ERB FORMULAS

YI GUAN JIAN

English: Linking Decoction
Also Known As: The Liver Reinforcing Decoction

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Rehmanniae Sheng Di Huang 6-45g Clears Heat, cools the Blood and nourishes the Yin and Blood.
With Gou Qi Zi, softens the Liver by nourishing the Blood and Kidney Yin.
With Mai Men Dong and Sha Shen, for dry mouth, thirst and a red tongue due to Stomach Yin Deficiency.
Fr. Lycii Gou Qi Zi 3-18g Nourishes and tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, and nourishes the Blood and Yin.
 With Dang Gui, Sha Shen, and Chuan Lian Zi, for Yin Deficiency with Qi Stagnation with epigastric and flank pain, dry mouth and throat, a bitter taste and acid regurgitation.
Rx. Adenophorae/ Glehniae Sha Shen 3-12g Nourishes the Stomach and Lung Yin.
 With Mai Men Dong, enriches and nourishes Stomach and Lung Yin, protects against Liver attacking the Stomach and Lung, treats parched mouth and throat and helps soften the Liver.
Rx. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong 3-12g Nourishes the Stomach and Lung Yin.
With Sha Shen, for a dry throat, constipation, thirst and a red tongue with little coat due to pathogenic Warmth or Heat injuring the Stomach Yin or long-term Yin Deficiency.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui 3-12g Nourishes and invigorates the Blood.
Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi 1.5-6g Disperses Liver Qi, alleviates pain and clears Heat.
With Sheng Di Huang and Gou Qi Zi, for hypochondriac and chest pain, dry mouth and acid regurgitation from Liver Qi Stagnation along with Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Enriches Kidney and Liver Yin
  • Spreads Liver Qi

SYNDROMES

  • Liver Yin Deficiency
  • Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency (with Liver Qi Stagnation)
  • Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency with abdominal masses

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Hypochondriac and chest pain
  • Dry, parched mouth and throat
  • Bitter taste in mouth
  • Acid regurgitation
  • Epigastric and abdominal distention
  • T: Red and dry
  • P: Thready and weak or Wiry and Deficient

TREATS

  • Menstrual disorders
  • Hernial disorders
  • Lung consumption
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Abdominal masses
  • Certain stages of some warm febrile diseases
  • Chronic hepatitis
  • Chronic cirrhosis of the Liver
  • Elevated Liver enzymes
  • Costochondritis
  • Peptic ulcer
  • Essential hypertension
  • Chronic gastritis
  • Pleuritis
  • Testitis
  • Lung consumption
  • Wasting and thirsting
  • Hypertension during pregnancy
  • Addison's Disease
  • Thrombocytopenic purpura
  • Pulmonary tuberculosis
  • Chronic orchitis
  • Neurasthenia
  • Gastric and duodenal ulcer
  • Gastrointestinal neurosis
  • Hypochondriac neuralgia
  • Early menstruation
  • Cholecystitis
  • Intercostal neuritis

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with chest pain due to Phlegm or Phlegm-Damp Retention.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For constipation: For Deficiency Heat with night sweats:
+ Sm. Trichosanthis Gua Lou Ren + Cx. Lycii Di Gu Pi
+ Rx. Scrophulariae
 For severe abdominal pain:
For a very bitter, dry in mouth:
 + Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ 1-2g Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian
+ Rx. Glycyrrhizae
For goiter:
For low back pain with tinnitus:
+ Emperor’s Tea  
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
+ Fr. Ligustri
For a flushed face with trembling fingers:
 + Rx. Polygoni Multiflori He Shou Wu
30g Concha Margaritaferae
For headache, dizziness, blurred vision or other signs of Liver Wind:
+ 9g Ram. Uncariae cum Uncis Gou Teng
+ Rx. Paeoniae Alba
+ 15g Concha Ostreae
+ Rx. Scrophulariae Xuan Shen
For severe Yin Deficiency with a dry tongue:
For firmness over the area of pain or hard lumps:
+ Hb. Dendrobii
+ Carapax Trionycis Bie Jia
For weakness in the lower extremities:
For hypertension with more severe Liver and Kidney Deficiencies:
+ Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi + Hb. Taxilli Sang Ji Sheng
+ Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren + Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong
For hypertension with more Liver Heat:
For increased sputum:
+ Sp. Prunellae Xia Ku Cao + Bul. Fritillariae Bei Mu
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
For irritable Heat and thirst:
For a bitter taste in the mouth:
+ Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
+ Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian + Gypsum Shi Gao
+ Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu
For goiter due to Heart and Liver Yin Deficiency with phlegm:
For post Liver transplant support:
+ Sudden Smile Powder
Shi Xiao San
+ Emperor of Heaven's Special Pill to Tonify the Heart
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan