Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang, Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction, is Huai Niu Xi, calcined Zhe Shi, Long Gu, Mu Li, Gui Ban, Xuan Shen, Tian Men Dong, Bai Shao, Yin Chen Hao, Chuan Lian Zi, Mai Ya and Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that extinguish internal Wind.

Herb

Amount

30 g

30 g

15 g

15 g

15 g

15 g

15 g

15 g

6 g

6 g

6 g

4.5 g

Actions and indications

Sedates the Liver and extinguishes Wind

Liver Yang, or Liver Fire, turning into Wind that stirs internally, with Qi and Blood rushing up to the head
Vertigo and dizziness, tinnitus, and eyes that feel distended or look swollen
Headache with heat or pain felt inside the head; Jue Yin Heat-type headache
Face flushed red as though drunk; irritability with vexing Heat in the Heart; insomnia
Frequent belching or hiccups
Tremors, spasms and stiff or restricted movement of the limbs

Nourishes Yin and anchors Yang

Liver and Kidney Yin too weak to hold rising Liver Yang, from a milder chronic picture up to the threshold of Wind-stroke
Signs of impending or past Wind-stroke: a limb that is heavy or numb, slurred speech, the face or mouth and eyes pulling to one side, and motor function that worsens over hours or days
Sudden collapse, or consciousness that gradually clouds, with lucid spells and incomplete recovery afterwards
Tongue red, often with scant, dry or yellow coat; pulse wiry, long and forceful

Modern uses

Essential hypertension
Renal hypertension
Hypertensive encephalopathy
Apoplectiform hypertension
Stroke (apoplexy)
Cerebral thrombosis
Cerebral hemorrhage
Transient ischemic attack
Cerebral arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerotic heart disease
Aphasia
Apraxia
Dysphagia
Facial paralysis
Paralysis
Numbness and paresthesia
Unsteady gait
Cerebellar ataxia
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Epilepsy
Concussion
Headache, including migraine and vascular headache
Trigeminal neuralgia
Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
Dizziness and vertigo
Tinnitus
Ear pain
Otitis media
Otorrhea
Glaucoma
Swollen eyes
Hiccups
Chloasma (melasma)
Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual nervousness
Menopausal syndrome
Postpartum fever
Stress
Hyperthyroidism
Pheochromocytoma (chromaffinoma)
Kidney failure
Chronic leukemia
AIDS

Modifications

Chest feels hot: + shi gao, + zhi zi

Profuse sputum: + dan nan xing, + chuan bei mu, − gan cao, − xuan shen

Marked Liver and Kidney deficiency: + shu di huang, + shan zhu yu

Marked Liver and Kidney deficiency, alternative: + dan nan xing, + zhu li, − gui ban

Strong distending eye pain with nausea and vomiting: + xia ku cao, + shi jue ming

Severe irritability: + huang qin, + shi gao

Severe irritability, alternative: + gou teng, + ju hua

Severe headache: + shi jue ming, + xia ku cao

Severe headache, alternative: + ling yang jiao

Greasy yellow coat and constipation: + gua lou, + zhi shi, + da huang

Fever after childbirth with vertigo, twitching limbs, red tongue and wiry rapid pulse: + mu gua, + gou teng

Slurred speech: + shi chang pu, + zhi tian nan xing, + jiang can

Show all 51 modifications

Cerebral arteriosclerosis: + shi jue ming, + chen pi, + tao ren, + huo xiang
Facial paralysis: + zhi bai fu zi, + jiang can, + quan xie
Stroke from rising Liver Yang: + sheng di huang, + di long, + ju hua, + gou teng, + sang ji sheng, + dan shen, + ji xue teng, − gui ban, − tian men dong, − yin chen hao, − chuan lian zi, − mai ya, − gan cao
Stroke from rising Liver Yang with Blood stagnation: + ji xue teng, + di long
Stroke: + di long, + dan shen, + tao ren, + hong hua
Limbs numb or paralysed: + tu bie chong, + quan xie, + wu gong
Headache with dizziness or vertigo: + xia ku cao, + ju hua
Headache: + xia ku cao, + gou teng, + ju hua
Pulse deficient on heavy pressure: + shu di huang, + shan zhu yu, − chuan lian zi
Chi position pulse empty or weak: + shu di huang, + shan zhu yu
Poorly formed stools: + chi shi zhi, − dai zhe shi, − gui ban
Hypertension: + xia ku cao, + gou teng, + ju hua
Arteriosclerotic heart disease: + chi shao, + dan shen
ALS: + tian ma, + gou teng, + ju hua
Marked Heat: + shi gao
Pronounced Heat signs, alternative: + long dan cao
More severe Yin deficiency: + e jiao
Marked Phlegm: + dan nan xing
Trigeminal neuralgia: + long dan cao
Rising Yang with constipation: + da huang
Cerebral hemorrhage (combined with An Gong Niu Huang Wan)
Vascular headache, acute or intense: + gou teng, + bai zhi
Vascular headache, chronic or unrelenting: + dan shen, + chuan xiong
Nausea and vomiting after concussion: + shi di, + zhu ru
Concussion with bruising and bleeding under the skin: + san qi
Palpitations and poor sleep after concussion: + suan zao ren, + zhen zhu mu
Menopause: ringing ears and lumbar pain: + mo han lian, + sang ji sheng
Menopausal syndrome with distended breasts: + bai ji li, + fo shou
Menopausal syndrome with dry mouth and tongue: + shi hu, + mai men dong
Transient ischemic attack with dizziness and vertigo: + qing hao, − yin chen hao
Transient ischemic attack with dizziness and chronic headache: + qing hao, + dan shen, + chuan xiong, − yin chen hao
Transient ischemic attack with dizziness and hypertension: + qing hao, + gou teng, + ju hua, + di long, − yin chen hao
Transient ischemic attack with dizziness and marked Kidney deficiency: + qing hao, + shu di huang, + shan zhu yu, − yin chen hao
Transient ischemic attack with dizziness and constipation: + qing hao, + chi shi zhi, − yin chen hao, − dai zhe shi
Fidgeting: + huang qin, + zhi zi
Dizzy, vertiginous TMJ: + xia ku cao, + ju hua
TMJ with Phlegm blocking the channels: + zhe bei mu, + zhi tian nan xing
TMJ with more marked Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency: + shu di huang, + shan zhu yu
Full-blown AIDS: + wu wei zi, + gou teng, + zhi zi, + shi jue ming

Cautions

contraindication Hypertension arising from Kidney Yin or Kidney Yang deficiency

caution Take care where there is Spleen deficiency, Blood deficiency, Kidney deficiency or accumulated Phlegm-Damp

caution Its cold, heavy minerals and shells and rich Yin tonics weigh on a weak Spleen and Stomach; generally avoided with Spleen Yang deficiency, deficiency Cold or loose stools

caution An acute stroke or hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency; herbal treatment of this pattern is only an adjunct under a practitioner

caution Chuan Lian Zi should be kept to a small amount and a short course

pregnancy Contains Huai Niu Xi, which draws Blood downward, and Chuan Lian Zi; use in pregnancy only under professional guidance

Pinyin

zhen gan xi feng tang

English Name

Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction

zhen gan xi feng tang

About zhen gan xi feng tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Sedates the Liver and extinguishes Wind

Nourishes Yin and anchors Yang

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification