麻黃藥方 Mahuang Formulas

麻黃 Mahuang
Ephedra sinica, Ephedraceae

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麻黃湯 Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction)

痲杏石甘湯 Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Apricot, Gypsum, Licorice Decoction)

麻杏薏甘湯 Ma Xing Yi Gan Tang (Ephedra, Apricot, Coix, Licorice Decoction)


定喘湯 Ding Chuan Tang (Stabilize Wheezing Decoction)

麻黃連翹赤小豆湯 Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodou Tang (Ephedra, Forsythia, Red Bean Decoction)


牡蠣散 Muli San (Oyster Shell Decoction)

半夏藥方 Banxia Formulas

半夏 Banxia 

Pinellia ternata, Araceae 

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溫膽湯 Wen Dan Tang (Gallbladder Warming Decoction) 

旋覆代赭湯 Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang (Inula and Hematite Decoction) 

蘇子降氣湯 Suzi Jiang Qi Tang (Perilla Seed Descends Qi Decoction) 

厚朴麻黃湯 Houpo Mahuang Tang (Magnolia/ Ephedra Decoction) 

三仁湯 San Ren Tang (Three Seed Decoction) 

半夏白朮天麻湯 Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang (Pinellia, Atractaloydes, Gastrodia Decoction) 

人參藥方 Renshen Formulas

人參 Renshen
Panax ginseng, Araliaceae

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四君子湯 Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Adepts Decoction)

桑螵蛸散 Sangpiaoxiao San (Mulberry Mantis-Casing Powder)

歸脾湯 Gui Pi Tang (Return Spleen Decoction)

橘皮竹茹湯 Zhupi Zhuru Tang (Citrus Peels, Bamboo Shoots Decoction)

參苓白朮散 Shen Ling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria, Atractaloydes Powder)

桂枝新加湯 Guizhi Xin Jia Tang (Cinnamon Plus Decoction)

大黃藥方 Dahuang Formulas

大黃/ Dahuang/ Rheum palmatum, Polygonaceae
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小承氣湯 Xiao Cheng Qi Tang

大承氣湯 Da Cheng Qi Tang

瀉心湯 Xie Xin Tang

茵陳蒿湯 Yin Chen Hao Tang

芍藥湯 Shao Yao Tang

八正散 Ba Zheng San

柴胡藥方 Chaihu Formulas

柴胡/ Chaihu/ Bupleurum chinense/ Apiaceae
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柴胡加龍骨牡蠣湯 Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang

龍膽瀉肝湯 Longdan Xie Gan Tang

柴胡疏肝散 Chaihu Shu Gan San

血府逐瘀湯 Xuefu Zhu Yu Tang

逍遙散 Xiao Yao San

柴葛解肌湯 Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang

附子藥方 Fuzi Formulas

​附子/ Fuzi/ Aconitum carmichaeli, Ranunculaceae

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麻黃細辛附子湯 Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Tang

 潛陽丹 Qian Yang Dan 

附子湯 Fuzi Tang 

栝樓瞿麥丸 Gualou Qumai Wan

溫脾湯 Wen Pi Tang 

天雄散 Tianxiong San

桂枝藥方 Guizhi Formulas

In Chinese herbal formulas class this quarter, we're studying six formulas each week, focused around an archetypal herb that features prominently, creating a "Formula Family." (See "10 Key Formulas in CM" by Huang Huang). I'm creating mandalas of each formula again, to facilitate my own process of understanding, enjoying, and memorizing them.... and wish to share with you. They're much simpler this time, for greater efficiency for me. It's perhaps less informative for you, but hopefully still interesting, at least aesthetically. Enjoy!

This week, 桂枝/ Guizhi/ Cinnamomum cassia, Lauraceae.

茯苓桂枝五味甘草湯 (Fuling Guizhi Wuwei Gancao Tang)

桂枝加龍骨牡蠣湯 (Guizhi Jia Longgu Muli Tang）

陽和湯 (Yang He Tang)

桃核承氣湯 (Tao He Cheng Qi Tang)

桂枝茯苓丸 (Guizhi Fuling Wan)

桂枝芍藥知母湯 (Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Tang)

Acu-Point Names

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1W2nAO48c9J7UQd73FeC3T-FHdPaeTAOIzw1RZK3h9hg/edit?usp=sharing

There's seemingly infinite possible translations for acu-point names. I compiled my favorites, cross-referencing between Deadman (standard points' reference), Ellis/ Wiseman (the only point names' book, "Grasping the Wind"), Cleaver (my teacher), and Worsley (my teacher's teacher). Deadman is functional but sometimes lacks poetry, Ellis/ Wiseman have great organization and explanations in their book (might be my favorite), Cleaver has a wonderful standardized system of translation for commonly used terms in acu-names (super useful) and includes clinical insights (but is sometimes overly literal), and Worsley is beautifully poetic but sometimes inaccurate (he didn't read Chinese). I share this with you, hoping that you add your own favorite translations, to further my own education, and elucidate our collective understanding.

Understanding point names allows access to deeper layers of meaning that may yield surprising insights, leading to further diversified, enlivened, and enriched clinical tools. My favorite translations acknowledge the poetic, clinical, historical, anatomical, and all other elements inherent in the Chinese (original) name, while being succinct, precise, and elegant.