Zhen Ling Dan, Rouse the Spirit Special Pill, is Yu Liang Shi, Zi Shi Ying, Chi Shi Zhi, Dai Zhe Shi, Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Wu Ling Zhi and Zhu Sha — four minerals, two resins and two animal products. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that stabilise the womb.

Herb

Amount

120 g

120 g

120 g

120 g

60 g

60 g

60 g

30 g

Actions and indications

Stops bleeding and stops vaginal discharge

Abnormal uterine bleeding (beng lou) that goes on and on, either gushing or dripping
Blood purplish red to purplish black, with or without clots
Uterine bleeding from Heart and Kidney deficiency
Leukorrhea
Long-standing diarrhea or dysentery
Dizziness, low back pain and night sweats

Dissolves Blood stasis

Stasis of Blood in the uterus on a base of cold, depleted Chong and Ren vessels
Lower abdominal pain worse for pressure, relieved when clots come out
Tongue dark purple, perhaps with stasis spots, coat normal; pulse deep, thin and wiry

Modern uses

Metrorrhagia and abnormal uterine bleeding
Threatened miscarriage
Habitual miscarriage
Vaginal discharge
Chronic diarrhea

Cautions

contraindication Deficiency Cold patterns that have no Blood stasis

contraindication Any Heat, Damp-Heat or acute excess-type bleeding, where astringing too soon traps the pathogen

caution Classically coated with Zhu Sha (cinnabar, mercury sulfide), which is toxic: mercury builds up mainly in the kidneys and harms kidneys and nerves with high or prolonged exposure, and heating it gives off mercury vapour. It is restricted or banned in many countries, and substitutes are usual

caution Dai Zhe Shi, Chi Shi Zhi and Zi Shi Ying are heavy minerals not meant for prolonged use, and they can burden Spleen and Stomach Qi

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy: Zhu Sha, Dai Zhe Shi, Chi Shi Zhi, Zi Shi Ying and the Blood-moving Ru Xiang and Mo Yao each carry their own pregnancy caution; the Damp-Heat pattern in pregnancy is also named as a contraindication

Pinyin

zhen ling dan

English Name

rouse the Spirit Special Pill

zhen ling dan

About zhen ling dan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Stops bleeding and stops vaginal discharge

Dissolves Blood stasis

Modern uses

Symptoms

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification