at

this point. So I'm going to simplify this a lot and say that the

Lesser Yang-stage is one of the stages that certain infectious

diseases will follow. (Six Stages of Cold-Induced Illnesses. But not

all infectious diseases will follow this model. Just some of them.)

The treatment for each of the stages is different.

 

One of the most prominent symptoms of this stage is alternating

fever and chills.

 

Something else that is very important to keep in mind about the

Lesser Yang stage is that sometimes a pathogen will become blocked

at this stage. The person doesn't get sicker or partially has

recovered from being sicker, but can't move beyond this stage to a

cure. The Formulas That Treat Lesser Yang-Stage Disorders are for

cases where a person is stuck in the Lesser Yang-Stage.

 

There are a lot of contraindiations with this formuala. " This

formula has an ascending action which can injure the qi and cause

headache, dizziness, and bleeding of the gums if taken long-term.

These side-effects can be redued or eliminated if the formula is

prepared according to the directions in the source text. For the

same reason, unless considerably modified, it is contraindicated in

patients with excess above and deficiency below, Liver fire, or

bleeding of the gums. Use with caution in cases of ascendant Liver

yang, hypertension, or vomiting of blood due to yin deficiency.

Patients with relatively weak normal qi may experience fever and

chills while taking this formula because the pathogenic influence is

vented from the lesser yang stage via the greater yang. " (p. 137.)

 

Don't worry about understanding that previous paragraph. What I

mainly wanted to emphasize for the readers who are new to TCM is

that one needs to be careful with this formula when there are

certain Liver imbalances. The beginning TCM students probably will

be tested at some point on this formula. BTW, that last sentence

about " vented from the lesser yang stage via the greater yang " means

that the person is backing up through symptoms and stages. The

first stage of the 6 Stages of Cold-Induced Illnesses is the Greater

Yang-Stage. Normally an illness (unless stopped) will progress from

the Greater Yang to the Lesser Yang stage (or skip the Lesser Yang

Stage and go right to the Yang Brightness stage). What happens when

this formula is used for a person with relatively weak Qi is that

the illness goes back to the Greater Yang stage, and the person

experiences the chills and fever at this same time which is typical

of that stage. You then use a formula appropriate to that stage to

get rid of the problem.

 

There's something I want to point out for the advanced students on

the list. The main herb in this formula - the Radix Bupleuri (Chai

Hu) - has a relatively unique property. It's classified in as a

Cool, Acrid Herb That Releases The Exterior. (Readers who are new to

TCM, don't worry about understanding what that means.) Its thermal

energy is Cool, and its taste is bitter and acrid. It targets the

Gallbladder, Liver, Pericardium, and Triple Burner channels. The

thing about most herbs that have a cooling action on the body is

that they cause " things to descend " . (p. 136.) (Heat tends to rise,

cold to sink.) BUT along with being cooling, bupleurum has an

ascending action. Instead of sinking into the body, the cooling

action rises. This gets around the problem that many cooling herbs

can have of causing Heat to sink deeper into the body. (What

sometimes can happen in the case of cooling herbs that have the

usual descending action is that the cooling action can drive the

Heat deeper and deeper, acting as a kind of prison that can actually

cause the Heat within its confines to become more concentrated,

Hotter, and harder to get out.)

 

For those new to TCM, healers also pay attention to the direction of

flow in the body.

[Guest guest]

I would like to be clear in the matter of mung beans - first mung

bean sprouts are not what I was reffering to - I was reffering to

the mung beans themselves. Mung sprouts are a wonderful food but

possibly too cold for one already suffering from extreme cold

symptoms - the energetics of mung sprouts are not the same as the

cooked bean. Mung beans are easily found in most health food and

natural markets as well of course in Indian and Chinese markets -

Chinese herbal shops often carry mung beans. They come in three

forms - the whole unhulled (the hull is green) bean - unhulled split

(they look like small split English peas) - and the hulled split

bean (because these beans are hulled they are yellow). All of these

products have the heat removing quality but some people prefer the

unhulled bean as the hull on beans is a good source of fiber.

 

In Indian vegetarian culture - beans, lentils, and milk are the

primary sources of protein. In traditional culture mung beans are

considered the best of all beans because they are the easiest to

digest. Also because of their cooling property they are very helpful

in a tropical climate. They are mentioned since ancient times for

their medicinal ability. Great diet therapy physicians (like my

father) use them extensively in reduction or draining therapies -

they are dietary staple for people who have poor digestion (although

they are not completely without problems (all foods have the

potential to imbalance if they are not fully digested).

 

With these things being said it should be understood that there are

many substances that act to cool the blood. Simply making fruit (non-

acid)and vegetables the base of the diet for a few days will drain

the damp heat. Elimination of sugars and meat for a time will also

cool the blood. In most cases stopping the main substances which are

causing the acids and adding extra alkaline substances which act as

antidotes to acids and act as diuretics will drain the 'damp heat'.

 

Beans in general act as diuretics - with some being more effective

than others - also many act to cool in a chemical way (antidotes

acids). The problem with beans is that many of them are difficult to

digest and are not reccomended. There are traditional ways to make

beans more digestable - but for sick people only the easily digested

beans are acceptable. The commonly used beans in diet for ill people

are Aduki (or Adzuki,Japanese red beans) - Mung - Chinese red beans

(they look like a small Aduki) - Hyacinth bean - Soy in the form of

Tofu. The negative points to beans as mentioned is digestion and

they can be over cooling to those who are already cold so in a

person with mixed hot and cold the beans should have ginger and or

garlic added (unless the heat is very severe or there is bad

stagnation in the Liver-the sick Liver does not like spices). Simply

note if the beans make you feel cool or cold - if so add a little

ginger and see if this balances the energy - if not then do not take

beans. Cumin is also helpful for balancing the energy of beans.

 

In reduction of acidic conditions the important factor is to stop

taking the foods or other substances which are causing excess acid

build-up. Many times this is also the poor digestion causing the

acidic condition (when food gets stuck in the center it ferments and

creates large amounts of acids from the metabolism of the bacteria

and yeasts which are fermenting (rotting)the stuck food). Also of

course acids accumulate in any tissue where there is stagnation. The

emotions of anger, fear, and anxiety create metabolic acids in

excess and for those who have sluggish metabolism these acids get

backed up in the tissues and the blood.

 

The reason why I mentioned Mung Beans is because I believe that the

best thing one can do to balance the extremes of energetic states

- too much 'hot' and or 'cold' - is to eat a mild slightly diuretic

and alkyline diet. The best such diet is classic 'mild' diet - rice,

beans, vegetables and small amounts of cooked non-acidic fruit. this

diet was devised by the ancients because it is the least harmful way

to eat. It is healing because it nourishes very well while not

stressing the body - it is a diet that does not accumulte excess of

any energy - acid, sweet, cold, hot, bitter, salty, astringent,

pungent. My mother has followed such a diet her whole life and is

the picture of health at 86. People who eat this way have the best

chance for recovery from disease. It relieves most food stressors

and allows the body to find it's long yearned for balance.

 

There is a popular saying " Let go and let God do it " - stopping all

disease forming behaviors is just that - it is getting out of the

way and letting nature heal you. Eating wrongly is getting in the

way of how the body is supposed to function and stopping that will

be healing and even more healing if we combine that understanding

with good nourishing easily digested food.

 

As I have mentioned before a good book for learning how to use diet

for healing TCM pattern malfunctions - is Bob flaw's book 'Arisal of

the Clear'. Dr. Henry Lu has several books describing the energetics

of food - the Ayurvedic analysis of food energetics can be found in

Vasant Lad's books.

[Guest guest]

>

> TCM can seem very overwhelming at first. For one thing, the

> terminology and concepts are so different from anatomy and

> physiology. But the good news is that once one has the overall

> picture, it all starts to fall into place. It's just a little

> daunting getting to that overall picture.

 

One encouraging thing is that in fact the issues will be easy to get

a hold of if we remember that all of the various terminology that is

being referenced is refering to the same human body - so it is not

that one system has one body it is describing and the other another

body. There is one human body and the basic issues of physiology are

the same but it is simply that the two systems have a different

emphasis. I was trained as an Endocrinologist and have found not one

concept in TCM or other 'natural' medical systems that is in

contradiction to my western medical training (this means physiology -

not pathology - as western pathology is very poor compared to

traditional systems).

 

I feel that my study of Endocrinolgy complents and clarifies

many 'natural' concepts - and in the other direction - my western

medical training has been tremendously informed by

my 'Traditional'training. My Grandfather was a very conservative

Traditional Ayurvedic practioner - my father was trained by him but

eventually gave up all traditional Ayurvedic medicines and therpaies

and began the practice of diet therapy and Yoga - I was trained by

my father in Ayurveda, Siddhi, Unnani, Naturopathy, Anthroposophy,

TCM, Homeopathy, and Yoga systems of medicine. My father isa medical

scholar and has been synthasizing all ofthe different medical

systems his whole adult life.

 

Yet his conclusion was to give up all medicine - and to approach

healing from the perspective that i mentioned before - stop eating

poorly and start eating properly. Lifestyle and life patterns are

the major source of our non genetic malfunctions - so starting there

is the best way to start healing.

 

Gertrude Stein wrote " a rose is a rose is a rose " this is true of

digestion - the liver - the kidneys - the spleen - etc. - so

although the Chinese had their own system of description - that

which is being described is the same thing so it is simply a matter

of fitting ideas together - finding the correlates in each system.

 

Simple example - dampness in TCM has the same basic meaning as the

concept of water retention has in western system - but the TCM

system catagorizes water retention into many differnt catagories and

with different emphasis. So once the idea of 'water retention' is

understood we can use this concept in English to begin to understand

the TCM concept of 'dampness'. Another - we have been

mentioning 'stagnation' - in English this concept is often expressed

as 'congestion' - so when we read that the Liver is stagnant then

applying the English concept of 'congestion' will start one on the

path of understanding the TCM concept 'stagnation'. This is true of

most basic physiological and pathological concepts in TCM. As an

example translating the TCM concepts of the 'Organs' is not as

diffeicult as it seems when we understand that these terms do not

describe the Organs that the English words refer to they refer to

functions which also include the 'organs'as are defined in the

english system. So western concepts which include say 'Liver' will

get us where we want to get if we realize it is not either or - it

is either and. Western 'liver' concept in this sense is very similar

to TCM concept but TCM has an expanded understanding of those

concepts and does not refer to the liver organ per-se but to a

larger function or functioning of the 'Liver'.

 

One problem in translating across the systems is that many people

studying TCM do not have a stong foundation in western physiology -

so they have no 'text' to translate - so grasping these complicated

and subtle differences is very difficult. this is the reason why few

western people have trully mastered most western trained TCM

practioners are not qualified to practice TCM as they do not have

the advantage of the traditional doctors who were raised in a

culture that took basic TCM understandings for granted. The western

trained practioners simply do not have enough experience in these

ideas to have developed their own holstic view of the TCM system.

they are like somone speaking a foreign language with a heavy

accent - perhaps it will not be equlivialnt and will miss the point

(the correct word or syntex). Of course in the coming generation

this will change as the west develops a clear understing of

traditional healing systems. In fact i find a handfull of western

practioners to be equal or superior to the average traditional

practioner - but not many. this is unfortunate but a necessary phase

in bringing TCM into full integration with the western intellectual

and cultural traditions.

[Guest guest]

I hope it was understood why I posted a piece on Liver coursing

formulas - it was to encourage serious students to study the various

Central Qi formulas when confronted with 'knotty' cases. I was not

in any way reccomending these formuals to be taken by any particular

person.

 

The classic Center resolving formulas are medicinal formulas and

each has a very specific medical purpose and should be used

according to the indications. I am a very conservative person in

this matter and do not feel that an untrained person should

prescribe medicinal formulas for themselves. I am even cautious

about tonic formuals which many take like water - tonic herbs have

their own problems the major one being that they are contraindicated

in many with Yin defeciency. In Yin defeciency states one needs an

expert to help us use the herbs safely.

 

The formulas that were discussed - Rambling pills - Minor Bupleurum -

Central Chi - etc. are medical formulas and need some knowledge to

use without side-effects. Example - Rambling powder (Xiao Yao San)

is used throughout the world for moving the stagnant Qi by women

with Qi stagnation in the sex organs - many women buy this in the

shop and take it at will - still this formula contains Bupleurum and

should be prescribed according to the symptoms. When asscending or

descending energy then we need to be sure that the individual is

able to do that before asking the body to perform an action that it

might not be able to perform (blockage or Yin defecient or Qi

defecient as example).

 

The same with Minor Bupleurum - this formula is being used in asia

by students and all types of ordinary people - but the same caution

pertains in my mind. My observation is that many have problems with

not just the Bupleurum but also with the Ginseng. In practice I have

seen all of these formulas (as decoctions) help in difficult 'stuck'

cases - but I have also seen problems. The advantage of having a

practioner prescribe these formulas is that they can make the needed

additions and subtractions which make the formula specific to the

particular patient. Many can take Qi stimulating substances if the

Yin is supported (like 6 Taste Tea)- but even this is problematic as

Rehmania is often contraindicated in those who are both Yin and Yang

defecient with severe cold symptoms.

 

If one wants to understand the 'new' uses of these formulas they

should read Bob Flaw's articles on this subject - at Blue Poppy.

 

Becky mentioned Asparagus root - asparagus root is in no way harmful

to the red blood cells - in fact being one of the great Yin

supporting herbs makes Asparagus root good in building the red blood

cells as well as other cells.