Chinese: 金铃子散
Pinyin: Jīn Líng Zǐ Sàn
Other names: Melia Toosendan Powder, Sichuan chinaberry Powder,
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that promote Qi movement
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HepatitisPeptic ulcersCholecystitis and two other conditions
- Moves Liver Blood and Liver Qi
- Drains Liver Heat or Fire
- Stops pain
Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy. Contraindicated for treating pain from Liver... Contraindicated during pregnancy. Contraindicated for treating pain from Liver Qi Stagnation in the context of Cold conditions. see more
Source date: 992 AD
Source book: Formulas from Benevolent Sages Compiled during the Taiping Era
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.
Jin Ling Zi San is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Sichuan Chinaberries (Chuan Lian Zi) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 992 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement. Its main actions are: 1) moves Liver Blood and Liver Qi and 2) drains Liver Heat or Fire.
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 Jin Ling Zi San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Qi And Blood Stagnation or Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as prolonged periods, peptic ulcers or chronic gastritis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the two ingredients in Jin Ling Zi San, we review the patterns and conditions that Jin Ling Zi San helps treat.
The two ingredients in Jin Ling Zi San
Chuan Lian Zi is a king ingredient in Jin Ling Zi San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Sichuan Chinaberries (Chuan Lian Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenLiverSmall intestine
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Chuan Lian Zi clears Heat from the chest, hypochondrium, and groin area by draining it through the urine. When the Heat has been removed, and the Fire Stagnation resolved, the Liver can once again carry out its regulating function.
2. Corydalis Tubers (Yan Hu Suo)
Part used: Dried tuber
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Yan Hu Suo's main actions are as follows: "Moves the Blood, breaks Blood Stagnation and reduces associated pain. Regulates Stagnant Qi and reduces associated pain."
In the context of Jin Ling Zi San, it is used because it invigorates the Blood by moving Qi and eases pain.
Conditions and patterns for which Jin Ling Zi San may be prescribed
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 Jin Ling Zi San is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Prolonged periods Peptic ulcers Chronic gastritis Hepatitis Cholecystitis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Jin Ling Zi San treats prolonged periods" for instance. Rather, Jin Ling Zi San is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind prolonged periods.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Jin Ling Zi San.
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Insomnia Dark face Moodiness Dizziness Chest pain Depression Amenorrhea Purple lips Mood swings Breast pain Hot flushes Purple nails Irritability Blotchy skin Restlessness Breast lumps Restlnessness Chest fullness Painful period Scanty periods Clots in blood Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Lochia retention Breast distention Dark colored blood Abdominal fullness Intense period pain High blood pressure Swelling of the feet Lower abdominal pain Dark menstrual blood Flooding and leaking Abdominal distension Pre-menstrual tension Black and tarry stools Irregular menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Pre-menstrual irritability Dark clots in menstrual blood Menstruation decreases gratually Feeling of fullness in the chest Abdominal distention and fullness Pain relief after clots discharge
Jin Ling Zi San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as chest fullness, chest pain, boring fixed stabbing pain and dark face. Patients with Qi And Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen) or fine (Xi) pulses.
The typical symptoms of Qi stagnation are distension, oppression and swelling. There are also emotional issues like mood swing, depression or irritability. However, the Blood Stagnation is more on pains and purple color manifestation on skin, face, lips and nails.
Qi Stagnation can cause the... read more about Qi And Blood Stagnation
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Hernial pain Irritability Bitter taste in the mouth Intermittent epigastric pain Painful periods that get worse with hot food or drinks
Jin Ling Zi San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as intermittent epigastric pain, hernial pain, painful periods that get worse with hot food or drinks and irritability. Patients with Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a red tongue with yellow coating.
Learn more about Liver Qi Stagnation that transforms into Heat
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