Dang gui jian zhong tang also known as dang gui nie bu tang, a Sun Si Mao formula
dang gui 9 gui zhi 9 bai shao 18 sheng jiang 9 da zao 9 zhi gan cao 6 yi tang 30
This formula is an obvious version of xiao jian zhong tang. Xiao jian zhong tang is the representative formula for tonifying the Earth, and all three yin levels. The addition of dang gui makes it even more nourishing for blood. This formula is neutral in temperature but can be easily modified to warm or cool.
Dang gui, Angelicae sinensis radix is sweet tonifying and nourishing of liver blood and the ministerial fire. It is pungent dispersing of the liver blood and ministerial fire.
Dang gui is the core jue yin liver blood storage herb. Dang gui tonifies blood and nourishes the liver while moving blood and transforming stasis and so protects the jue yin liver blood from heat.
Gui zhi, Cinnamomi cassiae ramulus is pungent sweet and warm dispersing of the imperial and ministerial fire. It warms and tonifies the shao yin and jue yin. In doing so it warms and tonifies the whole body.
Dang gui and gui zhi warm, nourish, and mildly move blood.
Bai shao, Paeoniae radix lactiflora is sour, bitter and cool. It is sour collecting of yin fluids and blood. It is bitter descending of heat. It nourishes dryness in yang ming and the jue yin. It descends Earth and Metal and calms Wood wind.
Bai shao is calming the Wood wind to prevent excessive dispersing and the cool temperature balances the warmth of gui zhi and dang gui.
Sheng jiang, Zingiberis rhizoma recens is pungent dispersing of the liver and pericardium blood and the ministerial fire in the san jiao. Sheng jiang is pungent dispersing of dampness and cold in the stomach domain, spleen and lung. Sheng jiang is pungent connecting of the tai yin with the tai yang. It supports raising of the clear qi to the chest and the 100 vessels.
Da zao, Jujubae fructus is sweet tonifying and moderating. It tonifies and nourishes the stomach domain, spleen, lungs, and heart. It directly nourishes the shao yin heart.
Gui zhi, da zao and zhi gan cao tonify and nourish the heart. Da zao calms excessive movement of Wood wind.
Da zao tonifies spleen and heart qi and blood. Combined with bai shao and yi tang it embodies the combination of sweet and sour to nourish yin.
Yi tang, Maltose is used in taxation formulas because of its warm sweet nature that nourishes the nutritive and calms the internal wind causing cramping due to deficiency.
Yi tang makes this a taxation formula. Its sweet taste guides the herbs to the center.
If need be you can replace yi tang with mai ya 18 or dang shen 9. Or consider using fu xiao mai 24 making the formula gan mai da zao tang for mental unrest.