DANG GUI & ASARUM FORMULA
Dang Gui Si Ni Tang
‘Dang Gui Decoction for Frigid Extremities’
Source: Treatise on Febrile Diseases Caused by Cold (Shang Han Lun, 200)
Keywords
chilblains, dysmenorrhoea, longstanding cold hands and feet
Ingredients
Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui)
Cinnamomum cassia (Gui Zhi, cinnamon twigs)
Paeonia alba (Bai Shao,
white peony)
Asarum seiboldii (Xi Xin, asarum)
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gan Cao, liquorice)
Tetrapanax
papyriferus (Tong Cao, rice-paper plant pith)
Zizyphus jujuba (Da Zao, Chinese date)
Major therapeutic action
This formula warms the body especially the extremities. It nourishes the Blood and improves circulation.
Dilates distal vessels, improves blood circulation, antibiotic.
Indications
* This formula addresses cold in a patient with poor peripheral circulation.
* With the appropriate key symptoms, this formula can be used to treat biomedical conditions such as
chilblains, Raynaud’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, sciatica, peptic ulcer, chronic urticaria,
thromboangiitis obliterans and dysmenorrhoea.
Key symptoms for use
* longstanding cold hands and feet
* pains in the waist and cold sensations in the abdomen, lower back or joints.
* pale tongue with white coat
* deep and fine pulse
* For cold and pain (that improves with the application of warmth) in the lower abdomen during menstruation add Qing Pi & Xiang Fu.
* For hernial disorders due to cold (improve with the application of warmth) add Gan Jiang & Ròu Gui.
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
This formula can injure fluids and should be
used with caution in patients when there are
symptoms of dryness.
None noted.