ACHYRANTHES & ASARUM COMBINATION
San Bi Tang
Literally: ‘Three Obstructions Decoction’
Source: Fine Formulas for Women (Fu Ren Liang Fang, 1237)
Keywords
pain in the muscles and joints, arthritic pain.
Ingredients
angelica pubescent (Du Huo, Tu-huo)
Eucommia ulmoides (Du Zhong, eucommia)
Dipsacus asper (Xu
Duan, dipsacus)
Ledebouriella divaricata (Fang Feng, siler)
asarum seiboldii (Xi Xin, asarum)
Cinnamomun cassia (Rou Gui, cinnamon bark)
achyranthes bidentata (Niu Xi, achyranthes)
Gentiana macrophylla (Qin Jiao, chin chiu)
Ligusticum walichii (Chuan Xiong, ligusticum)
Poria cocos (Fu Ling, hoelen)
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gan Cao, liquorice)
Rehmannia glutinosa (Sheng Di, raw rehmannia)
Codonopsis
pilosula (Dang Shen, codonopsis)
astragalus membranaceous (Huang Qi, astragalus)
angelica sinensis
(Dang Gui)
Major therapeutic action
Haematopoetic, increases energy, benefits the Liver and Kidneys, and dispels pain.
analgesic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, enhances circulation.
Indications
* Pain, spasm and parasthaesia associated with osteoarthritis, sciatica and other chronic rheumatic disorders.
* With the appropriate key symptoms, this formula can be used to treat biomedical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, sciatica, chronic lower backache and bursitis.
Key symptoms for use
* pain, ache, heaviness, numbness, parasthaesia and/or stiffness and spasm of the lower body – hips, low
back, knees and legs
* pale tongue
* With feelings of cold with a deficient pulse, add Xian Ling Pi & Xian Mao.
* With severe lower back ache, add Du Zhong & Xu Duan.
* With cold, add Gan Jiang & Rou Gui.
* With numbness in the extremities, add Ji Xue Teng.
* With Blood stagnation, add Tao Ren & Hong Hua.
* With severe pain, add Jin Ling Zi San.
The typical dose is three grams twice daily, before meals. In severe cases or the early stages of treatment (the first two weeks), a 50-100% increase in dose may be used, then reduced as the treatment takes effect.
Cautions and contraindications
Not to be taken during the early phase of acute illness such as colds and flu.
Caution in those with a tendency to excessive mucus production.
None noted.