Li zhong wan
ren shen 9 bai zhu 9 gan jiang 9 zhi gan cao 9
When in sudden turmoil, there is headache, heat effusion, and generalized pain, if there is more heat and the patient desires to drink water, wu ling san governs; but if there is more cold and the patient does not drink water, li zhong wan governs.
After a major illness is cured, frequent spitting that endures without resolving indicates cold above the chest, so one should warm with a pill medicine; therefore li zhong wan is appropriate.
It is the representative formula for tai yin conformation of the damp center. It warms the center, clears cold, raises tai yin clear qi, moisten fluids, and dries dampness.
Yang ming and tai yin balance each other. Yang ming represents dryness and tai yin dampness. In this pattern cold and dampness have to be cleared to restore the normal function of transforming and transporting.
Ren shen, Ginseng radix is sweet tonifying and nourishing of the spleen, lungs, heart, and kidney. It nourishes yin fluids and therefore is the foremost qi and yin tonic.
Tonifies qi and yin of the lungs, spleen, heart and kidneys. The tonification of qi will strengthen the heartbeat, while the tonification of yin will nourish the blood and clear deficient heat.
Ren shen and bai zhu are tonifying and restoring the transforming and transport function of tai yin. Ren shen brings healthy fluids to the spleen and bai zhu clears the pathological fluids out. The ren shen raises the clear qi upward and bai zhu transports downward while warming.
Bai zhu, Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizome sweet tonifying of the stomach domain and spleen. Bai zhu is bitter draining of excess fluids in the stomach domain, spleen, lungs and bladder.
Dries the middle burner and tonifies the spleen. It metabolizes fluids and so creates room for healthy new fluids. Bai zhu and ren shen are the representative pair for supporting tai yin qi deficiency and damp accumulation.
Gan jiang, Zingiberis rhizoma, dried is warm (or hot) pungent and astringent. Gan jiang is the main herb to warm the tai yin level and treat excessive dampness by introducing yang ming dryness in tai yin dampness.
Zhi gan cao, Glycyrrhizae radix prep is sweet tonifying and nourishing of all organs but especially the heart.
Zhi gan cao is sweet and mildly warm tonifying and nourishing of yin fluids. It nourishes yin fluids in the tai yin and shao yin. It calms wind in the jue yin.
Strongly tonifies heart qi and regulates heart rhythm. It also builds spleen qi to strengthen lung and heart qi to revive the pulse beat.
This formula forms the base of various formulas for clearing dampness from the center. Li zhong wan is a balanced formula that does clear dampness while warming but this is balanced with sweet tonifiyng and nourishing. It is slightly more yang than yin. Its strength is in tonifying the function of the tai yin in sending clear qi up to the 100 vessels while tonifiyng shao yin. In this way the post and pre heaven qi is supported.