Prepared aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) Dried ginger (Gan Jiang) Cinnamon bark (Rou Gui) Ginseng (Ren Shen) Atractylodes rhizomes (Bai Zhu) Poria-cocos mushrooms (Fu Ling) Liquorice (Gan Cao) Crow-dipper rhizomes (Ban Xia)

Chinese: 回阳救急汤

Pinyin: Huí Yáng Jiù Jí Tāng

Other names: Restore and Revive the Yang Decoction

Number of ingredients: 11 herbs

Formula category: Formulas that rescue devastated Yang

Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HypotensionFood poisoningCardiogenic shock and two other conditions

  1. Restores and revives the Yang
  2. Augments the Qi
  3. Revives the pulse

Contraindications: This heating and dispersing formula is very strong and should not be used... This heating and dispersing formula is very strong and should not be used extensively or over a prolonged period. Once warmth has been restored to the limbs, it is recommended to discontinue use. see more

Source date: 1445 AD

Source book: Six Texts on Cold Damage

Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi), Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) and Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) as principal ingredients.

Invented in 1445 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that rescue devastated Yang. Its main actions are: 1) restores and revives the Yang and 2) augments the Qi.

In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.

In this case Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Collapse of Yang. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock or acute gastroenteritis for instance.

On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang helps treat.

The eleven ingredients in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang

Zhi Fu Zi is a king ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

1. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)

Part used: Processed daughter root

Nature: Hot

Taste(s): PungentSweet

Meridian affinity: HeartKidneySpleen

Category: Herbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold

Zhi Fu Zi is hot and strong. It is able to restore and revive the Yang, stem rebelliousness, augment the Qi and generate the pulse. It is used in the situation that the Yang is exhausted and Cold invades all three Yin warps.

Learn more about Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)

Gan Jiang is a king ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

2. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)

Part used: Dried rhizome

Nature: Hot

Taste(s): Pungent

Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungStomach

Category: Herbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold

Gan Jiang is hot and strong. It is able to restore and revive the Yang, stem rebelliousness, augment the Qi and generate the pulse. It is used in the situation that the Yang is exhausted and Cold invades all three Yin warps.

Learn more about Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)

Rou Gui is a king ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

3. Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)

Part used: Dried stem bark

Nature: Hot

Taste(s): PungentSweet

Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLiverSpleen

Category: Herbs that warm the Interior and/or expel Cold

Rou Gui is hot and strong. It is able to restore and revive the Yang, stem rebelliousness, augment the Qi and generate the pulse. It is used in the situation that the Yang is exhausted and Cold invades all three Yin warps.

Learn more about Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)

Ren Shen is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

4. Ginseng (Ren Shen)

Part used: Dried root

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): BitterSweet

Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

Ren Shen Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment. It also serves as as envoy that harmonizes the formula and balance the slightly toxic nature of Prepared aconite。

Learn more about Ginseng (Ren Shen)

Bai Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

5. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)

Part used: Dried rhizome

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): BitterSweet

Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

Bai Zhu Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment.

Learn more about Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)

Fu Ling is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

6. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)

Part used: Dried sclerotium

Nature: Neutral

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen

Category: Herbs that drain Dampness

Fu Ling augments the Spleen and Stomach. Strengthening the Middle Burner serves to regulate the dispersal of Yang without hindering its restoration.

Learn more about Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)

Gan Cao is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

7. Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Part used: Dried root and rhizome

Nature: Neutral

Taste(s): Sweet

Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach

Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency

Gan Cao Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment. It also serves as as envoy that harmonizes the formula and balance the slightly toxic nature of Prepared aconite。

Learn more about Liquorice (Gan Cao)

Ban Xia is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

8. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)

Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Pungent

Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach

Category: Warm herbs that transform Phlegm and stop Cough

In general Ban Xia's main actions are as follows: "Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention."

In the context of Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang, it is used because it reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi.

Learn more about Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)

Wu Wei Zi is an assistant ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

9. Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)

Part used: Dried ripe fruits

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): SourSweet

Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLung

Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind

Wu Wei Zi is sour and astringent. It prevents dispersal of the true Yang. While used together with Ginseng , it acts to generate the pulse. A relatively small dosage is used in the formula. It is to ensure its astringency does not impede the dispersing action of the key herbs. The complementary dynamic between the two assistant herbs, one acrid and sour and the other scurrying and astringent, helps spread Yang and create a pulse.

Learn more about Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)

She Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

10. Musk (She Xiang)

Part used: Musk gland of the deer

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): Pungent

Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver

Category: Herbs that open the Orifices

She Xiang is acrid and aromatic. It assists in unblocking the vessels. The complementary dynamic between the two assistant herbs, one acrid and sour and the other scurrying and astringent, helps spread Yang and create a pulse.

Learn more about Musk (She Xiang)

11. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)

Part used: Dried pericarp of the ripe fruit

Nature: Warm

Taste(s): BitterPungent

Meridian affinity: LungSpleen

Category: Herbs that regulate Qi

Chen Pi Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment.

Learn more about Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)

Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is used to treat Collapse of Yang

It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.

As such Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Collapse of Yang" which we describe below.

But before we delve into Collapse of Yang here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:

Myocardial infarction Cardiogenic shock Acute gastroenteritis Hypotension Food poisoning

Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang treats myocardial infarction" for instance. Rather, Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is used to treat Collapse of Yang, which is sometimes the root cause behind myocardial infarction.

Now let's look at Collapse of Yang, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang.

'Yang' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Yang in Chinese Medicine

Collapse of Yang

Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Collapse of Yang. This pattern leads to symptoms such as listlessness, feeling of cold, cold limbs and bright-white complexion. Patients with Collapse of Yang typically exhibit scattered (San), slow (Chi) or hidden (Fu) pulses.

This is one of the five patterns of the Blood level, the fourth and last level of the Four Levels theory. This means this is a very serious pattern where an External Pathogen has penetrated deeply within the body.

Collapse of Yang indicates an extremely severe state of Emptiness. It also implies a... read more about Collapse of Yang

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