Jin Ling Zi San, Melia Toosendan Powder, pairs Chuan Lian Zi with Yan Hu Suo. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that promote the movement of Qi, and records it as spreading Liver Qi, draining Heat and moving Blood to ease pain.

Herb

Amount

chuan lian zi

30 g

yan hu suo

30 g

Actions and indications

Spreads and soothes Liver Qi and drains Heat

Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Heat
Bitter mouth and irritability
Emotional strain tends to aggravate the pain
Tongue red with a yellow coat; pulse wiry and rapid

Activates the Blood and alleviates pain

Pain in the chest, epigastrium, rib-side, abdomen or lower abdomen that comes and goes rather than staying constant
Pain made worse by hot food or drink, or by warmth
Hernial pain
Painful periods

Modern uses

Dysmenorrhea
Early menstruation
Irregular menstruation
Cholecystitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis C
Abdominal masses
Peptic ulcer
Gastritis
Chronic gastritis
Biliary ascariasis
Hernia
Intercostal pain

Modifications

Epigastric pain from Heat: + huang qin, + bai shao

Painful periods: + xiang fu, + dan shen, + hong hua, + yi mu cao

Lower abdominal bulging disorders: + ju he

Lower abdominal bulging with clear Cold signs: + ju he, + wu zhu yu, + xiao hui xiang

Gallstones or kidney stones: + jin qian cao, + ji nei jin, + hai jin sha, + yu jin

Pain of the epigastrium, chest, flanks or abdomen (combined with Si Ni San)

Pain in Jue Yin patterns (combined with Wu Mei Wan)

Distending rib-side pain from Liver Qi stagnation or rising Liver Fire: + chai hu, + yu jin, + zhi zi

Hernial pain from stagnant Qi: + ju he, + li zhi he

Roundworms in the bile duct (combined with Si Ni San): + bing lang, + wu mei, + huang lian, + zi su zi

Peptic ulcer (combined with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang): + gan cao, + hai piao xiao, + xiang fu, + pu gong ying, + chen xiang, + wu yao, + bai ji

Peptic ulcer, Qi deficient (combined with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang): + gan cao, + hai piao xiao, + xiang fu, + pu gong ying, + chen xiang, + wu yao, + bai ji, + dang shen, + huang qi

Show all 22 modifications

Peptic ulcer, Stomach Cold (combined with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang): + gan cao, + hai piao xiao, + xiang fu, + pu gong ying, + chen xiang, + wu yao, + bai ji, + gao liang jiang, + rou gui
Peptic ulcer, Stomach Yin deficient (combined with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang): + gan cao, + hai piao xiao, + xiang fu, + pu gong ying, + mai men dong, + chen xiang, + wu yao, + bai ji, + sha shen
Peptic ulcer with digestive tract bleeding (combined with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang): + gan cao, + hai piao xiao, + xiang fu, + san qi, + pu gong ying, + chen xiang, + wu yao, + bai ji, + e jiao, + zi zhu
Chest pain from stagnant Upper Jiao Qi (combined with Dan Shen Yin): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui
Severe chest pain from stagnant Upper Jiao Qi (combined with Dan Shen Yin): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui, + qing pi
Chest pain and irritability, Upper Jiao Qi stagnant (combined with Dan Shen Yin): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui, + xia ku cao, + huang qin
Chest pain with a bitter taste or insomnia, Upper Jiao Qi stagnant (combined with Dan Shen Yin): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, + zhi zi
Abdominal masses (combined with Shi Xiao San)
Abdominal masses with severe pain (combined with Shi Xiao San): + tao ren, + hong hua, + chi shao, + dan shen
Longer-term use: Chuan Lian Zi stir-fried, or other Qi-moving, pain-relieving herbs added or used in its place

Cautions

caution Chuan Lian Zi is mildly toxic: its toosendanin irritates the gut and can harm the liver when doses are high or use is prolonged, so keep dose and duration modest and do not self-prescribe it in large amounts or for long periods

caution Too much Chuan Lian Zi has been associated with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and severe cases with toxic liver damage

contraindication Deficiency with Cold or weak Yang of the Spleen and Stomach, which Chuan Lian Zi's bitter cold can further injure

contraindication Pain from Cold causing stagnant Lung Qi

pregnancy Yan Hu Suo moves Blood: avoid in pregnancy or use only under professional guidance

Pinyin

jin ling zi san

English Name

Melia Toosendan Powder

jin ling zi san

About jin ling zi san

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Spreads and soothes Liver Qi and drains Heat

Activates the Blood and alleviates pain

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification