Calm Dragon Formula
Chai hu jia long gu mu li tang
Kan Traditionals
Harmonizes the Shao Yang level, calms the Etheral Soul (Po) and Spirit (Shen), cools Liver Heat and subdues Yang.
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- Herb: Bupleurum root, Ginger cured pinellia rhizome, Red jujube fruit, Gardenia fruit, Oyster shell, Poria, Chinese cinnamon twig, Chinese skullcap root, White Asian ginseng root and rhizome, Hematite, Dragon bone, Ginger rhizome
- Herb (Pinyin): Chai hu, Jiang ban xia, Hong zao, Zhi zi, Duan mu li, Fu ling, Gui zhi, Huang qin, Bai ren shen, Dai zhe shi, Long gu, Gan jiang
- Pattern: Liver Yang rising, Unsettled Shen with Heat, Blockage of all three Yang levels
- Actions: Harmonizes the Shao Yang level, calms the Etheral Soul (Po) and Spirit (Shen), cools Liver Heat and subdues Yang
- Indications: Supports emotional wellbeing, Occasional anxiety, depression, irritability, or agitation, Occasional fullness in the chest, Occasional insomnia, Occasional sensation of heaviness or fatigue, Occasional premenstrual syndrome
- Contraindications: Use with caution during pregnancy., Not for use in patterns of deficiency.
- Tongue: Red body with greasy, white or yellow coating and swollen edges.
- Pulse: Wiry, rapid or tense, slippery and flooding. May also be deep and tense.
Calm Dragon Formula is a modification of Minor Bupleurum Decoction (Xiao Chai Hu Tang) with Dragon bone and Oyster shell added, to anchor and pull downward the properties of Minor Bupleurum Decoction to the level of primal Yin and Yang. This formula addresses a range of Liver Qi stagnation or constraint patterns, marked by an uprising of Liver Yang affecting all three of the Yang channels.
Calm Dragon Formula drains and disperses the uprising Qi while supporting the Middle Burner and tonifying the normal Qi. It clears Heat, settles the emotions and supports healthy fluid metabolism. It dredges the Liver, resolves constraint, harmonizes the Shao Yang pivot,
unblocks and opens up the three burners.
It can also be used for occasional emotional imbalances, including occasional anxiety when there is Shao Yang or Liver Phlegm Heat or an internal blockage of Yang Qi. Its combination of warm and cold, supplementing and draining ingredients restores equilibrium to body and mind by regulating the Triple Burner (San Jiao) mechanisms.
The chief ingredients in this formula address constraint in the three Yang channels. Chinese cinnamon twig restores the flow of Yang Qi and supports the Tai Yang. Bupleurum root and Chinese skullcap root harmonize the Lesser Yang (Shao Yang), remove stagnation at that level, rectify Liver Qi and clear Heat. The latter also drains Fire and dries Dampness in the Stomach and Intestines. Rhubarb root, a strong purgative, has been replaced by Gardenia fruit to clear Heat from all three Burners through the urine.
Herbs that descend Liver Yang, such as Dragon Bone, Oyster shell and Hematite, carry out a primary action of Calm Dragon Formula. Dragon Bone settles occasional anxiety, calms the Ethereal Soul (Po) and Spirit (Shen), and addresses occasional emotional distress, restlessness
or insomnia. It calms the Liver and anchors the floating Yang. Oyster shell heavily settles and calms the Spirit and anchors the floating Yang. Hematite sedates and anchors Liver Yang, clears Liver Fire, and strongly directs rebellious Qi downward. Ginger cured Pinellia rhizome descends rebellious Stomach Qi, dries dampness and transforms Phlegm.
Poria tonifies the Spleen while Red jujube fruit tonifies the Qi and Blood, generates fluids, harmonizes the Spleen and the properties of the other herbs. White Asian ginseng root and rhizome strongly supplements the Original (Yuan) Qi of the five organs and nourishes the Yin, strengthens the Spleen and tonifies the Stomach. Ginger rhizome harmonizes and supplements the Middle Burner.
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
Bupleurum Plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction was first recorded in the Shang Han Lun by Zhang Zhong-Jing.