Hi Folks,
I compiled this list long ago for a lecture I used to give. Likely, it needs updating but it does point the way. For each element I give an archtypical herb and formula. Then, I do element in element giving one or more formulas for each within. For example, we might say that shu di huang is the archtypical herb for Water and that 6 Flavor rhemannia is the Formula.
Water within water: 6 Flavor rhemannia
Wood: Rhemannia, lycii, Chrysanthemum tea : Ming mu san
Fire: Tian wang, Gui Zhi tang
Earth: Zhen wu tang
Metal: Ginseng and Gecko,
I go into quite a bit more detail on some formulas. This would be the basis of an article, essay, or chapter that I’ll write someday.
Copyright Lonny Jarrett 1995
I-WATER
Archtypical: 6 flavour, Shu di huang
Water: Return the left
Wood:
a)Rhemannia, lycii, chrysanthemum tea (Ming mu tang),
b)Black Free and easy
c) Linking
Fire:
(a)Return the right
(b) Mantis egg caseing powder regulates and tonifies heart and kidneys, stabilizes the essence, and stops leakage.
Kidney and heart deficiency
Kidney and spleen qi deficiency
Mantidis
Polygala
Acoris
Dragon bones
Ginseng
Poria
Angelica
Plastrum testudinis
For polyuria in diabetes add: Dioscorea, Cornus
c) Gui ZHi Tang
b) Heavenly emperors tea: TIan wang
c) Rhemannia and akebia (Wu lin san)
d) ctsoup/db-Kidney formula
e) biota sedative
Earth:
a) True Warrior (Vitality, Zhen wu tang)
b) Rhemannia and gypsum, Yu nu jian
Metal:
a) 8 immortals =6flavour
+shizandra and ophiopogon
b) Sheng mai san
II-WOOD:
Archtypical Herbs: Bupleurum, Peony
Formula: Bupleurum and Zhishih-Si ni san
Long Dan Xie Gan tang-Drain fire.
Fire: Tangkuei and jujube (Danggui si ni san), Minor bupleurum, bamboo and ginseng
Earth:
a) Xiao yao wan
b) Minor buleurum
c) Ginseng and astragalus: Bu zhong yi qi tang
d) Warm Gallblader soup (for cooling a warm GB)-Wen Jing Tang
Metal:
a) Linking decoction:
Liver yin deficient leading to constrained qi, heat, pain. Liver attacks the stomach. Pain distention, acid regurgitation. Lack of flow together with yin deficiency causes dry parched mouth, and throat, red dry tongue.
Rehmania
lycii
glehenia
ophiopogon
angelica
meliae Cools Liver and regulates qi
b) Clear Pillow- An Mian Wan
Water:
a) Rhemannia, lycii, chrysanthemum tea (Ming mu tang)
III-Fire
archtypical: cinnibar/Cinnimon Twig
Cinnimon twig soup
Earth: Gui pi tang: Spleen qi and heart blood
Metal:
a. Sheng Mai san
b. Emperor’s Tea
c. Toasted licorice: Zhi Gan Cao Tang
d. Jade wind screen
Water:
a. Mantis Egg Casing Powder
b. Gui Zhi Tang
c. Return the Right
Wood:
a. Xiao Chai Hu tang
b. Xi Gan Ming Mu San
IV: Earth:
Archtypical: 4 Gentleman: Si Jun Si Tang
Herb: Ren Shen
Metal:
a. Four gents,
b. Ophiopogon combination: Mai Men Dong tnag
c. Er chen wan
d. Shen ling Bai zhu san
e. Ban Xia Hou Pu
f. Sweet combination (Lung heat & yin deficient): Nourishes yin, clears heat, disseminates lung qi, resolves damp., purifies blood Yin deficiency with yang ming channel dampness. Swollen gums, mouth ulcers, bad breath, sore throat, dry red tongue with a yellow greasy coating. Used to treat eye disorders (XI terminates at eye) and other conditions of yin deficiency and damp heat.
Rehmannia (shu di huang & Sheng di huang)
Dendrobium
Asparagus
Ophiopogon
Scute
Artemeisia
Aurantium
Eriobotryae
Licorice
Water:
a) Zheng wu tang, vitality
b) Rhemannia and gypsum
Rehmania and gypsum: Tonifies and drains, Clears stomach and nourishes yin. Jade women decoction. Stomach fire damaging stomach yin……..Bleeding gums headache, acheing teeth, excessive hunger, nosebleeds.
Gypsum
anemarrhena
Ophiopogon
Rehmania
Achyranthus
c) Astra essence or Dynamic Warrior (6 Flavor formulas with FRen shen & Huang qi)
Wood:
a. Xiao yao wan,
b. minor bupleurum
c. Jia Wei Gui pi tang (add Chai Hu & Mu Dan Pi)
Fire:
a. gui pi tang
b. pinellia combo: Ban Xia Xie Xin tang
c. Gypsum combination (White tiger):
Gypsum, anemarrhenae, licorice, rice: For thirst in diabetes (polydipsia) add trichosanthis.
Clears Qi level heat, drains stomach fire, generates fluids, alleviates thirst. Yangming channel stage of six stages of disease.
Yellow dry tongue coating, Fast pounding pulse, XS flooding. Headache, toothache, bleeding of gums and nose.
V. Metal:
Archtypical: Bu Fei Tang, Sheng mai san: Lilly Bulb
Water:
a. Ginseng and gecko: Kidney Grasp qi
b. 6 flavour with shizandra&ophiopogon
c. dynamic warrior/goldenflower version scrophularia and rehamnia
d. Sweet combination (Lung heat & yin deficient): Nourishes yin, clears heat, disseminates lung qi, resolves damp., purifies blood Yin deficiency with yang ming channel dampness. Swollen gums, mouth ulcers, bad breath, sore throat, dry red tongue with a yellow greasy coating. Used to treat eye disorders (XI terminates at eye) and other conditions of yin deficiency and damp heat.
Rehmannia (shu di huang & Sheng di huang)
Dendrobium
Asparagus
Ophiopogon
Scute
Artemeisia
Aurantium
Eriobotryae
Licorice
Wood: linking, clear pillow, anjelica four op, tangkuei and evodia
Fire: Tian wang, Ginseng and ophiopogon/ minor blue dragon0
Earth: Ophiopogon combinatiion,
Metal: archtypical formula-Bu fei tang
e. Bu Fei Tang
Ginseng Tonify Qi and strengthen wei qi
Astragalas Tonify Qi and strengthen wei qi
Rhemannia Tonifies IV essence.
Shisandra Preserves Lung qi and helps IV grasp the qi
Aster Moistens Lungs and arrests coughing
Moria Albae Decends Lung Qi
This is a variation of Generate the pulse powder. Tonifies the lungs to releive coughing. It is the main Lung qi tonic. Here, weak Lung qi leads the body to have poor resistance to colds so person keeps getting them. Wheezing due to poor lung qi and Kidney’s inability to grasp the qi. Pale tongue, particularly toward front (IX) and a feeble pulse in the right proximal position. Emphysema, wheezing, weak breathing, weeping and grief, thin skinned. Smokers.
g. Bai he gu jin tang: Lilly Bulb
Wood:
a. Linking decoction: Yi Guan Jian
Fire:
a. Sheng mai san
b. Tian Wang Bu xin wan
Earth:
a. Gan lu yin: Sweet combination
b. Bu Fei tang: Ginseng and Aster
c. Yu quan wan