This is an herbal formula that I have been using a lot lately. It is interesting because the summer is here, and I am prescribing a very hot natured formula more than ever. In the summer our pulse should naturally rise, and become more superficial. This formula has a very specific pulse; a deep, weak, thin pulse with a quality that is described as “verging on expiry”. What does that even mean? Well, let’s break down this formula and figure it out.
Chinese herbal medicine individual functions:
Dāng guī is used here to nourish the blood, especially that of the Liver. Guì zhī is used to warm and circulate the blood within the body. Bái sháo nourishes blood, but also helps to soothe tense muscles by way of bringing nourishment to them, through the blood. Xì xìn is a powerful and very hot herb. It warms the Lungs, which helps to disperse and pump blood throughout the body. Zhì gān cǎo is sweet and moderates the strong effects of all the herbs within the formula. Dà zǎo is sweet and moderating, but it also helps to build up blood in the body.
Formula functions:
As a whole, this formula nourishes blood, moves blood, and disperses cold. Some key symptoms for this formula include frigid cold extremities, strong pain anywhere in the body and the deep, weak thin pulse that is “verging on expiry”.
- Frigid cold extremities can present as cold hands and feet, raynauds, chilblains, white or purple discoloration of fingers or toes. They may also have numbness, tingling or neuropathy
- Pain: such as headache, sciatica, back pain, joint pain, dysmenorrhea. Can be sharp, excruciating pain, pulling pain, or electric type pain.
- Pulse: deep, thin, weak, verging on expiry – The VOE pulse is a pulse that disappears while you are holding it. One moment you have it, then the next it’s gone. This pulse signifies great deficiency in the body, and this pulse is a key sign for this formula.
Ingredients:
Dāng guī 9g (Angelicae sinensis)
Guì zhī 9g (Cinnamomi ramulus)
Bái sháo 9g (Paeoniae Radix alba)
Xì xìn 9g (Asari Radix et Rhizoma)
Zhì gān cǎo 6g (Glycyrrhizae Radix praeparata)
Mù tōng 9g (Akebiae Caulis)
Dà zǎo 25 pieces (Jujubae Fructus)
Recently I have been using this formula to treat sciatica, raynauds, joint pain throughout the body, dry skin, arm and leg numbness, neuropathy of the feet, constipation, cold hands and feet, whole body cold, nausea, migraines, the list goes on ! The incredible thing about Chinese herbal medicine is that when we correctly diagnose a change within the physiology, we can use a formula to treat nearly anything! Throughout a course of treatment we may see many different symptoms disappear while we are targeting the chief complaint or syndrome.
If you want to learn more about Dāng guī sì nì tāng or other herbal formulas, you can book a free consultation with me !
Dr. Bob Malecki, Dr.TCM