Pulsatilla Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Bai Tou Weng Tang
English Translation: Pulsatilla Decoction
Formula Type: Clear Heat from the Organs
Actions: Clears heat, relieves toxicity, cools the blood, and alleviates dysenteric disorders.
Indications: Blood diarrhea containing more blood than pus (bloody dysentery due to heat), abdominal pain, tenesmus, burning pain or sensation around the anus. Tongue is red with yellow coat. Pulse is wiry and rapid. Hot dysenteric disorder due to heat toxin searing the Stomach and Intestines.
Contraindications: *This is a strong formula that can injure the Spleen Yang. *Not for long-term use. *Contraindicated in Spleen Yang deficiency. *In China, it is often given as an enema to directly treat the intestines (lower jiao), thereby bypassing the middle jiao completely.
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| Bai Tou Weng / Anemone (Chinese) Root or (pulsatilla) |
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| Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Relieve Toxicity |
Dosage6-15g |
ActionsClears heat & relieves fire toxicity: primarily for dysenteric disorders, especially those due to damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of chronic dysenteric disorders with injured Spleen & Stomach qi. |
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| Huang Lian / Coptis Rhizome |
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| Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp |
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Drains fire & relieves toxicity for heat with blazing fire with such symptoms as high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, red tongue, & a rapid full pulse. Also for exessive heat with toxicity with such symptoms as painful, red eyes & sore throat & for boils, carbuncles, & abscesses.
2. Clears heat & drains dampness: for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines that presents with diarrhea or dysenteric disorder. Also for vomiting &/or acid regurgitation due to Stomach heat.
3. Clears Heart fire: for irritability & insomnia due to lack of communication between the Heart & Kidneys.
4. Clears heat & stops bleeding: for nosebleed, or blood in the urine, stool, or vomit due to reckless moevement of the blood.
5. Drains Stomach fire: for digestive dysfunction with bad breath & belching with a putrid odor.
6. Clears heat topically: used topically for red & painful eyes & ulcerations of the tongue & mouth. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency, nausea or vomiting due to Stomach cold from deficiency, & diarrhea due to Spleen or Kidney deficiency. Long-term use is discouraged as it can injure the Spleen & Stomach. This herb may antagonize ju hua, xuan shen, bai xian pi, & jiang can, & may counteract kuan dong hua & niu xi. Some also say that it should not be taken with pork. |
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| Huang Bai / Phellodendron Bark |
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| Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp |
Dosage3-12g |
Actions1. Drains damp-heat, particularly from the lower-burner: for such problems as thick, yellow vaginal discharge, foul-smelling diarrhea, or dysenteric disorder. Also for damp-heat pouring downward or hot leg qi with such symptoms as red, swollen, & painful knees, legs, or feet. Also for damp-heat jaundice.
2. Drains Kidney fire: for ascending Kindey fire with signs of yin deficiency such as steaming bone disorder, night sweats, afternoon fevers & sweating, sometimes accompanied by nocturnal emissions & spermatorrhea.
3. Drains fire & relieves toxicity: for fire toxin generated sores & damp lesions of the skin. |
MeridiansKidney, Bladder |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with or without diarrhea. Toxicity: There has been one case reported of a patient who developed a rash after ingestion of huang bai. When the patient was later skin-tested, there was a very strong local reaction. |
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| Qin Pi / Ash (Korean) Branch Bark |
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| Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp |
Dosage4.5-15g |
Actions1. Drains damp-heat: for damp-heat or bloody dysenteric disorder.
2. Drains Liver fire & benefits the eyes: for Liver heat affecting the eyes causing redness, swelling, pain, or the formation of superficial visual obstruction.
3. Disperses wind-dampness: for painful obstruction, primarily of the hot type. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of cold from deficiency of the Spleen. May antagonize whu zhu yu. |
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