HERB FORMULAS

XIAO XU MING TANG - 小續命湯 - MINOR EXTENDED LIFE DECOCTION

English: Minor Extend Life Decoction
Also Known As: Minor Prolong Life Decoction
Ma Huang and Peony Combination
Decoction for Mild Hemiplegia

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang 3-6g Induces sweating, releases the Exterior, promotes urination and warms and disperses Cold pathogens.
With Xing Ren, for Wind-Cold cough and wheezing.
With Ren Shen, for Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency.
With Zhi Fu Zi, for Wind-Cold Bi and colds and edema associated with Yang Deficiency.
Rz. Chuanxiong Chuan Xiong 3-6g Invigorates the Blood, promotes the movement of Qi, expels Wind and alleviates pain.
Rx. Aristolochiae Fangji Guang Fang Ji 6-12g Expels Wind-Dampness, clears Heat and promotes urination.
(Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae) (Han Fang Ji) (6-12g) (Used instead of Guang Fang Ji in some versions.)
Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren 6-12g Stops cough, calms wheezing, moistens the Intestines and unblocks bowels.
Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng 9-12g Releases the exterior, expels External Wind, expels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain.
With Ma Huang,dispels Wind-Cold from the Exterior.
Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang 9-15g Releases the Exterior, induces perspiration, disperses Cold, warms the Middle, warms the Lungs and reduces the toxicity of other herbs.
With Ma Huang, strongly creates sweating to treat all externally contracted Wind-Cold disorders, especially those in which Wind-Cold has constrained Lung Qi with cough and wheezing and the failure of Lung Qi to descend causing nausea and vomiting.
Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen 3-6g Tonifies Qi.
(Rx. Codonopsis) (Dang Shen) (6-18g) (Usually substitutes for Ren Shen.)
Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi 9-15g Warms Ming Men Fire, assists Heart, Kidney and Spleen Yang, disperses Cold and Dampness, warms the channels and stops pain.
With Ren Shen, for severe Deficiency of the Source Qi and Collapse of Yang with Cold extremities, sweating, weak breathing, dizziness, and an extremely pale complexion.
With Rou Gui, powerfully tonifies Kidney Yang, for Kidney Yang Deficiency with lower back pain and weakness in the legs and knees and Damp-Cold Bi in the channels with generalized aches and pains and difficulty rotating the trunk.
Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui 3-9g Warms the Kidneys, Spleen and Heart, strengthens the Yang and Ming Men Fire, disperses deep Cold, warms and unblocks the channels and vessels and alleviates pain.
(Ram. Cinnamomi) (Gui Zhi) (3-9g) (May substitute for Rou Gui in order to to strengthen the Exterior-releasing action of the formula.)
 (With Bai Shao, regulates the Ying and Wei.)
(With Ma Huang, for Wind-Cold Excess conditions with fever and chills but no sweat and Wind-Cold-Damp Bi.)
(With Chuan Xiong, expels Wind-Dampness, warms the channels and collaterals, facilitates joint movement and relieves Bi pain for joint and limb pain due to External Wind-Cold invasion.)
(With Sheng Jiang, strongly induces sweating for treatment of External Wind-Cold with chills, fever, body aches and anhidrosis.)
(Cx. Rasus Cinnamomi) (Rou Gui Xin) (3-6g) (Used instead of Rou Gui in some versions.)
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 3-6g Nourishes the Blood, astringes Yin and adjusts the Ying and Wei.
Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin 4.5-9g Clears Heat and dries Dampness.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao 3-6g Tonifies the Spleen and augments Qi and moderates and harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs.
With Bai Shao, moderates spasms and alleviates pain, for painful spasms of the leg or abdomen.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Warms the channels
  • Unblocks Yang
  • Dispels Wind
  • Supports the Normal Qi
  • Relaxes spasms

SYNDROMES

  • Windstroke due to Exterior Attack of Wind-Cold with Normal Qi Deficiency
  • Wind-Damp-Phlegm

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Hemiplegia
  • Asymmetry of the face
  • Slow and slurred speech
  • Fever and chills
  • Semi-consciousness
  • Convulsions
  • Neck rigidity
  • Limited movement of the joints
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Muscle spasms
  • Low back pain
  • Numbness of the muscles and skin
  • T: Pale
  • C: Thin and white
  • P: Floating and Deficient or Tense or Wiry and tense

TREATS

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Windstroke due to Internal Stirring of Liver Wind.
  • Contraindicated for those with Heat Bi.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For Tai Yang channel Windstroke with anhidrosis and aversion to Cold: For Tai Yang channel Windstroke with anhidrosis and aversion to Wind:
+Twice as much Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang +Twice as much Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi
+ Twice as much Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren +Twice as much Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ Twice as much Rx. Saposhnikoviae Fang Feng + Twice as much Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren
For Yang Ming channel Windstroke with anhidrosis and fever:
For Yang Ming channel Windstroke with sweating and fever:
- Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi + Twice as much Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao + Rx Puerariae Ge Gen
+ Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
For Tai Yin channel Windstroke with anhidrosis and a cold body:
For Shao Yin channel Windstroke with anhidrosis and fever:
+ Twice as much Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
+ Twice as much Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui
+ Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang
+ Twice as much Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
For unclear Six-Channel Windstroke symptoms related to Shao Yang and Jue Yin channels with numbness or spasms of the extremities:
+ Twice as much Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao + Rx. seu Rz. Notopterygii Qiang Huo
+ Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao
For disorientation:
For irritable pain in the bones with fever:
+ Scl. Poria Pararadicis Fu Shen - Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi
+ Rx. Polygalae Yuan Zhi
For facial asymmetry
+More Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao
+ Scolopendra Wu Gong
For excessive sweating with aversion to Cold:
For joint pain which worsens at night:
- Rx. Ephedrae Ma Huang
+ Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui + Rx. Astragali Huang Qi
+ Sm. Persicae Tao Ren
For constipation:
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi + Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi
For slurred speech:
+ Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang
+ Rz. Acori Tatarinowii Shi Chang Pu
For nausea:
+ Succus Bambusae Zhu Li + Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
For body aches and convulsions:
For a dry mouth and tongue:
+ Rx. seu Rz. Notopterygii Qiang Huo + Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao
For migraine:
 + Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
+ 18g Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang