Meridian Passage

Blood and its continuous movement sustain life. The Chinese feel that whenever this circulation is impaired, especially over a long period, “congealed Blood” (Xue yu) can develop. Disharmony occurs when the essential Blood-nourishing force of life turns and clashes against itself; a component of life becomes disconnected and isolated from the whole. Congealed Blood creates a cleft in the fundamental unity of life. The most common indications are stagnation and discomfort.

Meridian Passage is a combination of two classic formulas used to dispel congealed Blood and restore harmonious Blood movement. It is especially designed for congealed Blood in the meridians, joints, lower back and limbs. Wang Qing-Ren’s “Expel Congealed Blood Soup” (Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang) (1768-1831 A.D.) is the main source from which Meridian Passage is derived. Dr. Wang said that many people with pernicious influences of Wind Damp Cold blocking meridian flow (see discussion in Meridian Circulation) do not respond to earlier classical approaches. He felt that in these situations, the pernicious influences had already affected the Blood, and he designed this formula accordingly. The second part of Meridian Passage is Chen Shi-Wen’s “Myrrh Subdue the Sage Pill” (Mo Yao Xiang Sheng Dan) (Song Dynasty, 1151 A.D.), which was designed to address congealed Blood and its subsequent disruption in other parts of the body and psyche.

PHYSICAL INDICATIONS

Congealed Blood stagnations are usually immobile, occasionally stabbing and severe. They often develop from stagnant Qi or from Wind Cold Damp blocking the flow of the meridians, such as temporary shoulder, upper or lower back stagnation, sore legs that have congealed Blood aspects. Chen Shi-Wen describes his “Myrrh Subdue the Sage Pill” formula as addressing “temporary injury, sprain, cramps, soreness or inability to bend to outside Wind injuring the meridians. The presence of occasional lumps, masses and relatively immobile masses can also be signs of congealed Blood.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL INDICATIONS

Chinese Herbology sometimes relates congealed Blood patterns to mental, emotional, behavioral and spiritual imbalances characterized by separation, discontinuity or withdrawal. Dr. Yan Gan- Lin elaborates on these aspects of Wang Qin-Ren’s “Expel Congealed Blood” type formulas in the Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Herbology (volume 16, number 10, 1981). Dr. Yan explains their value for addressing long term sorrow, dejection, suspicion and doubtfulness.

Congealed Blood creates a fundamental separation and lack of continuity between consciousness and physical being or the environment. Around a fixed, immovable center, there can be a long-term, diffused retreat from the environment or from consciousness. Sometimes, instead of such withdrawals, one can become blindly absorbed in particulars. Meridian Passage promotes the Blood flowing into itself, disperses its accumulation and reverses its turning against itself. It alleviates occasional severe stagnation. It helps ease a sense of occasional separation, disconnection, disorientation and anguish. Finally, to quote Chen Shi-Wen, it allows “the wisdom of the sage” to be brought within.

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT

Meridian Passage (Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang and Mo Yao Xiang Sheng Dan) is an adaptive combination of the “Expel Congealed Blood Soup” and “Myrrh Subdue the Sage Pill” from Professional and Popular Formulas from the Taiping Era (volume 8, section 2, 1151 A.D.; Chen Shi-Wen was the chief compiler of this volume). These two formulas have a number of overlapping ingredients and merge easily. The animal-derived ingredients have been removed and one additional ingredient was removed from each formula so that the resulting combined Meridian Passage has a crafted, tailored fit.

ABOUT THE HERBS

Carthamus flower is a crucial herb for congealed Blood patterns. Li Shi-Zhen (1518-1593 A.D.), in his Grand Materia Medica, says it also addresses “grief, mournfulness and the Qi being oppressed and not able to go outward.” It is acrid and warm, and enters the Heart and Liver meridians.

Achyranthes root moves the Blood and expels congealed Blood. It also nourishes the Liver and Kidney, and nourishes the tendons and bones. It is bitter, sour and neutral, and enters the Liver and Kidney meridians.

Large-leaf gentian root expels Wind Damp, harmonizes the Blood and comforts the tendons. It ensures that the formula affects the meridians. It is bitter, acrid and neutral, and enters the Liver, Stomach and Gallbladder meridians.

Myrrh resin “scatters Blood and promotes healing,” according to Li Shi-Zhen. It is bitter and neutral, and enters the Liver meridian.

Dry fried peeled Peach seed is an important herb for congealed Blood patterns. It is bitter, sweet and neutral and enters the Heart, Liver and Large Intestine meridians.

Drynaria rhizome supports healthy tendons and bones. It is also used to tonify the Kidneys. It is bitter and warm, and enters the Kidney and Liver meridians.

Sichuan lovage rhizome moves the Blood, expels Wind and alleviates stagnation. It is acrid and warm, and enters the Liver, Gallbladder and Pericardium meridians.

Dong quai root tail is essential for regulating the Blood, and is important for congealed Blood patterns. It is sweet, acrid, bitter and warm, and enters the Liver, Heart and Spleen meridians.

Frankincense resin is a crucial herb to move Blood, relax occasionally cramped, spastic or rigid muscles, and promote healing. It is acrid, bitter and warm, and enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen meridians.

Notopterygium root and rhizome is an important herb for addressing Wind Damp obstruction (Bi), and also assists the formula in reaching the limbs. It is acrid, bitter, aromatic and warm, and enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians.

Prepared Cyperus rhizome moves the Qi along with the Blood. Li Shi-Zhen says that, in addition to it being a principle herb to move the Liver and Triple Burner, it also penetrates the Qi of all twelve meridians. It is acrid, slightly bitter and sweet, and is said to enter the Liver and Triple Burner meridians.

White peony root comforts the tendons, and relaxes occasional spasm and cramps. It is bitter, sour and cool, and enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.

Chinese licorice root and rhizome harmonizes the herbs in the formula and helps them enter the meridians. It is sweet and neutral, and enters the Spleen and Lung meridians.