HERB FORMULAS

SHI XIAO SI WU TANG - 时效四物汤 - EFFECTIVE FOUR SUBSTANCES DECOCTION

English: Effective Four Substances decoction
Also Known As:

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Rx. Rehmanniae Shu Di Huang 4-21g Strengthens the Liver and Kidneys and nourishes the Yin of the Blood.
 With Bai Shao, strongly nourishes Liver Blood.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 4-15g Nourishes Blood, preserves Yin, calms Liver Yang and alleviates pain.
With Dang Gui, nourishes Yin and Blood.
With Dang Gui and Shu Di Huang, for dizziness, blurred vision and dysmenorrhea due to Blood Deficiency or Blood Stasis.
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui 4-12g Nourishes and activates Blood, regulates Liver and Kidneys, regulates menses and alleviates pain.
 With Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao and Chuan Xiong, for menstrual irregularity, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to Blood Deficiency or Stasis.
Rx. Ligustici Chuan Xiong 3-9g Invigorates Blood, moves Qi, releases Stagnation and alleviates pain.
 With Dang Gui, for Blood Deficiency causing menstrual problems including dysmenorrhea, scanty menses and amenorrhea.
Excr. Trogopterori Wu Ling Zhi 3-15g Clears the blood vessels, disperses stagnant Blood, alleviates pain and stops bleeding.
With Pu Huang, for abdominal pain, lochioschesis, menstrual irregularity and stabbing epigastric, joint pain and chest pain due to Blood Stasis.
Pollen Typhae Pu Huang 3-15g Raw: Strongly promotes Blood circulation.
Honey-fried: Stops bleeding.
Use in equal parts for hemorrhage due to Blood Stasis.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Nourishes the Blood
  • Regulates the Liver
  • Regulates menstruation
  • Invigorates Blood
  • Dispels Blood Stasis
  • Disperses accumulation
  • Alleviates pain

SYNDROMES

  • Liver Blood Stagnation due to Blood Deficiency

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Sharp pain in the chest or abdomen
  • Irregular menstruation
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Retention of lochia
  • Postpartum abdominal pain
  • Acute, colicky lower abdominal pain
  • Severe pain in the middle abdomen
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Pale, lusterless complexion
  • Pale nails
  • Pale lips
  • Generalized muscle tension
  • Irregular menstruation with little flow
  • Amenorrhea
  • Periumbilical pain
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Blurred vision
  • Insomnia
  • Spotting of pale Blood
  • Postpartum uterine bleeding
  • Epigastric pain
  • Postpartum bleeding
  • Pain beneath the heart
  • Swelling and pain of external injuries
  • Maybe five sole heat
  • Delayed menstruation
  • Palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Dry skin
  • Maybe leukorrhea
  • Maybe fever
  • Firm, painful abdomen
  • Sporadic fever and chills
  • Menorrhagia
  • Hard abdominal masses with recurrent pain
  • Unstable fetus with bleeding
  • Chills and fever
  • T: Pale or Purple with purple spots
  • C: Normal
  • P: Thready and wiry or Thready and choppy or Wiry, choppy and tight

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with acute, severe blood loss.
  • Contraindicated for those with severe weakness or labored breathing.
  • Modify for those with constitutional Spleen Yang Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with dehydration.
  • Use with caution for those with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency due to the Stagnating nature of Shu Di Huang.
  • Contraindicated for those with Blood or Qi collapse.
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For a heavy flow: For spotting:
- Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui + Rx. Notoginseng San Qi
- Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong + Sm. Persicae Tao Ren
+ Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao
For Qi Stagnation leading to Blood Stagnation:
+ Crinis Carbonisatus Xue Yu Tan + Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu
For long term bleeding leading to Qi and Blood deficiencies:
+ Rx. Curcumae Yu Jin
+ Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen + Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi    
+ Rz. Atractylodis Bai Zhu