Ren Shen Bai Du San (Ginseng Powder to Overcome Pathogenic Influence)
- Strengthen Righteous Qi and Release Exterior
- Qiang Huo
- Du Huo
- Chuan Xiong
- Chai Hu
- Jie Geng
- Zhi Ke
- Qian Hu
- Fu Ling
- Gan Cao
- Sheng Jiang
- Bo He
- Ren Shen
- Qiang Huo and Du Huo are both acrid and warm, expel wind-cold-damp from the whole body and relieve pain.
- Chuan Xiong Invigorates the blood and eliminates wind.
- Chai Hu is acrid, releases pathogenic influences from the muscle layer.
- Jie Geng opens the Lung Qi up.
- Zhi Ke descends Lung Qi.
- Qian Hu eliminates phlegm.
- Fu Ling leaches out dampness.
- 5,6,7,8 Facilitate and benefit Lung Qi, transform phlegm, and stop coughing.
- Gan Cao tonifies the Qi, harmonizes the middle jiao and the actions of other herbs.
- Sheng Jiang and Bo He are both guiding herbs and help release the exterior.
- Ren Shen supports and assists righteous Qo to drive out evil Qi. (3g, not here to tonify)
Function: Induce sweating, release the exterior, dispel wind and dampness. (Augments the Qi).
Indications: Exterior wind-cold-dampness disorder with Qi deficiency.
Symptoms: High fever and chills with shivering (have to induce sweating, more important than how high the fever), no sweating, pain and stiffness of head and neck (common symptom of Tai Yang channel disorder (not necessary to use Ge Gen). Soreness and pain of the extremities, fullness and distention of the chest, nasal congestion with sonorous breathing, and coughing with sputum.
Tongue: White, greasy coating.
Pulse: Superficial and soggy, or superficial and rapid with no root.
Clinical Applications:
- This formula was originally used for children, later also used for older people, postpartum, convalescent stage of severe diseases, and other preexisting deficient patients suffering from exterior wind-cold-dampness with righteous Qi deficiency.
- The key symptoms are high fever and severe chills without sweating, soreness and pain of extremities, superficial pulse with weakness when pressing deeply. This formula is also used for early stage of dysentery with exterior symptoms.
- Used for early stage sores with exterior symptoms, omit Ren Shen, replace with Jin Yin Hua, and Lian Qiao.
- For hives due to wind-cold-toxin, add Chan Tui, and Ku Shen.
- Currently used for common cold, flu, bronchitis, allergic dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, etc. due to exterior wind-cold-dampness.
Cautions and Contraindications: Cases with Heat.