Chinese: 生铁落饮
Pinyin: Shēng Tiě Luò Yǐn
Other names: Iron Filings Drink
Number of ingredients: 15 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that sedate and calm the Mind
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: ManiaEpilepsySchizophrenia and two other conditions
- Sedates the Heart
- Clears Phlegm
- Clears Fire
- Calms the Mind
Source date: 1732 AD
Source book: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies
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.
Sheng Tie Luo Yin is a 15-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Oxidized Iron Filings (Sheng Tie Luo) and Cinnabar (Zhu Sha) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1732 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that sedate and calm the Mind. Its main actions are: 1) sedates the Heart and 2) clears Phlegm.
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 Sheng Tie Luo Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as epilepsy, bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the fifteen ingredients in Sheng Tie Luo Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Sheng Tie Luo Yin helps treat.
The fifteen ingredients in Sheng Tie Luo Yin
Sheng Tie Luo is a king ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Oxidized Iron Filings (Sheng Tie Luo)
Part used: The mineral
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Pungent
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
In general Sheng Tie Luo's main actions are as follows: "Calms the Liver Fire and sedates the Mind. "
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it enters the Liver Channel to treat anger and mania. It strongly anchors and calms the Mind.
Zhu Sha is a king ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Heart
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
In general Zhu Sha's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it enters the Heart and strongly anchors and calms the
Mind.
Dan Nan Xing is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Arisaema With Bile (Dan Nan Xing)
In general Dan Nan Xing's main actions are as follows: "To clear Heat and resolve Phlegm, dispel Wind and stop convulsions"
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it is bitter and cooling. It dispels Wind-Phlegm and treating seizures.
Chuan Bei Mu is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Fritillary Bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu)
Part used: Dried bulb
Nature: Cool
Chuan Bei Mu is bitter, sweet, and cooling. It enters the Upper Burner to clear Heart Fire and clear Lung stagnation.
Xuan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiverStomach
Category: Herbs that cool the Blood
Xuan Shen is bitter, sweet, salty, and cooling. It enters the Kidneys and clears floating Heat. It treats mania characterized by extreme confusion and the inability to recognize people.
Lian Qiao is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
In general Lian Qiao's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and toxicity from the Blood. Dispels External Wind-Heat. Reduces lumps, swollen lymph nodes and sores of a Heated nature."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it is bitter and slightly cooling. It is also light and opens Stagnation in the Upper Burner.
Gou Teng is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
7. Gambir Stems And Thorns (Gou Teng)
Part used: Dried stems and thorns from the branches
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: LiverPericardium
Category: Herbs that pacify Internal Liver Wind and stop Tremors
In general Gou Teng's main actions are as follows: "Calms Liver Wind and relieves spasms. Clears Liver Heat and sedates Liver Yang."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it is sweet and slightly cooling. It dispels Wind-Heat and settles fright.
Dan Shen is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
8. Red Sage Roots (Dan Shen)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Dan Shen's main actions are as follows: "Invigorates the Blood, breaks up Stasis and eases pain. Clears Heat and calms restlessness."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it is bitter and slightly cooling. It clears the Blood Heat and prevents Blood Stagnation.
Fu Shen is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
9. Host-Wood Poria (Fu Shen)
Part used: The part of the mushroom that is attached to the host-wood, dried
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
In general Fu Shen's main actions are as follows: "Calms the Mind (Shen) and promote urination."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it is bland and sweet. It clears Dampness and thereby deprives Phlegm of its source.
Shi Chang Pu is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
10. Sweetflag Rhizomes (Shi Chang Pu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
Shi Chang Pu is acrid and slightly warming. It direct Qi downward and thus works well together with acrid, bitter, and slightly warming Chinese senega root.
Yuan Zhi is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
11. Chinese Senega Roots (Yuan Zhi)
In general Yuan Zhi's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit. Expels Phlegm from the Heart orifices. Expels Phlegm from the Lungs. Diminishes abscesses."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it is acrid, bitter, and slightly warming. It lifts the Qi.
Tian Men Dong is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
12. Chinese Asparagus Tubers (Tian Men Dong)
In general Tian Men Dong's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes Yin of the Lungs and Kidneys. Expectorates Phlegm."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it nourishes the Yin to replenish the physiological Body Fluids.
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
13. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Mai Dong's main actions are as follows: "Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it nourishes the Yin to replenish the physiological Body Fluids.
Fu Ling is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
14. Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Part used: Dried sclerotium
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidneyLungSpleen
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
In general Fu Ling's main actions are as follows: "Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it treats Phlegm at its source by improving the function of the Spleen and Qi.
Chen Pi is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
15. Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi)
In general Chen Pi's main actions are as follows: "Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs."
In the context of Sheng Tie Luo Yin, it is used because it treats Phlegm at its source by improving the function of the Spleen and Qi.
Sheng Tie Luo Yin is used to treat Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart
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 Sheng Tie Luo Yin is mostly used to treat the pattern "Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Epilepsy Bi-Polar disorder Schizophrenia Mania depression Mania
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Sheng Tie Luo Yin treats epilepsy" for instance. Rather, Sheng Tie Luo Yin is used to treat Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart, which is sometimes the root cause behind epilepsy.
Now let's look at Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Sheng Tie Luo Yin.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Symptoms: Coma Mucus Thirst Anxiety Aphasia Red face Insomnia Shouting Dull face Palpitations Restlnessness Rash behaviour Mental confusion Incoherent speech Mental depression Violent behaviour Muttering to oneself Dream disturbed sleep Bitter taste in the mouth Rattling sound in the throat Uncontrolled laughing or crying Feeling of oppression of the chest
Sheng Tie Luo Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, red face, bitter taste in the mouth and rattling sound in the throat. Patients with Phlegm-Fire harassing the Heart typically exhibit overflowing (Hong), rapid (Shu), slippery (Hua), wiry (Xian) or full (Shi) pulses.
This is an Excess pattern and all the mental symptoms are caused by Phlegm obstructing the Heart so that the Mind (Shen) is disturbed and lose its residence at the Heart. This obstruction can lead to the loss of insight , manic depression, extreme mental instability or even brain injury.
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