formulas
Acorus Tablets (patent): calm Shen, resolve Phlegm, clear Heat for hyperactivity, poor memory and concentration (Dharmananda, p. 96)
Minor Bupleurum C.: relaxes the nervous system and can help relieve stress.; for children, one dose daily for one month, followed by wild oat for one month; Note: Minor bupleurum should not be given to a child who has a fever or any other sign of an acute infection. (Zand, et al, p. 268)
Bupleurum F. (Yi Gan San): with Spleen Xu (Deficiency) and Liver hyperactivity, to fortify the spleen and harmonize the liver; emotional tension, irritability, easy anger, uncontrollable fidgeting, poor sleep, fatigue, reduced appetite, loose stools or diarrhea in response to emotional stress, thin, white tongue fur, a wiry pulse (Flaws, 1997, p. 256-257)
Cinnamon C. (Gui Zhi Tang): with Spleen Xu (Deficiency) and Liver hyperactivity, to fortify the spleen and harmonize the liver; emotional tension, irritability, easy anger, uncontrollable fidgeting, poor sleep, fatigue, diminished appetite, easily developing diarrhea in response to emotional stress, thin, white tongue fur, a wiry pulse (Flaws, 1997, p. 256-257)
Nourish the Heart and Boost the Spleen Decoction (Yang Xin Yi Pi Tang): with Heart and Spleen Xu (Deficiency), to fortify the Spleen and supplement the Heart, supplement Qi and nourish Xue (Blood); A sallow yellow or somber white facial complexion, pale nails and pale lips, fatigue, insomnia, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, a poor appetite, a tendency to loose stools, poor memory, a fat, pale tongue with thin, white fur, a fine, weak pulse (Flaws, 1997, p. 256-257)
Ginseng and Longan C. (Gui Pi Tang) plus Licorice, Triticus and Red Date Decoction (Gan Mai Da Zao Tang) with additions and subtractions: Heart Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) and Spleen Qi Xu (Deficiency); A sallow yellow or somber white facial complexion, pale nails and pale lips, fatigue, insomnia, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, a poor appetite, a tendency to loose stools, poor memory, a fat, pale tongue with thin, white fur, a fine, weak pulse (Flaws, 1997, p. 256-257)
Pseudostellariae (tai zi shen)
poria center (fu shen)
white atractylodes (bai zhu)
Chinese angelica (dang gui)
astragalus (huang qi)
polygala (yuan zhi)
zizyphus (suan zao ren)
acorus (shi chang pu)
schizandra (wu wei zi)
jujube (da zao)
triticum (fu xiao mai)
licorice (gan cao)
ª with sleepwalking, profuse dreaming, or nightmares, add uncaria (gou teng), dragon teeth (long chi), and mother-of-pearl (zhen zhu mu);
ª if there is impaired memory, add polygala (yuan zhi), dragon bone (long gu), and acorus (shi chang pu) (Flaws, 1997, p. 256-257)
The following are all for Yin Xu (Deficiency), Yang hyperactivity, to supplement the Kidney and enrich Yin, subdue Yang and quiet the Shen (Mind);
Main symptoms: Besides tending to be thin, children with this pattern also have a red tongue with diminished furor a pale tongue with a red tip. Their pulses are fiiie and rapid and they tend to sutfer from insomnia, heart palpitations, agitation, dizziness, ringing in the ears, possible low back pain, possible bed-wetting at night, flushed cheeks, and possible night sweats. (Flaws, 1997, p. 258-260)
You Yin Qian Yang Wan (Foster Yin and Subdue Yang Pills)
Qing Nao Yi Zhi Tong (Clear the Brain and Boost the Intelligence Decoction)
Sheng Mai Yin (Generate the Pulse Drink)
Bu Shen Yi Zhi Tang (Supplement the Kidneys & Boost the Intelligence Decoction)
Bu Shen Huo Xue Tang (Supplement the Kidneys & Quicken the Blood Decoction)
Bu Shen Er Xian Tang (Supplement the Kidneys Two Immortals Decoction)
Chang Pu Wu Wei San (Acorus & Schisandra Powder)
Restore the Left [Kidney] Pills (Zuo Gui Wan Jia Jian) with additions & subtractions
prepared rehmannia (shu di huang)
dioscorea (shan yao)
moutan (mu dan pi)
tortoise plastron (gui ban)
white peony (bai shao yao)
dragon bone (long gu)
oyster shell (mu li)
polygala (yuan zhi)
acorus (shi chang pu)
schizandra (wu wei zi)
alpinia (yi zhi ren)
lycium fruit (gou qi zi)
licorice (gan cao)
ª If there is bed-wetting add cuscuta (tu si zi), mantis egg-case (sang piao xiao), and rosa fruit (jing ying zi)
Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang Jia Jian (Coptis Warm the Gall Bladder Decoction with Additions & Subtractions): Heart Agitated by Phlegm Fire (Phlegm confounding the portals of the Heart & Heat harassing the Heart Shen)
Main symptoms: Easy angered, very irritable, easily vexed, restless, possible nausea, possible profuse phlegm, chest fullness and oppression, a bitter taste in the mouth when waking up in the morning, a tongue with red edges and slimy, yellow fur, a wiry, slippery, rapid pulse
Chang Zhi Long Mu Tang (Acorus, Polygala, Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction): when Phlegm confounding the Heart Orifices but with no or minor heat
ª If there is heat, add coptis (huang lian), gentiana (long dan cao), and lophatherum (dan zhu ye).
ª If there is Yin Xu (Deficiency), add prepared rehmannia (shu di huang), lily bulb (bai he), and dendrobium (shi hi).
ª If there is Yang Xu (Deficiency), add aconite (fu zi), antelope horn (lu jiao), and astragalus (huang qi).
ª Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) Obstructing the Channels and (causing) malnourishment of the portals, to Quicken the Xue (Blood) and dispel Yu (Stasis): for hyperactivity plus a history of birth trauma with intracranial hemorrhage, a dull, dark facial complexion, easily angered over nothing, a dark red tongue, a choppy pulse
Guiding formula: Since this pattern merely complicates one of the three above patterns, one should choose from among the above formulas and then add red peony (chi shao yao), salvia (dan shen), and carthamus (hong hua).
footnotes
Dharmananda, Subhuti. A Bag of Pearls. Institute for Traditional Medicine. Portland, OR.
Flaws, Bob. A Handbook of TCM Pediatrics: A Practitioners Guide to the Care and Treatment of Common Childhood Diseases. Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, CO, 1997.
Zand, Janet, Walton, Rachel, and Rountree, Bob. Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child. Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY, 1994.