ding zhi wan

Settle the Emotions Pill

About ding zhi wan

Ding Zhi Wan, Settle the Emotions Pill, is Ren Shen, Fu Ling, Chang Pu and Yuan Zhi. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Spirit, and records it as tonifying Heart Qi and opening the Heart orifices.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
ren shen	9 g
fu ling	9 g
chang pu	6 g
yuan zhi	6 g

Actions and indications

Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Shen

Qi deficiency of the Heart and Gallbladder with Phlegm clouding the Heart
Anxiety and timidity, startling or frightened easily
Palpitations brought on or made worse by stress or mental effort
Insomnia, light or restless sleep and disturbing dreams
Pale tongue whose coat may be thin and white or a little greasy; pulse thin and weak, occasionally a little rapid

Opens the Heart orifices and resolves Phlegm

Forgetfulness, poor concentration and mental fog
In marked cases, laughing at the wrong time or excessive, ungrounded joy

Modern uses

Generalized anxiety
Insomnia related to stress
Poor memory or concentration
Low mood with fatigue in a fearful, easily startled person, as an adjunct

Symptoms

Abnormal behavior
Anxiety
Dream-disturbed sleep
Easily startled
Insomnia
Mental dullness
Palpitations
Poor concentration
Poor memory
Restless sleep
Timidity

Modifications

Marked fright and palpitations: + long gu, + mu li
Marked fright and palpitations, alternative choice: + long chi
Prominent insomnia from Blood deficiency: + suan zao ren, + bai zi ren
Gentler, less costly version: + dang shen, − ren shen

Cautions

contraindication Heat, Fire or purely excess patterns: a warm Qi tonic that opens the orifices can make the agitation worse
contraindication Avoid or modify where Yin is deficient and Fire is strong, with night sweats, flushed cheeks and a red tongue with little coat, since the tonics can add to the Heat
contraindication Agitation from Phlegm-Fire or Liver Fire, with irritability, flushed face, bitter taste and a rapid pulse
caution The saponins in Yuan Zhi may irritate the stomach, so take care or avoid it with active gastritis or a peptic ulcer; honey-fried Yuan Zhi is gentler
caution Take care using Ren Shen in acute excess-Heat conditions
pregnancy Use in pregnancy only under a qualified practitioner
lactation Use while breastfeeding only under a qualified practitioner
caution Diagnosed anxiety or psychiatric conditions: use only with a qualified practitioner alongside proper care, never in place of medical or psychiatric treatment

Preparation

Honey pills of the powdered herbs taken with warm water or rice wine; also made as a coarse powder or a decoction. Yuan Zhi is usually honey-fried first, and Fu Shen may replace Fu Ling for a stronger calming effect

Names

Pinyin	ding zhi wan
English Name	Settle the Emotions Pill

Classification

Category: Formulas that Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit