Chinese: 回阳救急汤
Pinyin: Huí Yáng Jiù Jí Tāng
Other names: Restore and Revive the Yang Decoction
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that rescue devastated Yang
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HypotensionFood poisoningCardiogenic shock and two other conditions
- Restores and revives the Yang
- Augments the Qi
- Revives the pulse
Contraindications: This heating and dispersing formula is very strong and should not be used... This heating and dispersing formula is very strong and should not be used extensively or over a prolonged period. Once warmth has been restored to the limbs, it is recommended to discontinue use. see more
Source date: 1445 AD
Source book: Six Texts on Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi), Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) and Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1445 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that rescue devastated Yang. Its main actions are: 1) restores and revives the Yang and 2) augments the Qi.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Collapse of Yang. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock or acute gastroenteritis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang
Zhi Fu Zi is a king ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi)
Zhi Fu Zi is hot and strong. It is able to restore and revive the Yang, stem rebelliousness, augment the Qi and generate the pulse. It is used in the situation that the Yang is exhausted and Cold invades all three Yin warps.
Gan Jiang is a king ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)
Gan Jiang is hot and strong. It is able to restore and revive the Yang, stem rebelliousness, augment the Qi and generate the pulse. It is used in the situation that the Yang is exhausted and Cold invades all three Yin warps.
Rou Gui is a king ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)
Rou Gui is hot and strong. It is able to restore and revive the Yang, stem rebelliousness, augment the Qi and generate the pulse. It is used in the situation that the Yang is exhausted and Cold invades all three Yin warps.
Ren Shen is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment. It also serves as as envoy that harmonizes the formula and balance the slightly toxic nature of Prepared aconite。
Bai Zhu is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Bai Zhu Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment.
Fu Ling is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Fu Ling augments the Spleen and Stomach. Strengthening the Middle Burner serves to regulate the dispersal of Yang without hindering its restoration.
Gan Cao is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
7. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment. It also serves as as envoy that harmonizes the formula and balance the slightly toxic nature of Prepared aconite。
Ban Xia is a deputy ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
8. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
In general Ban Xia's main actions are as follows: "Drains Dampness and reduces Phlegm. Reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi. Reduces hardenings and relieves distention."
In the context of Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang, it is used because it reverses the flow of Rebellious Qi.
Wu Wei Zi is an assistant ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruits
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLung
Category: Herbs that stabilize and bind
Wu Wei Zi is sour and astringent. It prevents dispersal of the true Yang. While used together with Ginseng , it acts to generate the pulse. A relatively small dosage is used in the formula. It is to ensure its astringency does not impede the dispersing action of the key herbs. The complementary dynamic between the two assistant herbs, one acrid and sour and the other scurrying and astringent, helps spread Yang and create a pulse.
She Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Musk (She Xiang)
Part used: Musk gland of the deer
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
She Xiang is acrid and aromatic. It assists in unblocking the vessels. The complementary dynamic between the two assistant herbs, one acrid and sour and the other scurrying and astringent, helps spread Yang and create a pulse.
11. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
Chen Pi Strengthening the Middle Burner helps to manage the distribution of Yang energy without impeding its replenishment.
Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is used to treat Collapse of Yang
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Collapse of Yang" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Collapse of Yang here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Myocardial infarction Cardiogenic shock Acute gastroenteritis Hypotension Food poisoning
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang treats myocardial infarction" for instance. Rather, Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is used to treat Collapse of Yang, which is sometimes the root cause behind myocardial infarction.
Now let's look at Collapse of Yang, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang.
'Yang' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Yang in Chinese Medicine
Collapse of Yang
Pulse type(s): Scattered (San), Slow (Chi), Hidden (Fu)
Symptoms: No thirst Cold limbs Listlessness Incontinence Loose stools Feeling of cold Frequent urination Bright-white complexion Profuse sweating on the forehead
Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Collapse of Yang. This pattern leads to symptoms such as listlessness, feeling of cold, cold limbs and bright-white complexion. Patients with Collapse of Yang typically exhibit scattered (San), slow (Chi) or hidden (Fu) pulses.
This is one of the five patterns of the Blood level, the fourth and last level of the Four Levels theory. This means this is a very serious pattern where an External Pathogen has penetrated deeply within the body.
Collapse of Yang indicates an extremely severe state of Emptiness. It also implies a... read more about Collapse of Yang
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