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Description
知柏地黄丸 / Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Treats the following symptoms:
Tags: impotence, menopausal symptoms in hot flushes and a lot of nightsweating, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), recurrent cystitis, shingles (after-treatment), sore throat (chronic), sperm problems in male, swelling of external genitalia, tingling feeling in the fingers and toes, vaginal itching
Clear Root Fire comes from “The Golden Mirror of Medicine” written by Wu Qian of the Qing Dynasty in China. This book was completed in 1742 AD and the title was given by the Chinese emperor Qianlong. The prescription is based on the nourishing Kidney-Yin foundation formulation Nourish Root Yin and added Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis. The effect of this formula is to replenish Kidney and Yin, balance Yin and Yang through Nourish Root Yin, and also to prevent the source of Deficiency Fire with the help of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis, which clear Heat, Dampness and treat Heat symptoms.
It can effectively be used to treat hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). It is also an important formulation for treating Deficiency of Fire and Damp-Heat in the pelvis and lower limbs, such as circulation disorders, menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal itching, recurrent cystitis, itching of the perineum, leucorrhea. It does help with the treatment of impotence in Damp-Heat Patterns and is also effective for the after-treatment of shingles when burning or pain is still there.
CIRCULATORY DISORDERS OF THE LIMBS
Disease description:
The cause of a circulatory disorder is usually deposition in the vessels, furthermore, injuries as well as inflammatory diseases, vascular blockages are the reason for this disease. If the blood can no longer flow sufficiently through the limbs (arms, hands, legs, feet) that are farthest from the body, nutrients and oxygen also can’t reach the cells. This is often indicated by the fact that the affected areas feel cold. Paleness and numbness, tingling or pain (especially when being stressed) can also occur.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that circulatory disorders of the limbs are caused by the poor Qi and Blood Flow of the limbs. The function of Qi is to push Blood to circulation, so Qi can play its promoting role, this also depends on the warming of Yang. If there is Qi Deficiency and Yang decline, impaired blood circulation will occur and symptoms such as cold hands and feet will appear. Qi and Blood Stasis is treated with the method of invigorating Qi and nourishing Blood and warming Yang if the colour of hands and feet are bluish purple. The promoting of blood circulation will remove Blood Stasis.
Symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders, such as tingling, ant travel, dampness and vibration feeling in hand and feet, are also classified as dysfunction of Qi and Blood. It is due to the Deficiency of Kidney Yin and the Deficient Fire interferes with the circulation of Qi and Blood. It is treated with nourishing the Yin and clearing the Heat.
Chronic poor Qi and Blood circulation for a long time will cause Blood Stasis and Cold Stagnation. The cold colours of hands and feet appear bluish-purple, blackened or even necrotic, with severe pain. It can even form gangrene. Doctors are required to give specific treatment.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Yang Deficiency and Cold Invasion
Failure of Yang to reach and warm the extremities or an Invasion of Cold to the body which causes cold, pale painful hands and feet, Raynaud’s syndrome.
Recommended formulas to use:
Blood Stagnation
Circulation obstruction caused by Blood Stagnation, with the symptoms of purple, painful fingers and toes.
Recommended formulas to use:
Yin Deficiency and Heat
This pattern is characterized by burning or tingling feelings in the fingers and toes, ant walking and vibration.
Recommended formulas to use:
DIABETES (NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES)
Typical symptoms:
diabetes, dry mouth, fatigue, loss of energy, thirst, wound or ulcer healing slowly or with difficultyDisease description:
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases which are characterized by a chronically elevated blood sugar level. Most common are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which usually begins in childhood or adolescence, where the immune system attacks the body. As a result, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas die and lead to an absolute deficiency of the body’s hormone insulin. Without insulin, blood sugar levels rise, and patients become insulin-dependent and have to inject it.
About 90% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes, they are non-insulin-dependent, but in later stages can become insulin-dependent. Overweight, unhealthy nutrition and too little exercise increases the risk of disease and can lead to diabetes in genetically predisposed individuals. Type 2 diabetics have an elevated sugar level in the blood due to insulin resistance, meaning the body’s cells react less well to insulin. Insulin is responsible for transferring sugar molecules from the blood into the cells. If the insulin resistance is too high – the sugar accumulates in the blood vessels. Elevated blood sugar levels are mainly indicated by fatigue, lack of drive, increased thirst and urination, a tendency to catch infections and poorly healing wounds, as well as dry or itching skin. Acute complications are infections, severe high sugar level up to sugar coma. Complications arising in the large and small blood vessels and nervous system can lead to heart, eye and kidney disease, as well as diabetic foot syndrome.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that diabetes, known as Xiao-Ke Syndrome (emaciation and thirst), is caused by improper diet as well as emotional depression which are leading to Lung, Kidney and Yin Deficiency and Spleen and Stomach Heat. Symptoms of Lung Yin Deficiency are excessive thirst or hunger, Kidney Yin Deficiency and Endogenous Deficiency fire can cause excessive or an abnormally large production or passage of urine. So, the root cause of diabetes is Yin Deficiency and Heat is the appearance.
Xiao-Ke is commonly classified into three types according to the Chinese medicine theories: Upper, Middle and Lower Jiao. The Upper type is characterized by excessive thirst, the Middle by excessive hunger, and the Lower by excessive urination.
Due to the prolonged course of diabetes, Yin Deficiency and Dry Heat will consume Yang, so the problem often develops into Kidney Yin Deficiency or Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang Deficiency Syndrome. If it is further extended for a long time, Stasis Syndrome will appear with symptoms like fundus disease or diabetic foot.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Beginning Stage in middle and upper Jiao with Lung and Stomach Heat and Yin Deficiency
Heat consumes body fluids: thirst, dry mouth, possibly frequent urination, hunger, elevated blood glucose
Recommended formulas to use:
Later Stage in lower Jiao: Kidney Yin Deficiency
Prolonged diabetes consumes Yin and causes Kidney Yin Deficiency : frequent and excessive urination, cloudy/ milky urination, dryness, red tongue, rapid pulse, eye symptoms.
Recommended formulas to use:
Later Stage in lower Jiao: Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang Deficiency
Prolonged diabetes consumes Yin and causes Kidney Yin and Yang Deficiency : frequent and excessive urination, cloudy/ milky urination, darkened face, dryness, low back and knee pain, aversion of cold, low libido, pale tongue and white coating, weak pulse
Recommended formulas to use:
Blockage and Stagnation of Meridians / Diabetic Foot Syndrome
Yin Deficiency and Empty Heat blocking Meridians and causing nerve inflammation:
tingling feeling in the hands and feet
Formula to use: Clear Root Fire + Diabetic Herbs
Heat creates a local Blood Stagnation:
hot feeling gangrenes, painful, red, burning
Formula to use: Clear Toxic Heat + Expel Stasis + Diabetic Herbs
Yin and Yang Deficiency creating Blood Stagnation and Yang can not reach limbs:
cold feeling gangrenes, painful, dark color
Formula to use: Warm Cold Limbs + Diabetic Herbs
Recommended formulas to use:
HYPERTHYROIDISM
Disease description:
In the case of hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland produces too many thyroid hormones, which are energy suppliers for many body cells, thereby accelerating the metabolic processes in the body. The body has too much energy, which leads to typical symptoms like shaking, heart rhythm disturbances, high blood pressure, nervousness, inner restlessness, sleep disturbances, diarrhoea, muscle weakness and pain, sweating, weight and hair loss, menstrual disorders. The autonomy of the thyroid gland (independent, uncontrolled hormone production) can lead to an overactive thyroid gland, and very often a malfunction of the immune system, called Graves’ disease, with its typical symptoms: protruding eyeballs, rapid heartbeat and goitre.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Traditional Chinese medicine classifies this disease as “Yingliu“. The cause of the problem is due to the weak constitution of the Liver and Kidney Yin in the body. On this basis, the Seven Emotions are unsuccessful, and the emotions become depressed. Liver Fire refining liquid into Phlegm, which blocks the Meridian. Phlegm becomes lump in the neck. Because Yin Deficiency, Internal Heat and Phlegm are the main causes, Chinese medicine takes nourishing Yin, Clearing Heat, and reducing Phlegm as the basic treatment methods.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Kidney Yin Deficiency and Heat
Heat intolerance, anxiety, irritability, hyperkinesis, muscle weakness, fatigue, sweating, weight loss.
If swelling of the thyroid gland causes a lump in front of the neck (goitre): combine with Er Chen Tang
Recommended formulas to use:
SHINGLES
Typical symptoms:
shinglesDisease description:
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster-virus, which lies dormant long after you’ve had chickenpox. The place where there is shingles rash, redness, blisters and pain typically occur. Although shingles can occur anywhere on the body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of the torso.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Shingles have an acute onset, severe herpes and severe burning pain, so the pathogenic factor is Toxic Damp-Heat. Because the rash is usually distributed around the lumbar ribs and around the eyes, which is the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians covered area. So, it is the Damp-Heat that attacks the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians. In the acute phase, Damp-Heat is flourishing and is treated with the principle of purging Toxic Damp-Heat, followed by nourishing Yin and clearing Heat. Acupuncture has the best effect and assists with Chinese herbal medicine.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp-Heat
Severe burning pain in the affected area precedes the rash. After about one to four days a painful, itchy red rash of small blisters filled with turbid fluid appears. Over the next few days up to two weeks, the blisters dry out, scab over and drop off.
Recommended formulas to use:
Deficiency Heat
After the skin rash disappears a burning or pain remains in affected area.
Recommended formulas to use:
SORE THROAT
Disease description:
Viruses cause about 90% of sore throats, with bacteria and other causes such as overuse of the voice accounting for the balance. The result is the swelling of the throat, tonsils or larynx, which can give a sensation of a scratchy or painful throat. Having a sore throat makes it A sore throat results in difficultly in swallowing, hoarseness and even bad breath due to infection. Depending on where the pathogens settle, they can cause many more symptoms such as swollen, painful lymph nodes on the throat which might have palpations. A fever, headaches, tiredness, burning nose, sneezing, sniffling can also be the result of the infected throat. Allergies, irritants from the environment, heartburn or chronic illnesses can also be the cause of a sore throat.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Acute sore throat is mostly caused by external Wind and Heat or external Heat and Toxic Heat. Chronic sore throat is mostly caused by Deficiencies of Lung or Kidney Yin or recurrent attacks of Heat. The Heat consumes fluid and Yin, combined with the False Fire, which leads to the occurrence of chronic sore throat.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Wind-Heat
Acute sore throat, difficulty swallowing, redness of the throat, fever, headache, restlessness, glands in the neck may be swollen, together with flu or cold symptoms.
Recommended formulas to use:
Toxic Heat
Acute sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, throat and tonsils are swollen and red with pus, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, thirst, constipation, bad breath.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Chronic sore throat, dull, sore throat worse in the evenings, possible swollen tonsils, dry, hoarse, malar flush, fatigue, five-palm heat.
Recommended formulas to use:
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
Disease description:
Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are caused usually by bacteria (E.coli), that enter the urethra and bladder, causing inflammation and infection. They are commonly happen in the urethra and bladder, bacteria can also travel up the ureters and infect your kidneys.
A urinary tract infection causes the lining of the urinary tract to become red and irritated (inflammation). The most common symptoms of a UTI are: pain and discomfort, typically in the lower back, abdomen and pelvic pain, pain when urinating, fever, feeling an urge to urinate frequently, abnormal urine color (cloudy urine) and strong or foul-smelling urine.
Most UTIs go away after treatment with antibiotics. However, some people develop chronic UTIs, which don’t go away after treatment or keep recurring.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Damp-Heat from outside invades the lower body (Ling-Syndrome), blocks water paths and causes irritation of the bladder. In some young women Liver-Qi-Stagnation produces Fire, which attacks the lower abdomen and also the bladder. Over long time the Heat is exhausting Kidney-Yin, which leads to chronic urinary tract infections.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp-Heat (Acute Urinary Tract Infection)
Frequent, urgent urination, burning, painful (pain may radiate to the umbilical area and be worse for pressure), difficult (interrupted) urination, a feeling of incomplete voiding, dark, strong-smelling urine, fever, thirst but no desire to drink, nausea, bitter taste.
Recommended formulas to use:
Liver Qi Stagnation produces Fire (often seen around period in young women)
This pattern is linked with the period, hormon or stress related. Young women often suffer from urinary tract infections before or around their period, are angry and easily irritated, PMS, have pimples, maybe feel hot.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yin Deficiency Fire (chronic and recurrent UTIs)
Patients suffering from chronic urinary tract infections, which keep occurring and never fully recover from it.
Recommended formulas to use:
VAGINAL ITCHING
Typical symptoms:
vaginal itchingDisease description:
Vaginal itching can have many different causes. The most common non-infectious cause is excessive intimate hygiene. The natural bacterial flora of the vagina can be thrown out of balance due to too frequent washing or hormonal fluctuations. Psychological problems can also be a cause of vaginal itching. Persistent itching can indicate fungal infections of the vagina. They also show symptoms such as burning of the vagina, whitish patches, reddened vaginal skin and an altered, usually coloured discharge and urine.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The occurrence of vaginal itching is mainly due to malfunction of Liver, Kidney and Spleen. If the Liver derive Heat and the weakness Spleen derived Dampness, the Dampness and Heat will stagnate in the vulva and itching will occur. It is also possible that Liver and Kidney Deficiency leading to insufficient Yin and Blood support of the genitals and causing itchiness. It is then a Deficiency Heat Pattern.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp Heat
Intense vulvar or vaginal itching, yellow vaginal discharge, occasionally pain on intercourse, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, dark urine.
Recommended formulas to use:
Yin Deficiency and Heat
Slight vaginal and vulvar itching with a burning sensation, dryness of the vagina, burning feeling in the palm during sleep, a feeling of heat in the afternoon.