Chinese: 通关散
Pinyin: Tōng Guān Sǎn
Other names: Open the Gate Powder
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that warm and open sensory orifices
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HysteriaPsychosisSinusitis and two other conditions
- Unblocks the jaw
- Opens the sensory orifices
Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy and for loss of consciousness due to... Contraindicated during pregnancy and for loss of consciousness due to abandoned-type disorders. It is also contraindicated for loss of consciousness due to hypertensive crisis, cerebral hemorrhage, or traumatic cranial injuries, as it stimulates blood circulation in the head. Remember that this formula is intended only for temporary, emergency use in treating acute collapse. Once consciousness has been restored, or indeed once sneezing has been induced, use of this formula should be discontinued. see more
Source date: 650 AD
Source book: Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces
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.
Tong Guan San is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruits (Zhu Ya Zao) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 650 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm and open sensory orifices. Its main actions are: 1) unblocks the jaw and 2) opens the sensory orifices.
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 Tong Guan San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as hysteria, psychosis or anaphylactic shock for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the two ingredients in Tong Guan San, we review the patterns and conditions that Tong Guan San helps treat.
The two ingredients in Tong Guan San
Zhu Ya Zao is a king ingredient in Tong Guan San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruits (Zhu Ya Zao)
Zhu Ya Zao is warm, acrid, and scurrying. It scours out Phlegm, opens the sensory orifices, and revives the spirit such as restores consciousness. It unblocks the gates of the orifices above and below and is able to cause Phlegm and spittle vomiting. For example, once it stimulates the nose, there will immediately be a sneeze.
Learn more about Chinese Honeylocust Abnormal Fruits (Zhu Ya Zao)
Xi Xin is a deputy ingredient in Tong Guan San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Wild Ginger (Xi Xin)
Xi Xin is warm, acrid, and dispersing. It unblocks the Channels and is particularly effective in unblocking the nose. The desired effect of the formula here is to induce sneezing. As such, any other functions that the ingredients might serve, such as transforming Phlegm, are not relevant, particularly given the small dosages.
Tong Guan San is used to treat Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices
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 Tong Guan San is mostly used to treat the pattern "Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Hysteria Psychosis Anaphylactic shock Chronic rhinitis Sinusitis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Tong Guan San treats hysteria" for instance. Rather, Tong Guan San is used to treat Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices, which is sometimes the root cause behind hysteria.
Now let's look at Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Tong Guan San.
Body Fluids (Jin Ye) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Body Fluids in Chinese Medicine
Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices
Symptoms: Coma Clenched jaw Sudden collapse Short of breath Pale complexion Excessive phlegm Excessive spittle Loss of consciousness
Tong Guan San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices. This pattern leads to symptoms such as sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, clenched jaw and short of breath.
This pattern is typically triggered by an irregular and excessive diet or overwork that impairs the Spleen, leading to Dampness and Phlegm accumulation. This excess, often exacerbated by exposure to foul odors or intense emotions, disrupts the Qi mechanisms, causing them to rebel and disturb the... read more about Turbid Phlegm Blocks Orifices
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