Chinese Medicine Classics

This class takes a deep dive into the Dàhuāng 大荒 and Zhīzǐ 梔子 formula families. The introductory section will discuss:

• The historical usage of the herbs 
• Body type/constitution
• Presentation and constitutional tendencies
• Key tongue and pulse findings
• Abdomen and other key diagnostic features

Afterwards, we delve into the key formulas for each family, which will feature their presentation, diagnostic features, and clinical applications. Case histories will be used throughout illustrating their usage in the modern clinic. In keeping with the premise that these classes will be based not only on clinical experience but also on actual textual research, all relevant lines from the Shānghán Zábìng Lùn 傷寒雜病論 will be highlighted and covered, with discussions on key symptoms, signs, physiology, pathology, herbal flavours and dynamics, complex terminology, etc. 

In addition, various theoretical concepts are introduced and discussed with relevant passages provided from other canonical works such as the Huángdì Nèijīng 黃帝內經, Nánjīng 難經, Shénnóng Běncǎo Jīng 神農本草經, as well as various commentaries from the last 1800 years.  The objective of this class will be to provide a level of confidence to the student in the usage and applications of these important and extremely beneficial formulas. 

The formulas covered include:

Dàhuāng 大荒 Formula Family

• Dà Chéng Qì Tāng 大承气汤
• Xiǎo Chéng Qì Tāng 小承气汤
• Táohé Chéng Qì Tāng 桃核承气汤
• Tiáo Wèi Chéng Qì Tāng 调胃承气汤
• Dàhuáng Zhé Chóng Wán 大黃蛰虫丸
• Dàhuáng Fùzǐ Tāng 大黃附子汤
• Dàhuáng Huánglián Xiè Xīn Tāng 大黄黄连泻心汤
• Dàhuáng Mǔdānpí Tāng 大黃牡丹皮汤
• Dǐ Dàng Tāng 抵当汤
• Dàhuáng Gāncǎo Tāng 大黄甘草汤

Zhīzǐ 梔子 Formula Family

• Zhīzǐ Chǐ Tāng 梔子豉汤
• Zhīzǐ Gāncǎo Chǐ Tāng 栀子甘草汤
• Zhīzǐ shēngjiāng Chǐ Tāng 栀子生姜豉汤
• Zhīzǐ Hòupò Tāng 梔子厚朴汤
• Zhīzǐ Ganjiang Tāng 梔子干姜汤
• Zhǐshí Zhīzǐ Chǐ Tāng 枳实栀子豉汤
• Zhīzǐ Dàhuáng Tāng 栀子大黄汤
• Zhīzǐ Bǎipí Tāng 梔子柏皮汤
• Yīnchénhāo Tāng 茵陳蒿汤